Trials of a Wedding

Cullen Residence

Today was their wedding day. All their guests had arrived and the couple was waiting, each in their assigned rooms. Jacob had a perfect view of the ceremony space. His thumb was gliding through his slight stubble.

"You look like you're deep in thought."

Jacob turned around to see his Sunshine in the doorway. "Nah. Just staring into space."

There was a knock at the door. A girl identical to Rachel made her appearance. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Becca had made it to Washington the night before.

"Not at all. Becca, this is one of my best friends, Edie."

"Nice to meet you." Edie let out her wolfy grin.

"You," Rebecca paused. "Have I met you before?"

"I don't think so. I just moved here. I'll see you later, Jacob."

"See, ya!" He addressed his sister, "I know what you're thinking. She looks like Mom when she smiles."

"Actually, I was gonna say she looks like you."

Jacob scoffed disbelievingly. "Yeah, okay."

Rebecca smiled fondly at her baby brother. "How are you feeling?"

"Calm. Secure. Ready."

"Better than me. I was a rack of nerves."

"I have those too, but they're like this tiny, annoying thing in the back of my mind."

"Oh, Jakey," she cooed. She pinched his cheeks. "Why do you want to do this?"

"You did it. Mom and Dad did it."

"Just because we did, doesn't mean you need to."

"Look." He adamantly told her, "It would be different if I was a chick and he knocked me up or he asked me to travel the world with him with his family's money, but that didn't happen. Becca, you're in Hawaii with Sol because you love him, right? I love Ed and to be honest, I don't have to answer to you or anyone but him about exactly how much I love him."

Rebecca Finau nee Black didn't think that three years could make such difference. He was only fourteen when she left. She was expecting, hoping, to see her little brother who she helped raise after their mom died, but the person in front of her was a man. He was an adamant man.

"Okay, you're right. Do you want me to shave you?"

"I think I can do that myself," he responded good-naturedly.

"If you're shaving him, then I'll do his hair." Rachel popped out from behind the door.

"Do my hair?"

"Yes, Jake. You're the bride. You need to be fussed over."

"I'm not the bride!"

On the other side of the mansion, Edward was amusing himself by the sounds his Jake fending off his sisters. He was careful not to spy on anything that had to do with Jacob's appearance. Everyone helped, of course, by keeping their minds busy.

He thought of his parents today, Edward Sr., and Elizabeth Masen. He gave Jacob his father's ring. His mother's ring was in his hands now. It was his hope to give it to the girl he would marry, but destiny had other plans, as cliché as it may sound.

"What's that?" Edie saw Edward holding a gold ring that looked like her own.

"This is, or was my mother's wedding ring."

"It's beautiful," Edie took a closer look. It was her wedding ring. She unconsciously moved her hand to hover over where her rings were on her body. Had Marcus found it that day? "This was your mother's?"

"Yes, Elizabeth Masen." He handed her a picture frame. "This is her."

"You have her eye shape."

"Same color, too. They were green; like your shade." Edward heard a stray though that was coming closer. "Tanya."

"Edward." The blond Denali was near the doorway. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything?"

"You are," Edie declared abruptly. "We're busy now."

"It will only take a second," the Denali woman pressed.

"I'm afraid I must insist that you leave," Edie's fierce tone was enough for Tanya to step back. "We'll see you at the ceremony." Tanya left without seeing Edie's face.

"That was rude."

"Yeah, well. I don't like her."

"You're normally overly polite to those you don't like."

'It's personal.'

"Okay," he understood. "I should be getting dressed."

"I'll see you downstairs."

There was a total of eight humans at the ceremony. Each of them had their own supernatural creature protecting them. Vampires sat on one side while shifters sat on the other. Sam and Jasper were on their respective sides as best men. Emmett was in the middle with his hands clasped at the front. The pews and the marriage arch were planted to the ground. The boys chose to use white tulips to decorate the arch. They were arranged to look like they grew from the earth that way.

The ceremony was starting. Everyone stood as both grooms met in the middle at the beginning of the aisle. Edward wore what could more accurately be described as a prince-like black tuxedo with a full-dress jacket and a white bow tie and vest. In Jacob's eyes, he was mouthwatering. However, if you asked Edward, Jacob was the more handsome one with his modern black tuxedo with a peak lapel and a wing collar and a black bow tie. Both men wore red tulips on their lapels.

Edward offered his left hand to Jacob. Without hesitation, Jacob took it and they marched down the aisle, together. They stood an arm's length from Emmett.

"Who gives these men to be wed?"

"We do," Carlisle and Billy chorused. Edie unconsciously squeezed Charlie's hand and her breath hitched slightly.

"When we think of love and romance, we often link destiny to their cause," Emmett began. "That was definitely the case when I met my angel. She saved my life and I've spent every moment since then trying to pay her back," he winked at Rosalie. When she responded in kind, he continued, "I can stand here and talk about love and how it has affected the lives of my brother and Jacob, but I don't need words to show you how much these two are devoted to each other. Hell, I can tell you right now that they haven't listened to a word I've said; they're too busy staring at each other to notice anything else."

The crowd laughed. "Though individual choices may affect future outcomes, some things are just meant to be and this couple in front of me is a prime example. They come from two worlds and somehow, they've managed not to kill each other while falling in love. Now I must ask you, their friends and family, is it your wish that these two be bonded for eternity?"

"It is," the crowd chorused.

"The couple has elected to recite their own vows. We'll start with Edward."

Edward placed unwavering focus on Jacob's deep chestnut brown eyes; everything else faded into the background. "Jake, I love you. There was a time when I knew the right words to say if I ever found someone like you, but those words are meaningless when I face you. When I see you this way, the way no one else gets to see, I know that we fit perfectly. I thought I was doomed to watch the world noisily pass me by, until you came along. With you, I'm able to withstand it. Instead of floating away, I'm grounded to the earth. There is no me without you. Jacob Black, I promise to be honest with you and prove my love for you. Always."

All the mortal women and a few men had tears threatening to fall from their eyes. Jacob was by far, the worst of them. "Can I kiss him now," Jacob asked Emmett.

"Sorry, that's not until later in the ceremony."

"Oh, fine. Ruin my fun, why don't you," Jacob teased. The crowd chuckled at his antics. Similarly, Jacob faced his imprint unwaveringly. "You have this unnatural ability to always know what I'm thinking. Anyone who knows me, knows that I value my privacy, so they can imagine how annoyed I am at your little superpower, but you make it up to me by letting me read your mind. Just looking at you, just being around you, I don't need anything else. What I'm trying to say is that you, Edward Cullen, are everything to me. I promise to uphold our always."

"Can I kiss him," Edward asked Emmett.

"Patience is a virtue, little brother," Emmett cleared his throat. "It's time to exchange tokens."

The couple took their respective tokens from their best men.

"I, Edward Anthony Masen Cullen–"

"I, Jacob Ephraim Black–"

"Take you as my husband–"

"To have and to hold–"

"From this day forward–"

"And I give you–"

"This bracelet –"

"This ring–"

"As a sign of my love and devotion–"

"And faithfulness–"

"I commit my heart and soul to you–"

"I choose you above all others–"

"As long as we both shall live–"

"For Always." For their wedding tokens, Edward made Jacob a leather bracelet with a diamond charm that belonged to his mother. Jacob gave Edward a ring that belonged to his mom's father. It was gold and inside the band was a symbol that looked like three spirals coming out of a larger spiral.

"By the power vested in–" It was too late, the newlyweds were already kissing. Edward dipped his husband and Jacob kept holding on to his husband's face. As the show was still going on, Emmett announced, "I now pronounce you husband and…husband! You may continue doing what you're doing."

The newlyweds were nowhere to be seen during cocktail hour. "I'm afraid you have me confused, old friend," Eleazar, the male Iberian member or the Denali coven.

"I know it sounds peculiar, but I've tried it."

"I believe you are, as they say, yanking his chain?" Carmen, Eleazar's wife, chuckled.

"No, no. Try it and you'll see," Carlisle encouraged. "Sweetheart, could you come over here please?"

Edie left Charlie in Sue's capable hands. "What's up, Carlisle?"

"I'd like you to meet two very dear friends of mine. Eleazar and Carmen."

"Mucho gusto aconocerlos. MellamoEdie." (It's a pleasure meeting you. My name is Edie.) She offered her hand.

"I am Eleazar and this is my wife, Carmen." Eleazar kissed the top of her hand in response.

"A pleasure meeting you, Querida. Is Edie short for something?" Carmen kissed both cheeks, which Edie returned in kind.

"It is, but I prefer to go by it. It was a nickname my mother gave me," Edie showed them a polite smile.

"I was just showing Eleazar that new trick you taught us."

"So, it was you who put this idea in our friend's head," Carmen chided good-naturedly.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."

"The venom trick with alcohol," Carlisle cleared up.

"Oh! Well, it's no trick. It's something I learned from a nomad named Garrett. I met him while I was traveling along the southern coast of the country."

"That certainly is interesting. Did you travel alone?" Eleazar inquired.

"Not at first. In my early years, I traveled with a friend who taught me about our world."

"Forgive me, I assumed that you were shifter like Edward's new husband." Carmen regarded Edie kindly.

"You know what they say about assuming," Edie zinged back. "Oh, sorry. I've been hanging out with the guys too much, I almost forgot my manners," she replied regrettably.

Carmen giggled, "Quechistosa! You are very humorous."

"Thank you," the hybrid blushed. "Would you like me to demonstrate my 'trick' with alcohol?"

"Yes, please."

Edie grabbed a bottle of wine and poured three glasses. She handed each of them to Carmen, Eleazar, and Carlisle. "There's not much to it. All you need to do is put a drop venom in your drink and Voila!"

Carlisle ended up doing the actual demonstration. The Iberian couple followed his exact movements and were astounded when they drank. "Girls! Laurent!"

"What is it Carmen?" Kate was the first to respond.

"You must try this!" Eleazar eagerly thrust his glass unto Kate.

"No!" Edie startled them. "I wouldn't recommend that, Eleazar. It's still venom; it might hurt her."

"Then why is my coven mate drinking it if it's poisoned," Kate interrogated. Her forceful nature brought on nostalgia to Edie.

"It's not poison to him," Edie replied serenely. "I never said it was poison. It's venom."

"Eleazar, why are you drinking your own venom?"

"Do it, and be amazed." Eleazar's golden eyes sparkled.

Carlisle chuckled, "Forgive him. He's excited. Please, grab a glass and we'll show you the reason why."

Kate and her sisters plus Laurent preformed the same actions as their coven mates and their reactions were about the same too. "Where? How?"

"I learned it from a nomad."

"A vampire nomad," asked Laurent.

"Yes."

"I thought you were a wolf."

"If you mean I'm related to Jacob, then yes, we are related through his mother's side." Edie needed to choose her words carefully. The Denali were purists when it came to the statutes of vampire law. It is only out of their fondness of the Olympic Coven that they won't say anything to the Volturi about what occurred today.

"That doesn't explain your eyes. Green is not traditional amongst our kind."

"Something must have gone wrong during my Change."

"And your tattoo?" The sweet and seductive tones of the Denali coven leader were all too familiar to the hybrid. "It has wolves on it."

"It's the pack mark," Edie trained her voice with little to no emotion. "If you'll excuse me, my friends are calling me over."

The Denali coven were taken back by her sudden change in tone. "We suspect she was on the verge of shifting in a place often populated with vampires. A vampire wanted a taste and as she puts it, she must have not 'smelled right' and that one bite changed her," Carlisle explained.

"That was careless," said Kate.

"I agree, but as long as it does not expose us, it should not cause much trouble." Tanya turned to her host. "She's a bit cold, isn't she?"

"I would have to disagree. Her nickname is Sunshine; her bright smile is enough to bring the worst enemies together," Carlisle argued.

"Quil! Put me down!" Edie's laugh filled the forest. "You're ruining my dress."

"Don't care," Quil's voice rang.

As if on cue, the Denali was exposed to Edie's signature wolfy smile. "Alice is gonna kill you."

"Alright," he relented. "I give. I don't want to suffer the Pixie's wrath." He watched Edie dust herself off and checked on her low hair bun. "It still looks good."

"Thanks. You know, all I said was that I'm related to him on his mom's side."

"That makes you an Ateara," he answered obviously. "These guys were all rooting for you to be on the Uley or Black line and I won."

"I could've been lying."

"No, you weren't. Just like you weren't lying to us about Bella Swan," Leah pointed out. She then whispered, "I also know what it looks like when you're trying to avoid an ex."

"I'm not avoiding her."

"Harsh break-up, then."

"We never broke-up. I left her, but she was never mine."

Cocktail hour ended and the party was starting. Everyone sat down to where Alice had assigned them. They were waiting for the couple to show up. The couple, on the other hand, were doing anything they could to keep from going anywhere they couldn't be alone. "If we keep going this way, we'll never get to the honeymoon."

"I thought this was the honeymoon," his wolf paused to say before continuing to trail kisses on Edward's chest.

Edward laughed at Jacob's antics. "Everyone is waiting for us."

"Screw 'em. Wait, forget that. Screw me."

"We need to go. Edie's going to sing for our first dance. We don't want to miss that."

"Fine. Help me get dressed."

"If I do that, then we'll never leave." Finally, fifteen minutes after the reception began, they made their appearance. They saw that their guests were either being fed or dancing.

Tanya had come to the wedding partly to congratulate Edward and partly to steal him away. Her opportunity earlier had been ruined by the person asking her to dance right now. "And tell me, why should I dance with you?"

"There's no reason you need to dance with me, but I would like to offer an apology and an explanation for my earlier actions."

Tanya accepted her hand, if anything, to be close to the beautiful girl that she found so familiar. "Very well." The song playing wasn't particularly fast, but it was certainly upbeat. Jasper and Alice were certainly having their fun with it. "You said you had an explanation?" The hybrid had her hand in between Tanya's shoulder blades while the other held the cold palm of the Denali leader.

"I once knew a woman that looked a lot like you. She was beautiful and insightful and I believed her when she said she loved me."

"And she broke your heart," Tanya presumed. This tale was older than her.

"My last interaction with her made me realize that my trust should be heavily guarded, especially with those I considered family. You see, I have a gift like telepathy. She asked me to never use my gift on her, and I agreed." Tanya was spun away and then back to Edie with her back touching the hybrid's ample chest.

"Until one day, you didn't."

"I used my gift while we made love. It was my first time and I wanted to know what she was thinking." Tanya was swayed side to side before being abruptly spun and dipped with Edie's nose only a millimeter away from hers.

Tanya's breath hitched. "What did you see?"

"I saw a man's face in place of mine." Tanya was brought up slowly and her dance partner backed away, so her face was better seen. "That man and I looked alike, I suppose. I left at once afterward."

Tanya heard the song end. "Will you ever forgive her?"

"No. If it was just a lie, then yes, I would, but she lied to me about love." The song ended and Edie curtsied. "Thanks for hearing me out."

"It was the least I could do. Thank you for explaining." Tanya felt lighter after having danced with the hybrid. She nearly missed the half-smirk on Edie's face that may as well have shown her parentage, not that Tanya would know. Instead, that expression captivated Tanya further.

Charlie saw the entire thing and shook his head in amusement. He waited until Edie was seated next to him to say, "Was that necessary?"

"Yes. Her alliance is important."

"I meant the dance."

"Well, no, but I never said I was a saint."

Riley and Bree arrived on time to see Edie's dance with Tanya. "Who is she," Bree spoke harshly.

"Whoever she is, she's hot!" Riley eyed the Denali woman.

"Yeah, whatever," Bree sulked.

"I don't think you have anything to worry about," they heard Jasper's voice coming closer. "Alice is bringing Edie over right now. She'll want to speak to you."

"Then why are you here?" Riley didn't mean for that to come out as rudely as it did.

"We can't have erratic vampires near so many humans."

"We're fine."

"Now you are. Mind explaining?"

"It's okay, Jasper." Riley and Bree's teacher arrived. "I'll handle them. They need you more at the reception."

"Alright. You know, you could've told her without arousing her."

"Whether she's aroused or not is none of my concern." Jasper knew his sister was unapologetic. During the dance, she felt nothing for her partner. Jasper left her to deal with her students. "How was your break?"

"It was okay," Bree responded noncommittally. Neither she nor Riley wanted to talk about their trip. However, they knew better than to hide anything from Edie. "Something happened."

"Would this something be the reason that both your eyes are amber instead of light gold like they were when you left?" The pair did not respond right away. "Did you at least get rid of the evidence?" No response. "What?"

"We thought you'd be pissed."

"Riley, I don't care if you feed on humans. Just don't do it on this land. Where did it happen?"

"Las Vegas."

"Okay, I'm assuming it was Bree's dad that you offed."

"You know about him?" Bree's voice was small and timid.

"Of course, I do. It's part of the reason I chose you."

Riley scoffed, "You saw our memories." He was kicking himself for not realizing sooner.

"Duh! I wasn't going to let just anyone near the coven pack."

Riley heard Alice calling Edie to sing. "She'll be there in a minute."

Edie spoke so low that the guests at the reception couldn't hear her. "They don't know that Charlie knows about you. They believe Charlie thinks that Riley went undercover to help with the investigation."

"What about me," Bree asked in an equally faint voice.

"You'll be fine."

"Do you trust us around so many humans," Riley asked at normal volume.

He saw her eyebrow raise at his question. "Should I have a reason to be worried?"

"No, ma'am," they chorused.

Rosalie saw Edie enter with Riley and Bree trailing behind. 'At least they got some decent clothes before they came.' She stepped on stage while Alice cleared the dance floor. "Hello everyone. Seeing as the grooms have finally graced us with their presence, let's get the party started. Some of us have decided to say a few words before we begin. Up first, it's Embry and Quil."

"Is everyone having a good time?"

"I know for sure that the grooms are. How many times was it, Jake? Four, five?" Quil waited for the laughter to die a little bit. "I kid, I kid. I'm sure it was more like eight."

"Get on with it, dumbasses!"

"Jeez, alright, alright. Don't go all Bridezilla on us." All joking aside, Quil continued, "Jake has been our best friend since we were in kindergarten."

"We've always been the three amigos and we hope that we'll continue to be for a long time."

"We know you and Edward will be traveling to a lot of places and that's good because Jake has always wanted to see the world. Take care of our buddy, Edward."

"Jake, Edward, congratulations."

"Oh, and I won. She's an Ateara!" The pack and their imprints chuckled more at the last comment.

Up next, were Jacob's sisters. Each of them tried to outdo the other by coming up with one embarrassing story after another. The only thing that Alice said was that she hoped that they had a long and happy life together. Rosalie, on the other hand, was an unexpected speaker. "Thank God you married him Edward. Now I have someone I can talk cars with. No offense, Monkey-Man."

The best men were next. First was Sam. "I speak for the rest of our pack when I say that we just want you to be happy. You've taken on a lot of responsibility this year. I know it's stressful and you need someone to come home to at night to make it all worth it. I'm glad you found that in Edward. Congrats, man."

Jacob stood to clap Sam's back and shake his hand when Sam got to their table. Likewise, Edward shook Sam's hand. They sat down to listen to Jasper. "After you met Jake, you started writing new songs. They weren't just happy, they were a new genre altogether. It was powerful and punchy and it had a whole life in and of itself. Thank you, Jacob Black. Thank you, Edward and congratulations."

Jasper made his way to his seat at the main table where he hugged both grooms. The parents were next and Esme was given the honors to go first. "You were always saving yourself for 'the one' and I am so glad that you finally found him in Jacob. Jacob, I hope know that now that you're officially my son, I must insist that you call me Mom."

Everyone clapped loudly. Edward and Jacob attacked Esme with a kiss on each cheek which made a beautiful photo. Jacob and Edward stayed on the dance floor while their fathers did their speeches. "Being your father has been wonderful and I am glad that you found Jacob and Jacob, I'm so glad that you have found him. You became part of our family the day my son came home happier than I've ever seen him." Edward wrapped his father in a fierce hug. Carlisle peered over Edward's shoulder to see Jacob mouthing 'Thank you' to him. "Billy, it's your turn."

"Well, finally." There was laughter across the room. "Edward, you came by my house the day you proposed to my son to ask my permission. What you didn't know is that Jake, not even two hours earlier, told me that he planned on asking you to marry him too. The point I'm trying to make is that, both of you knew what you wanted and it was the same thing: each other. I never thought that I could see my son this happy and I hope that your life together is as wonderful as my life with Sarah was."

Jacob hugged Billy with enough force to not crush him. "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Jacob."

The parents went to their seats and Edward took over the microphone. He was about to say something, but the words wouldn't come to his mouth. Then he realized, he didn't need to. Words limited what their emotions expressed.

Alice took the microphone from Edward and placed it on the stand for Edie to use. Jacob and Edward stood in the middle of the shiny false floor. White fabric was draped over the trees and they connected to the middle where a small chandelier hung. All eyes were on Edie.

"And now, our new grooms will dance their first dance as husbands," Alice began. "Singing, is Edie Black Swan."

Riley was standing behind the Denali table with Bree. He had never seen Edie look so nervous. He wondered if anyone else noticed. It didn't seem like they had. Then again, there were only two other people at the wedding that spent as much time with her as he had.

"Jacob and Edward wanted me to sing at their wedding," she told her audience. "I didn't even know I could sing until over a year ago when I was invited to a club. There, two boys named Anthony and Ephraim met and spoke face to face for the first time." The couple smiled at each other knowingly. "This is for them."

The music began. It was a ballad. There was a band behind her. Alice thought this would be better than just following the instrumentals on a track. The keys were played with purpose. Edie nearly missed her queue. "Lying beside you, here in the dark. Feeling your heartbeat with mine. Softly you whisper, you're so sincere. How could our love be so blind? We sailed on together. We drifted apart and here you are, by my side."

Jasper followed the control Edie put into the lyrics. So, when she punched the lyric, he felt the wind knock out of him and the influence of his gift spread. "So now I come to you with open arms. Nothing to hide, believe what I say. So HERE I AM, with open arms. Hoping you'll see what your love means to me. Open arms."

Pictures were appearing on the ceiling. They presented like images from a projector. The images showed scenes of Edward and Jacob's relationship. From when she met each of them up to now. Each moment in time showed the love Edward and Jacob always had for each other. No one had a clue that it was Edie's memories they were seeing.

Jasper's empathic gift changed was unyielding, it kept flowing out of his control. Jasper wasn't doing this willingly. He felt such strong emotion, that his body immediately reacted. "Living WITHOUT YOU, living ALONE. This empty house seems so cold. Wanting to hold you," she breathed then belted, "WANTING YOU NEAR. How much I wanted you home."

It was too much. He was starting to feel vulnerable, starting to feel human. "Now that you've come back, turned night into day, I NEED YOU TO STAY." He tried dispersing this fury, this grief, this joy, to everyone else.

It worked. There was no dry eye in the area except for the vampires who looked like they were in pain. The only ones that seemed protected by this onslaught were the newlyweds. Riley saw this. He felt it. He knew. "So now I COME TO YOU with open arms. Nothing to hide, BELIEVE WHAT I SAY. So HERE I AM, with open arms. HOPING YOU'LL SEE…what your love…means to me…Open arms."

The applause was overwhelming. Riley saw Edie take the opportunity to leave the stage undetected. Bree, obviously, followed Riley to Edie. What they saw was small and exposed girl rather than the strong and guarded woman they had come to know. It seemed like Edie was trying to hang onto the trunk of the tree. Trying to keep herself from falling.

Jasper wasn't the only one to notice this shift in emotions, surely, more than a few did and dismissed them to be Edward and Jacob's emotions. Emmett almost did the same thing until he saw his sister walk off the stage. He saw her do the same thing before, but said nothing to give herself some privacy. When she revealed her mother's pregnancy, it made more sense, but why was she running now? He stayed far enough away to be unseen and kept himself downwind. The exchange was odd, to say the least.

Neither Riley nor Bree made a move to comfort her. Was it shocking seeing a proud Edie crumble? Riley started the conversation with an odd statement, "This is why you chose me, isn't it? Because it hurts. It hurts to see them looking for you and knowing you can tell them you're okay, but not being able to. They'd be in danger if you told them." No response from Edie. "But what hurts the most is seeing them happy. Seeing them be happy means that they can move on, but part of you doesn't want them to move on. You want them to grieve you. You want to be part of their lives, but you can't."

"How are you so sure?" Edie's voice was raw as if it hurt to speak.

"I'm not. I'm confused as fuck, but this is the only thing that makes sense even if it isn't plausible. I just need you to say if that it's true."

"You're right. I chose you because I saw part of myself in you."

"Who is it? Cullen or Black?"

"Time-out," Bree exclaimed. "Can I be part of this conversation, too?"

"Bree, you know I'm from Forks, right," Riley wanted to confirm.

"Yeah."

"That means who else lives here?"

"Your parents," she said it so obviously. "Wait a sec. Are you saying that they are Edie's parents? When did they adopt you?"

"I wasn't adopted."

"Cullen or Black," Riley stressed. "One of them screwed a girl and now she's pregnant. I bet it was C–"

"Take it back," a guttural voice escaped Edie's mouth. "They're completely devoted to each other."

"Someone screwed somebody and if you're not going to tell me, then I'll ask Cullen myself."

Edie put a soundproof dome around the reception area. "What makes you think that they'll tell you even if it was true?"

"Doesn't matter. Either way, someone's going to find out the truth."

"The truth isn't important!"

"Of course, it is. I know you're not crying, but you're in pain. Telling the truth will help with that."

"Pain is part of life. Why is mine any different?"

"You're kidding, right?!" Their attention was directed to Bree. "I don't know about Riley, but you're my hero. You saved me and gave me a purpose. Esme and Carlisle took me in and gave me a family and you taught me how to protect them."

"That thing with Victoria messed me up. You respected me. I wasn't a toy to you," Riley admitted. "You could've let those guys kill me, but you didn't because you saw something in me that was remotely redeemable."

"You're our teacher, Edie."

"So, if you're hurt, then someone is getting their ass kicked."

Edie was moved by their words, but, "I can't let you hurt them."

"Why?"

"Because Jacob is not my father!" She breathed harshly. Calmly she explained, "Jacob Black...is my mother. Edward Cullen is my father."

Riley and Bree froze with expressions that looked like distorted disbelief, like scowls. Edie's warm palms rested on their cheeks and they were exposed to Edie's memories.

Eyes bulged and jaws dropped. "The fuck?" They choked in unison.

"Please don't ask me how. I don't even know. Listen, it's my business whether I tell them or not. Can you respect that?" They nodded. They went back to the party after the barrier was lifted.

Emmett slumped to the forest floor. He went over all of it in his head; every encounter, every small mannerism, every clue that he missed. His sister, no, his niece was –

"Emmett?"

"Angel," he breathed. Rosalie had come looking for him.

"What are you doing on the ground. You've been missing for most of the reception."

"I didn't realize–" His vacant stare made him look possessed.

"You're scaring me, Emmett."

"I–" They heard cheers. It was time for the send-off. "We should go say good-bye."

When Emmett and Rosalie arrived, Jacob and Edward strolled out the front door. Everyone else was waving them good-bye. Charlie left right afterwards to drop off Sue and Billy. He took just a little bit longer when he dropped her off. The "kids" stayed behind at the Cullen home for a while longer. Tanya and the rest of her coven stayed as well.

"Say, Alice," Tanya began. "What can you tell me about your sister?"

"Bree was part of the newborns that were causing trouble in Seattle. She's very sweet and sort of shy."

"Actually, I meant your other sister. The one with the emeralds for eyes."

Alice smirked and shook her head. "Edie just joined us a few months ago. She was originally part of the Quileute tribe before she was bitten. She also likes meat. A. Lot," Alice giggled.

"Has she been one of us for long?"

"Almost a century. Tanya, I know what you want, but it isn't going to happen."

"Did you see my decision already?"

"No, I saw hers. And forgive me for being blunt, but you're not part of it."

"I see." Tanya kept the hybrid in her sights.

"Alice, your reputation for creating fabulous wedding stands," Carmen appreciated.

"Actually Carmen, I barely touched this wedding. It was mostly Jacob and Edward."

"Really?"

"Yes, I believe he told me. 'Dammit, Alice! If I'm marrying Ed, then I'm marrying him on my own terms.' Ha-ha. I barely got any say in it. Which, actually worked out better for me. He only gave me reign over the wedding fashion."

"Oh, they were such charming suits."

"I know. Besides, I'll host the next weddings."

"Are you sure Jake will let you?"

"Yes Seth, I am and you're invited to all of them."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

"I thought you'd be on my side, Edie."

"I am. I love the romanticism of weddings. The dress and the flowers and that person who will always stand beside you. But, if I know Jacob, then this is his and Edward's only wedding."

"You'll just have to help me convince them." Alice latched onto Edie's arm.

"Oh, fine, but I want to be the flower girl."

"Deal!"

"You'd make a wonderful flower girl," Esme whispered to Edie. Edie's cheeks heated up at the thought.

"We've had a wonderful time, Esme."

"Are you leaving so soon, Eleazar?"

"Yes, I'm afraid. We must get home soon. Laurent still struggles with being around so many humans."

"But he's getting there, right," Irina interceded.

"Yes, my siren," Laurent bent down to kiss his mate. "I'm slowly, but surely learning to be like you."

"Even if you slip up every now and then, it will be okay."

"You're okay with those that drink from humans?" Laurent was skeptical of the green-eyed vampire.

"Of course. There're all kinds of vampires out there and most of them drink from humans. It's our two families that are the 'oddballs' of our species," she jested.

"But you're murdering people," Kate intervened. The wolves were in agreement as well as the Cullen coven.

"It's no different than killing animals." Everyone silently disagreed, shocked by her statement.

"How can you agree with murder?" Jared was bewildered. "You're a w– Quileute! We kill those that feed on humans."

"I don't condone those that break the treaty, but you've said it before, it isn't natural for vampires to feed on only animals."

"I have to disagree, Carlisle has gone through this life drinking from ONLY animals."

"Eleazar, even Carlisle struggled in his early days."

"And you know this through one of your gifts. I believe you call it, Memory Manipulation."

"Yes."

"Fascinating."

"How do you know what she can do without her or any of us telling you," asked Sam.

"It's my gift. I'm an Ability Identifier."

"Can you see all that she can do?" Sam wondered if this was a way he could finally know more about the hybrid.

"Mostly. I've never met someone who could block my gift. You are a unique vampire, Ms. Swan, I'm sorry, Black Swan."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Eleazar. Please call me Edie."

"It was a pleasure meeting you and your tribe. Don't worry, I won't mention them in my report."

"Report?" The question came from Leah.

"Yes, the leaders of our world like to be kept in the loop when it comes to new unions. Rest assured that none of you will be mentioned. They'd have all our ashes if I did."

The Denali Coven left after that. "Carlisle," Sam began. "Why didn't you tell us about these reports to the Volturi?"

"I didn't believe it was necessary."

"Did Jake know?"

"I don't think so."

"How could he if none of us knew?" Rosalie felt betrayed at the secrecy of her coven father.

"It was never my intention to keep this a secret."

"Esme and Edward knew though."

"Actually, I didn't know."

"Edward didn't know either. Every time I needed to present new editions to the family, we were close to Volterra, so there was never a need to tell you."

"Still, you should've told us. Or you, Edie. You lived with them. Why didn't you tell us?"

"Rose, I thought you knew. I'm sorry. If I knew, then I would've told you."

"Alice!" Jasper was holding onto his wife, keeping her steady. She was falling. Her face was molded in distress.

"They're coming, but I can't see!"

"What can you see?"

"Aro. I see Aro and the guard, but they're all blurred out. I see people I don't recognize. I'm scared Jazz." Alice clung onto Jasper.

Alice recognized Edie coming closer to her. "Maybe I can help you see. Since I'm part of that event, maybe I can help clear it up."

"How?"

"Give me your arm." Alice did as her sister said. An electrical current flowed through them. Both women sucked in as much air as they could. The vision finally settled. The women were inside Volterra's stone walls. A letter was being presented to Aro. His grin stretched from ear to ear. Caius' face is matching. Marcus' typical solemn face moved slightly. Time passed and another letter arrived. From that last letter, Aro finally decided to act. The vision changed.

They noticed that the grass was drier than it was now. Edie was in the center of their family while Alice stood beside Jasper and the youngest of the wolf pack. The pack's members appeared bigger than they were currently. Alice looked around at what she couldn't see previously.

There were more vampires than just their coven. The Denali was there and other covens that the Olympic Coven had befriended over the years. Some that she didn't recognize, like the ones that were closest to her. They presented like vampires, but they had human eyes; one male and two females. There was also a full vampiric female with a close resemblance to the male. The Volturi had far greater numbers than they did. Alice could tell that there was more than just the guard with them. When she looked closer, she saw that there were two extra members of the coven that hardly left the coven behind the three lords.

Speaking of the three lords, Aro stood tall, Caius as well. Marcus, however, couldn't stay still. Alice saw him furiously racing to Edie. Alice saw her sister make no move to evade him. No one moved to rescue her. Edward and Jacob simply moved out of the way. Marcus as choking her. Alice and Edie came out of the vision. Edie was holding her neck and choking on air.

Emmett moved to get her. He held her like a newborn baby. "Marcus," she gasped.

"We should go to the house," Emmett suggested. He carried his niece to the couch and Jasper carried his wife there as well. Emmett tried to lay her down, but she insisted on sitting. Edie clasped her hands together and stared at the floor. Alice was no better.

"How bad was it," asked Jasper.

"They're bringing the wives," Alice answered.

The vampires except for Bree and Riley gasped. "Who's wives?" The question came from Paul.

"Aro and Caius' wives. They never leave the tower. The last time they came out was when the immortal children appeared."

"Why are they coming now?"

"Because of whatever is in those letters that Eleazar and Dr. Cullen sent," Edie answered matter-of-factly. "Whatever it was, it made Aro happy and Caius was manic."

"Carlisle, what was in your letter," Sam questioned.

"I only wrote about Edie and her ability to see other's memories without touching them."

"Did you write about anything else?"

"No."

"You're not asking him the right questions," Edie interrupted.

"Then what should I ask?"

"Ask him when was the last time he wrote to them."

All eyes were on the patriarch. "Well, Carlisle?"

With shame, Carlisle confessed, "A month ago."

"What did you write that time?" No human ears could detect sound in the living room. "What did you tell them," Sam repeated.

"I asked if they ever encountered a cross-species mutation."

"Like Edie's."

"Yes."

"What did they say?"

"Are you that desperate to know about me, Sam?"

"I'm just trying to protect my tribe."

"You and Dr. Cullen are alike in that way. You think that by knowing everything that you can protect your family, your friends."

"How is that wrong? Knowledge is key to victory."

"Yes, but you're so focused on one aspect that you're forgetting what you need to know."

"I'm the beta, I need to know everything."

"Why do you need to know everything about me?"

"You're stronger than any of us. You hold back on your true power. You can control us all if you wanted to, but you decide to help us instead. How do we know that you're not the one we should watch out for? How do we know you're not manipulating us?"

Sam was greeted with a mirthless chuckle from Edie. "Wow. This is ironic. Really. It's amusing."

"What is?"

"You said the same thing to Jacob, more or less."

"No, I didn't."

No one had ever seen that cold stare in Edie's normally vibrant eyes. Her voice was equally cool. "I don't have time for this. Edward and Jacob will be back before we know it, and I need to do research."

"We're not done here." Sam grabbed her arm as she tried to leave with Riley and Bree.

"Yes, we are." Sam felt his arm shatter. He yelled in pain. His assailant's eyes were apathetic. She still held his limp hand. "Don't be a child. It's just a shattered limb." In an instant, Sam's pain was gone and he was able to move his arm and fingers. "You don't control me, Sam. I'm also not your enemy. I'm sorry if I gave you that impression."

"Where are you going," asked Esme.

"Riley, Bree, and I are going to California." The coven pack watched her leave.

"Are you okay," Emily nursed Sam's arm.

"I'm fine."

"Why do you provoke her," asked Emmett. "You know what she can do."

"You sound like you're afraid of her."

"That's ridiculous."

"Then, why warn me?"

"I didn't think I needed to. She came here to help us and she hasn't done anything to make me think that she wants to hurt us."

"She shattered my arm."

"She also healed you. She wouldn't have even done it if you hadn't grabbed her like that."

"None of you have lived through a war. We have. Edie is like one of those kids that were left behind while their parents were out fighting and dying; nearly desensitized," Jasper addressed the Quileute pack.

"Look, we like Edie and all, but," Jared began. "We don't have any secrets between us. The mind link doesn't let us. Edie does. It's hard to trust someone who's not in your position ya' know."

"But we've never seen it from her side."

"That's what we're talking about Seth."

"No, you're not listening to me. I know I'm just a kid and sometimes I say dumb shit, but listen, please." The fourteen-year-old commanded their attention to him. "We keep talking about Edie and saying things about her from what we see, but we never stopped to see it from her point of view."

"What are you talking about Seth," Leah raised her eyebrow at her brother's weird conclusion.

"I'm saying that, like, look. Remember when she drank that blood, ya' know, after she told us what she did to Bella? Jake and Edward were ready to kill you guys, but she stopped them. And remember what she said next? She said we needed to stay together. She said more than once that her life doesn't matter as long as we're okay." Seth paused to see that they were all taking him seriously. "It's like what Jazz said, she's seen more shit than any of us."

"Yeah, smart guy, but if it's so important for her to change the future, then why not tell us more things about it? Why doesn't she tell us more about herself?"

"Do you tell everyone your life story?" Rosalie intervened, "If you could hide certain things from your pack, wouldn't you? I know I would."

"You're asking her to trust you when the reality is that she shouldn't," Alice suddenly uttered.

"How do you mean?"

"You and I are the guilty ones, Sam, remember?"

"Sorry?"

"The reason she came here in the first place is that we messed up. I don't mean just you and me. All of us did."

"Because of what we did in the previous timeline, Edie had to come and fix it," Quil concluded.

"Exactly."

"But why not just tell us?" The question came from Embry.

"I was thinking about that too and I realized it's because she wanted us to make our own decisions."

"Like when Jake chose to become Alpha."

"Yes."

"But she influenced him," Sam interrupted.

"She gave him choices," Esme disagreed. "By telling him about you all ahead of time, she gave him more options besides choosing between his friends and his imprint."

"Oh my God. That's it!"

"What is it, Rose," Emmett asked.

"That's what she changed. That's why Alice and Sam are the guilty ones. Alice was the one to bring Bella Swan into our world."

"No, I didn't. Edward did."

"He wouldn't have done it if you hadn't encouraged him to do it by showing him your visions. Swan was the reason the Volturi were able to get very close without being detected. She got rid of her and now we can track their decisions without that interference."

"Okay, fine. Then why am I guilty?"

"Think about it. Does Jake seem like the type to take a leadership position just because someone asked? Especially about something he had no clue existed?"

"No," Embry answered. "He doesn't do anything half-assed or without knowing as much as he can."

"Precisely. When we work in the garage together he always asks about their history and does his homework on which part would work with which car. Edie told him about shifters so he could keep you all."

"So, what you're saying is that she wanted Jake to be Alpha. But, why?"

"Because Sam messed up."

"How did I mess up?"

"I don't know."

"I think I do," Emmett suddenly spoke after hearing his wife go over her findings. "She's so smart. She planned this from the start. She wanted all of us to get along."

"Because…"

"Because if we didn't, then we would be fighting each other all the time," Brady picked up on what Emmett was saying. "I mean, even when we didn't know we were wolves, we were taught that Cold Ones were the enemy, right?"

"So, if all of you hated each other and Sam was Alpha," Rachel injected herself into the conversation. "Then, when Jake Imprinted on Edward, okay, wait! I'm confused."

"Edie had us get along because in her timeline we didn't," Paul helped his girlfriend. "We would've been fighting all the time. Even Edward and Jake. Then, when Swan came with the Volturi, we all died because we couldn't work together." He came to this conclusion after he looked back on the time when he barely knew Edie.

"Expect the unexpected and stay together," Sam realized. He still didn't know if he could trust the hybrid completely, but at least now he understood her motives and methods more. "I have one last question. Why did she say Marcus when she came out of the vision?"

"He was choking her," Alice answered ominously.

"Where is Carlisle," Seth wondered.

"Trying to catch up to Edie so he can apologize," Esme answered.