Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.
Beta-in-Chief: Lola...she was a showgirl, but she gave that and her yellow feathers up to beta my little story. (Additional disclaimer: Barry Manilow owns the lyrics to Copacabana)
As the week passed Charlie now found himself standing in his kitchen and sighing deeply. One week was all it took, much to his surprise. He was no longer so sure that this was such a good idea. Looking briefly into his living room he watched Bella who was sitting in the middle of his brand new couch, with one leg tucked under her while the other swung in rhythm with music he couldn't hear.
She was surrounded by a mountain of papers. In fact there were several mountains of papers, on the couch, on the floor, and even one on the new coffee table that Charlie had absolutely no idea who actually bought it. She held a pencil in between her teeth, had an ear bud in one ear as the other bud dangled carelessly from around her neck. In her opposite ear, she had what appeared to Charlie to be a huge bug sticking out of it. She kept mumbling around the pencil, nodding her head as if she were talking to someone on the phone, but Charlie couldn't see one. He rubbed the back of his neck as he walked over to the coffeemaker and poured himself a cup of hot coffee. He sipped at it, winced, and then dumped it down the drain. Right then and there he decided he was going to need to head over to the diner before his shift started. He loved his daughter dearly, but having her back under his roof, even just for the summer, and even though he had been the one to coerce her into it, was turning out to be more than he bargained for.
Grabbing his jacket from the hall closet on his way out of the house, he felt a twinge of guilt when he realized that the decision to remain in Forks hadn't been easy on Bella. She was really left with no choice in the matter, at least that is, until her arm healed enough for her to drive again. He just assumed that when she came back to stay with him, they would fall into that easy routine that they had once perfected when she was younger and Renee passed away. He couldn't have been more wrong this time around. His daughter was no longer the shy, quiet girl he remembered. In her place was a grown woman with her own life. He mumbled a brief goodbye to Bella and was surprised that she had actually heard him with all those electronics occupying her ears. As he turned toward the door with his hand still on the knob, Bella spit the pencil out of her mouth and looked at him shyly.
"Dad? Before you go could I ask you for a huge favor?" Bella mumbled a hurried 'I'll call you back Gen' then pulled the black bug from her ear. Charlie looked at her with a completely confused expression on his face. "It's a Bluetooth phone, dad; it goes in your ear. You know, hands free talking so you don't get hassled by the men in blue? Not that I talk on a cell phone and drive anyway, well, not that I can even drive these days. Anyway, I need someone to help type out a few more pages for me. Do you think you could help me later today with that? Normally I would just have Jason do it, but he is going to stay with Billy for a few extra days and I really need to get these revisions to Gen before then." Bella's face looked so pleading and hopeful that there was no way Charlie could say no.
"Well, if you don't mind the hunt and peck method of typing, and the fact that it is probably gonna take twice as long for me to type it, I guess I can do it. Greta usually does all the typing for me at the station, but I am pretty sure that she'd be useless unless you want your work typed on the old typewriter down there." Charlie didn't even bother waiting for her to respond before he continued, "I'm going to head over to the diner before work, can I bring you back something?"
"No I'm good. Thanks Dad. I appreciate your help." Bella was almost set to talk to Charlie longer but the computer sitting on the floor by her foot sent out a chime that interrupted her. Even one-armed, she was managing and Charlie couldn't help but be impressed at the business woman sitting on his couch. She reached with her good hand to pick up the computer and placed it on the top of her foot as she used it for leverage to bring it up into her lap. Charlie laughed as she started to press the keys using just two of her fingers. He understood immediately why she would need his help as her arm and hand healed.
He turned to go out the door as she returned her focus back to her work. He stepped out onto the porch descending the stairs, which proceeded to groan under his weight. He shook his head at the sound with disgust. He knew that Bella had already been in touch with Emmett about making repairs here and there much to his dismay. But being honest, he had to admit the house did need work. Especially if Jason followed through with his plan to take over the small attic space as his own room.
Emmett's construction company, one of his many business ventures, was hired to do the work without a moment's hesitation from either Bella or Jason. They had come to a compromise of sorts; Bella would call Emmett to tell him what project to work on and the next day a crew would appear to get the job done. In just a week's time, Bella had already managed to have the roof replaced and had that old rusty shed in the yard knocked down and hauled away. Charlie was now the proud owner of a brand new, larger shed to store all of his fishing gear, and the cherry on top, is that it came complete with its own space to clean the bounty of fish he caught.
The fact that Bella was pouring money into his little house didn't really bother him much because at the time she suggested it to him, he was happy to have her do it, considering that it gave her a reason to remain here in town. Now, however a week later, knowing that tomorrow, Emmett's men would come to rip down his front porch to build him a new one, he wasn't so sure keeping Bella in Forks was such a great idea after all. Add to that the fact that Jason seemed hell-bent on spending as much time as possible with Emmett's daughter Eden, Charlie could smell the disaster a mile away. This whole scene had bad news written all over it.
As he walked toward the police cruiser, he saw Esme Cullen's car pulling into his driveway. Pausing with the door of the cruiser open and his arm casually draped over it, he waited long enough to see who was in it, or rather who was getting out of it, making him smile. He glanced toward the house, then back at Esme's car. The decision took only a split second to make, and the relief that came with the realization that he would not be spending his evening typing made him smile even more. He left the car door hanging open as he closed the gap between himself and the visitors. He smiled a friendly greeting at Esme and Alice, noting the huge basket of food that Alice carried in her tiny hands. He was grateful that they might be able to get Bella to eat something since he still had yet to venture to the grocery store and Bella never complained about his lack of food. It was more of a concern when Jason was there with them, but while he was with Billy, food was not a priority in Charlie's house. They simply got takeout from the diner or ordered food in.
"Ladies." Charlie nodded his head as a greeting.
"Good afternoon Charlie," Esme smiled warmly. "I was wondering if you and Isabella might welcome some company for lunch. Or is she busy?" Esme smiled as she briefly hugged Charlie.
Charlie lost all his awkwardness around Esme Cullen, probably because she was always warm and welcoming to him. He smiled again at her as he hugged her back but then some awkwardness returned as he stepped back rubbing the back of his neck. He nodded to Alice as he pulled his mirrored shades that he had forever out of his pocket and went to put them on.
"I'm headed over to the diner right now for something, but thank you. She's in there, definitely busy. Any help you can give her would be appreciated by the both of us. I'm leaving." Charlie smiled as he stepped away from Esme walking over to his cruiser. "Just walk right in. She won't mind one bit." With a final nod, Charlie was gone.
Esme and Alice stared at each other in confusion for one brief moment before shrugging then proceeding up the stairs into the house. As she peeked in with just her head, she called for her. "Bella?" Esme called softly, not wanting to startle her.
"In here Esme." Bella answered back as she looked around her, momentarily lost in the piles of paperwork.
"We were just wondering if you wanted…OH!" Esme stood back opening the door for Alice, who had her hands full. Before Alice could enter the room, a gust of wind blew in and before anyone could stop Mother Nature, she insensitively scattered the mountains of papers everywhere.
"SHIT! Gen, I'll call you back, major catastrophe!" Bella pulled the electronic devices from her ears as she slid the laptop clumsily to the side of her on the couch. She ran around the room one handedly doing her best attempt to gather up all the papers, some of which were still drifting to the floor. She clumsily stuffed the pages she picked up between her chest and her cast. Esme and Alice stood there just staring at her, identical looks of horror on their faces.
Bella stopped gathering up the papers long enough to stare back at them taking in their expressions, horrified as they realized what they had done, before she addressed them.
"Well, welcome to my world. This is not the first time, but the last time this happened, Jacob and Jason did it. You'd think I would learn my lesson." Bella sighed as she threw the piles of now wrinkled papers haphazardly onto the couch.
"I'm so sorry Bella. We brought you lunch and thought… wow, I am so sorry." Alice put the basket on the coffee table and proceeded to gather up some of the papers.
"Bella dear, I apologize. The weather is so crazy this time of year, summer, spring, Mother Nature just can't seem to make up her mind. I'm really so sorry about those papers. Were they very important?" Esme started to pitch in as the three of them began to clean up all the scattered papers.
"Well, they're revisions that I am supposed to send Gen by Friday. I had all my notes scribbled in the margins and just needed to re-type them. I have everything saved on my laptop, thankfully. It's going to take awhile to set the pages back in order though but that will okay, Charlie's promised to help me with that chore later." Bella reached onto the old computer desk to retrieve a few of the papers from where they had landed.
Esme let out a small laugh as she recalled Charlie's plea to her. "Bella, I would love to help you if you would allow me to. Penny is minding the store right now so Alice and I came to bring you some lunch. You've already been here over a week now and we've barely seen you. In fact, Emmett and Rose have seen more of you than we have." Esme handed over some of the retrieved papers to Bella. Looking them over, Bella sighed and wisely decided to give up all attempt to put them back into any type of order. Instead she simply threw them all onto the couch.
"I appreciate the lunch Esme. But all this is a nightmare right now. Unfortunately, I'm going to need to read through the entire manuscript just to put the pages in the right order again. I suppose I could just pull up the file and match it up that way. This is really going to take the rest of today and more than likely a good chunk of tomorrow..." Bella silently cursed herself for not numbering the damn pages. Sighing as she looked around the room, trying to make sure that they had all the papers now.
"Shit." Bella sighed as she dropped down onto Charlie's well used recliner. It only took her a short moment before she realized where she was and quickly jumped up as if she would catch the cooties. Alice openly laughed while Esme politely hid her smile behind her hand, pretending she had to cough.
"Bella, these papers. What exactly are they?" Alice proceeded to read a few of the papers she held in her hands. Bella unsuccessfully attempted to snatch them away but Alice's small frame quickly danced away from her reach to the safety of the other side of the couch. "You know what this sounds like?"
Esme reached for a handful of the papers that rested on the couch and began to examine the content of them as Bella seized what she could clutching them to her chest protectively. A few fluttered out of her grasp as her fingers in her right hand painfully protested the action.
Alice handed Bella the one page she finished reading allowing her to grab it, adding it to the pile she was still clutching. Bella sighed as Esme handed her a page she had finished. This routine continued on for several minutes until Esme or Alice were finished with the pages in their hands. Esme finished first then glanced over to Bella expectantly, her face glowing with excitement.
Together they turned their attentions over to Alice, who raised a dainty finger asking them to give her a moment longer, never raising her eyes up from the page she was examining. When she finally finished she handed the page over to Bella wearing the identical look of awe that her mother had. Bella grabbed it from her hand and clutched it tightly to her chest protectively, avoiding all eye contact with either woman as she pretended to be obsessively involved in straightening out the papers that were in her hand.
"Bella, please explain to me why you have a manuscript like that. What…" Alice couldn't even continue, her mouth going slack jawed as she pointed accusingly over to the pile of papers over on the couch.
Esme finished her sentence up for her. "Bella, did we just read the latest installment from the 'Lacie Washington' literary series? Eden absolutely loves those books. Why are you editing it?" A slow look of recognition crossed Esme's face as she slapped her hand to her mouth, taking a deep breath. "You aren't editing those pages are you? You are the person writing them. Oh my, you are Blackened Swan aren't you?" Esme's face showed a flash of unbridled pride and awe before she calmed herself down sufficient enough to wait for Bella's affirmation.
It was slow coming. Bella's face flamed with red heat as she made an elaborate show of shuffling the thick pile of papers into a messy, out of order, stack. She awkwardly clipped them together using a huge binder clip and tossed it aside. She then flopped herself down on the couch, raised her head straight up towards the ceiling before closing her eyes, taking in a few deep calming breaths.
"What do you want to know?" Bella turned her sight away from the ceiling now and focused it at Esme.
"Bella, are you 'Blackened Swan', the author?" Esme's voice shook with excitement at her revelation.
Rather than answer verbally, Bella sighed and rose from the couch. Turning away from Esme and with her good arm she reached over and behind her head to attempt to lift the back of her blouse up. She mumbled a 'little help here' before Alice quickly jumped in pulling it up the rest of the way.
Bella was only momentarily and slightly embarrassed of her deep red colored bra, turning she glanced over her shoulder to her back. She couldn't see it, but she knew it was there. It silently greeted her each morning in the mirror when she turned around, always bringing a smile to her face when she eyed the small picture permanently etched into her soft skin at the dead center of her back. Someplace no one would see it, except those closest to her.
Aside from herself and the artist that put it there, only two other people even knew of its existence; his death ensured that Jacob would tell no one about it.
Jason had seen it of course, he and Bella kept no secrets from one another. Her 'yes' was nothing more than a brief nod, barely discernable as she allowed the picture on her skin to answer for her. The black swan, sitting gracefully in a small pool of dark blue water sitting in the middle of her back, was no bigger than the size of a lemon, but for Bella, it was just as vital part of her as were her heart or lungs.
"But please, so few people know." Straitening back her blouse as she turned around, her voice became slightly panicked. "I can't risk the public discovering my identity. If this knowledge gets out, I'll be forced to stop the series. My agent already knows this and agreed that if I can't keep my anonymity, the books must come to a stop. I also write under the name Bella Black. Those books, the whole two of them," she snorted as she realized how pathetic it must sound that she only wrote two books, "are the ones I go to public signings for.
You two must promise me that you won't reveal my identity to anyone. As it is, I am positive that when I tell Gen, she is going to insist you to sign a disclosure agreement. She made Charlie and Billy both sign one. If he was old enough, she probably would have had Jason sign one too but he was too young when all this started, I suppose he'll have to sign one sooner or later." Bella sighed and closed her eyes.
She was feeling so drained emotionally from all the recent events that it was now affecting her physically as she plopped herself down onto the new couch sinking deep into the plump cushion that was not covered in paper. Reaching over for a throw pillow, placing it over her face, she proceeded to scream into it loudly. She held it there for a moment and then realized how ridiculously silly she must look to her guest. Slowly removing the pillow from her face, she glanced over to the two women, the blush color of her face clearly revealed that she was completely embarrassed by her action.
Never one to make or allow someone feel uncomfortable, Esme responded to Bella's scream with a heartfelt, "Feel better now?"
"Yes, actually, I do. It's almost a relief that someone else knows aside from my family." Bella smiled back at her, she really couldn't help it, Esme's warmth and smile were just so infectious.
"Bella, wow! I mean, those books are so popular. Don't take this the wrong way, but how do you do it? You are an extremely successful author! Why hadn't you said anything to anyone?" Alice plopped herself down on the armrest of the couch, sliding her heels off before tucking her petit feet under the cushion so she didn't disrupt the papers laying on top of it. She then tucked her hands under her chin as her elbows rested on her knees. She sat opposite Bella now, watching and waiting for her to answer.
"I do alright Alice. As I explained, not very many people know what I've done. In fact, I'll let you in on another secret, these here are the final revisions for the 'Centaurs' edition, the fifth book in the series. I am supposed to be spending this summer outlining the sixth book, which unfortunately, I don't even have a topic for at this time. Now I'm not sure how far I am going to be able to get at all."
Looking over to Alice, Bella laughed as she poked at her spiky, black hair. "I must say, I am very surprised that you didn't ask one of the most obvious questions Alice. And since you didn't, I am not going to tell you. Eventually you'll think of it." Bella sighed and looked at Esme for the next question that was sure to come.
"So, why are you writing under a penname at all Bella? Why not just use your name?" Esme kept her excited expression on as she eyed the piles of papers on one side of Bella, and Alice on the other side of her, she then glanced only very briefly at Charlie's old recliner before settling herself on the edge of the new coffee table and leaning closer toward Bella hoping that she was about to share more of her secret.
"I enjoy the anonymity. I couldn't write under a name people would recognize. I know there are similarities in the names I have chosen, but everything was decided with a meaning behind it. You see, Jacob actually came up with the 'Blackened Swan' penname and I came up with the name 'Lacie Washington' for the main character.
The entire series centers on a woman who snuffs out the truth of all mythical beings. They're looking for places to film the second book right now because the first one was so successful. And this," Bella waved her good arm carelessly around her at the scattered pile of papers, "is the final revision for the fifth book. It should be available in print sometime around December, that is, if all goes well.
Now for the book after that, I still need to come up with a topic for it, but my publisher really is pushing to see a rough draft of it this summer. The series has pretty much taken over every aspect of my life. The books I've authored under Bella Black were because Gen suggested I use my real name that way at least I could take credit for having written something. Although, sadly neither of the books I wrote under that name have had anywhere near the publicity that the 'Mythologies' series has." Bella sighed a freeing breath feeling as if huge weight was being lifted off her shoulders.
"So that's why Charlie has that book that Rose found the other night, you gave it to him. Now I understand Bella Black, and I suppose if I think hard enough I can figure out where the Blackened Swan name came from, but how did you come up with Lacie Washington for your character name?" Esme questioned.
"Well, I think the Washington part is obvious enough. A little homage to my home state, plus it's a common enough last name to not draw attention to anyone who would be snooping around Washington state to find some obscure author. And I'll bet you that if 'Alice' concentrates really hard, she'll figure out the 'Lacie' part." Bella's eyes twinkled as Esme's features came to a knowing smile. The two women looked over at Alice expectantly, however Alice, for her part, simply continued to stare blankly at Bella.
"Nope, sorry not seeing it. Will you please give me a little hint?" Alice asked with obvious resentment as she shook her head.
"You want a hint Alice? About why I have a main character named Lacie? Well, if you've read any of the books, or even watched the first movie, you'd know that Lacie's middle name is Rose…Alice, are you positive you can't figure out why she's named Lacie?" Bella and Esme were outright laughing at her now.
"Well, we did go along with Eden to watch the movie, you know how we are, we made a girls night of it. But Hollywood always butchers the books when they turn one into a movie." Ignoring Bella's snort and mumble of 'tell me about it', Alice continued, "I know that her name is Lacie, I don't remember her middle name being Rose. Let me call Eden to ask…" Bella ripped the phone out of Alice's hand before she could even dial one number.
"Are you nuts? You cannot reveal this to Eden! Alice, did I not just explain to you that you can't tell anyone. What part of anyone didn't you understand?" She looked at Alice with a mixture of shock and disappointment.
"Bella, don't be silly, it's only Eden, well and probably Rose. I don't understand, what's the big deal? You know Rose never kept any secrets from either of us why should we keep them from her?" Alice reached out snatching her phone back. She just about started dialing before Esme intervened.
"Alice," Esme said sternly in her mom voice, "if Bella ask us not to say anything, then that means NOT to say anything to anyone, not even to Rose. And most especially not a word to Eden, remember we found out ourselves purely by accident. When Bella is prepared for others to know, she'll be the one to share the information with them. You need to respect her wishes on this Alice." Esme scolded her daughter and gave her a severe enough look that Alice backed off immediately.
"Well, I really wish we would have known. I have both of your Bella Black books by the way. When it first came out I bought everyone a copy of 'Stop Watched' for Christmas that year. And I do mean everyone," she looked over at Bella meaningfully to communicate clearly that she meant everyone in her family. "That was a great story. You were always a good storyteller. It's funny huh?" Alice thought to herself for a moment while Esme and Bella exchanged nervous glances.
"What's funny Alice?" Esme prompted her daughter to continue her thought.
"Well, Bella can write and tell stories with the best of them. But she can't tell a lie face to face if her life depended on it. It's like she can write a good story, but she can't tell one in real life. Come on, one of her books has even been made into a movie for crying out loud." Alice put her hands on her hips glaring at Bella. "You're such a horrible liar in person Bella, how did you become so good at storytelling?"
"Good question. I'll let you know when I have an answer for that Alice." Bella smiled. "By the way, since you haven't figured it out yet, Lacie is spelt with the letters from your name, just mixed up." Bella paused for effect, waiting for it to sink in.
"Oh." Alice said slowly, her expression not changing at all for a few seconds, then a slow smile spread across her face as she launched herself over at Bella, being careful of her arm, but not of the papers she plowed over to get to her. Further disrupting the pile, but past caring in an effort to reach her friend, Alice's tiny voice squealed, "Oh Bella, I knew some day you'd come back home to us. I love you so much sister!" Alice had tears in her eyes now while she hung onto Bella, as if afraid she would disappear again into thin air.
"I love you too Alice." Bella said sincerely as she held onto her with her good hand looking over Alice's head at Esme and smiled to the older woman who now had tears dripping from her cheeks. "But this really changes nothing Alice." Bella warned her friend fiercely. She wanted nothing to do with the notoriety that would undoubtedly come with outing herself to the general public. "This information is to stay within this little group here and of course, I fully expect you two to run and tell Carlisle and Jasper."
Bella blew out a huge gust of air. "I need to talk to Gen. And to my attorney. I imagine Laura will feel the need to get in touch with your attorneys as well to sign disclosures." Bella ran her good hand through her tangled hair. "What a mess. I knew I should have stayed away from Forks." She thought the last part silently to herself.
Carefully piling the papers into a neat stack, Esme clipped them together and set them aside. The women sat closely huddled together on the couch, with Bella in the middle, while they all shared the details about what is currently happening in their lives and catching up on the latest gossip. All too soon, lunchtime was over causing Esme to remind Alice they had better get back to the store. Alice sighed as she glanced at her watch before agreeing.
"Bella, I hate to say it but we really should go, there just never seems to be enough time to spend with you. Every time we see you, some type of revelation comes out. It makes me feel like we are getting to know our Bella all over again." Alice pouted as she stood to gather up their garbage to put in the basket.
"I know what you mean Alice. This is getting more and more difficult for me. My better senses are telling me to continue to keep my distance from all of you, but my heart is telling me to get comfy because I'm here for an extended stay." Bella sighed as she stood to help Alice clean up the mess they created.
"Bella, I'm going to put these leftovers in the kitchen for you and Charlie to eat later. I was just wondering though, do you think that you might consider us having a sleepover one night? Maybe we could stay up all night talking, that just might satisfy all our needs for more time together." Esme laughed lightly as she walked into the kitchen with the basket.
"Mom, you're a genius!" Alice dropped her garbage and began an enthusiastic clapping as she jumped up and down excitedly.
"What the hell Alice?" Bella asked, annoyed as she bent down to pick up the garbage that Alice dropped in her excitement.
"A sleepover! That is just so perfect, we'll have a slumber party, just like we used to. Oh, I'll take care of all the details don't worry your pretty little head about a thing. Leave everything to me. Thanks Mom, you're the best!" Alice sprang at Esme as she returned to the living room.
"What did I just get myself into Alice?" Esme asked as she shrugged out of her daughter's grasp.
"We're going to have a slumber party. You, Bella, Rose and I are all going to sleepover at your house. It'll be just like old times!" Alice's eyes glazed over as she began to culminate a plan and the details in her head.
"What is it with everyone wanting life to be like 'old times'? I am perfectly happy with 'new times', thank you very much. Oh Alice, I am really sorry but I don't think that's a very good idea." Bella said uncertainly.
"Why not Bella? It'll be just us girls. Well I am sure that my dad will probably be lurking around the house somewhere. If you're worried about Edward being there, I'll plan it for a night that he's at work, okay? He hardly ever sleeps at home nowadays anyway, he's always at the hospital. Literally, all he uses my parent's house for is storage. I promise you won't run into him." Alice, with her hands clasped in front of her was all but on her knees begging Bella to reconsider.
"Alice, if Bella doesn't want to sleep over, that's her choice. Leave her alone." Esme chided her daughter, but Bella could tell that she agreed with her.
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that…with everything that has happened lately," Bella didn't get a chance to finish as she looked over at both of the women. "Oh who am I kidding? You go ahead and plan it Alice, I'll be there." Taking a small step forward, Bella was immediately embraced by both women. She sighed as her mind split in two, one, immediately warm and welcoming their hug, the other, warning her to keep her distance as it draped yellow 'caution' tape around her thoughts.
