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Chapter 12

Gift

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Carlisle convinced Jacob to pause long enough to listen to Alice's vision. Jacob was given the choice to join us or not. I was sure of Carlisle's confidence as Alice's vision still had a few blind spots. It appeared as if Carlisle's theory of the wolves helping to defeat Riley was exactly the case. I watched as Alice told the wolves and Bella of the vision she seen before the family came to our aid in the meadow.

Alice still had the vision of Riley and a large group of vampires attacking us before the vision went blank. However, Alice now saw a vampire retreating from the battle; someone the Cullens didn't know, but apparently Carlisle will send to Alaska with the Denali Coven. We still didn't know the outcome, the possible loses, but we knew now that Riley would be attacking in a week and a half. Rosalie and Emmett were piss they would miss their Muse concert.

Jacob did choose to help in the battle. His thoughts showed that he still didn't trust any of us but he was just anxious to kill vampires. He was looking forward to the battle for all the wrong reason. He still had every intention of acting on the violated treaty. I feared he would take this opportunity, confusion in battle to attack us. As much as I tried to stay out of everyone's head, I felt it was my duty to inform Carlisle of what I had discovered.

"I suspected as much really," Carlisle said as we sat in his study, joined by Emmett and Jasper.

"And you still trust to stand by his side in battle? We'll be working twice as hard, protecting ourselves from two enemies." I was furious, my mouth filled with venom again. Carlisle explained to me it was a response to thirst and anger; two emotions that ran deep in newborn vampires.

None of the men had anything to add to our current predicament. Mentally everyone simultaneously thought of their true love. Carlisle thought of us all. Images of the remaining seven occupants of the home flashed through his mind.

We learned from Alice's revised vision that Riley was rallying old friends of his to help in his attack. Riley knew Alice had visions but obviously wasn't threatened by what he knew we would see.

My fighting lessons with Jasper began immediately after the new information. We didn't have time for detail lessons but he was able to show me basic moves and a few that would complement my ability to counter attack based on my opponent's thoughts. Carlisle invited the wolves to watch the practice sessions. He hoped that it would be good for me to get use to their presence; he was thinking about life after war. Carlisle was optimistic that the issue involving the treaty could be resolved once our current matters were corrected.

Training with Jasper and Emmett was not as hard as I thought it would be, but I attributed that to my mind reading ability. I told Jasper and Emmett to think of anything but the fight so that I could learn to maneuver myself, minus my enhanced ability. Emmett suggested I fight Bella, since I couldn't use my skill against her, but the idea of attacking Bella made me feel sick. She swore I couldn't hurt her and taunted me by calling me a wuss or saying I just didn't want to get beat by a girl, but I took those verbal abuses. Under no circumstances would I raise my hand at Bella. Bella and I had been known to wrestle since my change but only playfully and always ended in tickles or make out sessions. Carlisle agreed with my decision, telling me that he didn't think it would bode well for our marriage, but he thought Bella's attempt to gauge me were funny, nonetheless.

I couldn't imagine Bella as a fighter. Jasper informed me that she was quite skilled in battle and that I shouldn't worry about her. He stated that Bella never really used her fighting skills but she keeps her training up as she actually enjoys it. Just as my mind reading would come in hand during battle, Bella's shield would do the same. It didn't protect against a physical battle but it would protect against other vampire powers by being pushed out to protect others. She was, in a sense, the Cullen's secret weapon. Luckily they had only participated in one other small skirmish but Bella's gift came in handy. Bella would practice expanding her shield and I was secretly relieved as the thought of her fighting anyone only angered me more. When Bella did train with Jasper, Alice or Rosalie I struggled. My newborn anger and natural instinct to protect Bella lead to a few confrontations between Jasper and me. I unintentionally jumped in between said practices in Bella's defense. I start leaving the yard on Bella's turn from that day on.

Only three of the Quileute showed for the practices, but they still did not trust us; they would only come in wolf form. The same three were always in attendance: Jacob, Sam; the black wolf, and Paul; the dark brown wolf. I learned through Jacob's thoughts that it was Leah, the dark gray wolf, and Embry, the sandy brown wolf, that we met in the meadow on that fateful day. Along side these five; there would be two other wolves to join the battle: Quil and Seth. The wolves never participated in the practice but only would watch. I was still uneasy with Jacob's constant though of the treaty. I wanted to convince him that Carlisle acted on love and nothing more. I chose to address this with Jacob on our third day of training. Jacob had walked to the farther edge of the Cullen's back yard, flanked by his usual right hand men. I knew everyone would hear the conversation but this was as close to privacy we were going to get. I took no time with small talk; this conversation was about only one thing.

"Jacob, you need to understand what happened, why Carlisle did what he did. Bella and I were head to the airport to begin our honeymoon. We stopped in a gas station just outside of Forks. Two robbers came in forcing a gun on the two of us and the cashier. I was trying to protect Bella when the man shot me. I was losing too much blood. Before any of this happened, before I was shot, before Bella and I were even married, I made up my mind that I didn't want to ever live without her; I wanted to be changed. Bella didn't want to do it, and fought tooth and nail, but when she saw me dieing she asked Carlisle to grant my wish. Carlisle is a good man. He didn't want to break the treaty," I said to the wolf form of Jacob.

"It doesn't matter," Jacob stated. I could imagine had he been human he would have spoken through clenched teeth. His irritation and anger was apparent, but his thoughts on the subject still were not clear. His mental struggle seemed to reflect his desire to not think of the situation in my presence, as if he was trying to keep something from me.

"It does matter. It is all that really matters. He changed me because I asked him to. I wanted this as soon as I accepted how much I loved Bella. The circumstance of why it was so soon, why Bella changed her mind, was the catalyst to start all of this. It wasn't Carlisle's fault."

"It doesn't matter." Jacob's refusal to discuss the topic was beginning to annoy me.

"Maybe you don't know what it is like to have a true undeniable love of your life," I was fuming, turning to look at the profile of the russet wolf at my side. "You don't know what you would give up to keep it. Nothing else is important. I choose this out of love. Carlisle granted my wish out of love for me and Bella; knowing neither one of us could go on without the other. You have not known him long enough to trust him; I understand that, so look at everyone else around you that do trust him. Charlie! The people of the town you swear you are here to protect! They all trust Carlisle everyday."

I walked away from Jacob after that. I was surprised and hurt how much prejudice Jacob had in his heart. He was the walking example of prejudice as a learned behavior. He hated what he didn't know. He assumed enemy despite the fact that the Cullens stayed true to the treaty for over seventy years. Given that every member of the Cullen Clan was with their mate, Bella and mine situation would likely never come up again. The hurt of losing my once brother was working on me. I was hurt as much as I was angry.

We practiced fight strategies like that for a week. If we were not hunting, or checking the future for changes, than we were practicing in the yard, or some neutral place where the wolves felt comfortable. Jasper believed from Alice's visions that the enemies we would be up against would not be newborns like me, but opponents with years of practice in not only fighting for their lives, but also control of their mental talent as well. Carlisle considered asking the extended Denali family to help but chose not to drag anyone else into the war. Carlisle never said anything out loud but he worried about what we could possibly lose. His worries were evident in his thoughts and Jasper felt his concerns as well. Carlisle, Jasper, nor I vocalized the topic.

We all spent considerable amounts of time with our mates as well. Bella and I continued our regular trips to our meadow, despite what happened there. It was still the quietest place and the sun always welcomed us with warm, open arms. Bella and I made such a journey there one day after hunting.

"You are quite sexy when you hunt," I told Bella as we took our usual seats.

"You're not too bad yourself. I see you have chosen your blood of choice, mountain lion. That is actually funny," she said laughing at the end of her words.

"Why is that funny?" I had no idea where this was going.

"When you hunt, every time you hunt, you remind me of a lion. You are very stealth, you stalk your pray and yet you are very graceful. It is very beautiful." Bella's eyes were already evident of the flesh blood in her system. Her liquid topaz drew me closer to her and her perfect lips. As Bella spoke, her voice ringing beautiful in my ears, she stroke my hand in hers.

Before my transformation to my new life, Bella's touch was beyond wonderful. Now with extra heightened sense, every feeling was even better. The sensation of her now warmer touch as she traced circles on my palm was felt through my every being. The scent of lilies and strawberries drowned me and the feel of her lips left me stunned. An overload of wonderful senses. I couldn't help but think back to Bella and my first night as man and wife. It seemed like so much more than just two weeks ago and I longed to feel her as intimately again.

Bella voice pulled me from my train of thought. "We have to head home. There is a surprise waiting on us. Well on you actually, I already know what it is."

Bella pulled me to my feet. "Race you!" Bella ran gracefully ahead of me.

We made it back to the house in less than two minutes and leaped into the yard over the separating ditch. I allowed Bella to make it to the yard two seconds before me. I'm sure if I were trying to, I could have won but I was too busy enjoying the view in front of me.

I could immediately hear everyone's thoughts coming from insides the house. Everyone was bustling in the living room. The atmosphere was happy despite the loom of battle and war in the air. Bella and I walked into the house hand in hand, and were instantly pulled into an embrace by Esme.

"You two have brought me so much joy. Bella, my dear, you were my first child," Esme cupped Bella's face in her hands, "and you brought me my last child," Esme said as she placed her hand on my chest. "Edward you fit right into our little circle. I don't think I have ever felt so complete."

Esme voice began to crack and she began to sob tearlessly. Carlisle took her by her waist side. His thoughts showed how much he loved her and how she was the best mother a wacky band of vampires could have. Esme cleared her throat and began again.

"I started working on this as soon as Edward was officially to join us. We all contributed." Esme handed us a key tied on the end of a royal blue ribbon. "Follow me," she chirped happily.

Esme, Alice, Bella, and I began running through the woods. After running for only five minutes we came upon a house made of gray stone. While the house looked like it could have been centuries old, the scent of unearth dirt and cement suggested that it was brand new and recently built. How did they build a house in the last two weeks? I remember how much could be done when you don't sleep at night. This was the surprise Esme was hard at work on the day we were first confronted in the woods by the wolves.

While the multiple variations of gray stone and subtle metal enhances around the beautiful house were striking, I was more enchanted by the beautiful sound of silence. I could hear the mental giggles of Esme and Alice as they stood at our side in front of the new home but I could imagine once they were gone the area would be as quiet as the meadow. I would still frequent the vacationing spot of the sun but it was a warming feeling to know I would get the same mental peace at my new home.

Bella unlocked the gift that was given to us by our family. True to tradition I picked Bella up and carried her over our new threshold. Esme loved that; it brought back the silent tears. Inside the house were a large living room, three bedrooms, and a small kitchen. The bathroom, with its very oversize shower, was larger than the kitchen. I assumed not much care would have been taken to that particular room as it wouldn't be used, but was need solely for camouflage.

One of the rooms already contained some of Bella's books, while those that remained occupied the bookshelf in the living room. Bella and my combined office also included two desks, two computers taken from the main house, and my sheet music. The walls of the office were decorated with pictures of our wedding against its cream colore. The second room, and largest room, separate from the living room, was our bedroom decorated in white. The carpet on the floor matched that of the bathroom in our now secondary room in the larger house. I looked to Alice, knowing this was her doing. She was avoiding eye contact acting uncharacteristically fidgety.

"I though you would like something familiar," Alice said answering my facial expression.

"But that is not the best part." Alice went dashing to a set of dark cherry wood double doors.

The sight was purely Alice without question. Upon us was a closet overflowing with clothes, shoes, and accessories.

"I will give you a crash course on appropriate apparel later. I don't want to hear any arguing. It is bad enough Bella chooses to be bland and unfashionable despite her beauty. We can't have two of you running around." Alice was very serious, wagging her finger in my face, and I chose not to try her at that particular moment. Alice was very please with her work and seeing my new best friend, and favorite little sister, happy came only second to seeing Bella's happiness.

The final room of the house was empty but painted a classic sage color with white borders. Esme left it to us as to what to put in the room.

"I can see us starting our life here," Bella whispered standing at my side.

I pulled Bella into a strong hold, laying my cheek on her hair, as I looked around to our backyard covered in lilies and violet Roses. Off to the left side of our double patio door was a dark gray stone pond that matched the color of the house. Inside swam a dozen gold and white fishes. I was speechless; it was the best gift ever.

Esme took us into an awkward embrace from behind. "I am glad you like it. All newlyweds need their own space but that doesn't mean you all can stay away too long. You better come see me," Esme scalded us as if we were hours away, rather than minutes.

Alice began to snicker. The vision that quickly played in her mind explained Esme's fear of mine and Bella's disappearance. I was looking forward to that particular vision playing out.

"Yes, Mom!" Bella and I chimed together sending a smile across Esme's face.

"We will let you all get comfortable with your new house." Esme drug Alice away but not before she had the last word.

"Don't have too much fun you two!"

Alice soprano laugh could be heard as she and Esme disappeared into the trees.

I was left with a beautify wife, a beautiful home, and a beautiful silence.

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