(A/N): All rights to Stephenie Meyer! Special thanks to Caius09 for getting this chapter edited and sent back to me!
EPOV
Bella typed her e-mail to her mother and as soon as her father fell asleep, I jumped from the window with her safely secured in my arms. After she'd spent the entire day crying, me being helpless in her sorrows, she needed something to relieve her mind. Safely on the ground, I shifted her easily onto my back and began to run as soon as she secured her arms around my neck.
At first, we ran in the woods around her house. Bella seemed relaxed and calm as the wind hit her face and she took deep cleansing breaths. I was thrilled that she could still enjoy running with me, even though she was no longer able to run herself.
After a short time, my phone began to buzz in my pocket. I slowed to a stop and pulled it out to answer, keeping one arm in place to support Bella's weight. She adjusted herself on my back and rested her head against my shoulder to wait.
"Hello?"
"Ask Bella if she wants to come to the house. Charlie won't even check in on her in the morning. If she wants, she could stay the night with us." Alice cheered into the phone. She already knew the answer.
"Let me ask her Alice. Bella, would you like to go to my house? Alice assures me that Charlie won't miss you tonight or in the morning, if you choose to stay the night." I smiled at the thought of having Bella back at my house sleeping in my bed.
"Of course. Are you sure no one minds me being there? I haven't been the happiest person as of late."
"Tell her to stop being ridiculous and to come. Esme is making her some hot cocoa now." I could hear the implied eye-roll in Alice's voice before she hung up.
"Alice says to stop being ridiculous," I said as I slipped the phone back into my pocket easily, "and hold on tight." As soon as I felt her arms tighten around my neck, I took off towards my house. Alice was waiting on the front steps when we arrived. She knew Bella had been upset, but she didn't realize from her visions how bad it had been for her.
"Bella! I'm so sorry you've had a bad day. Come inside. Esme is making you some hot cocoa to help you relax."
I slipped Bella off my back and let her walk over to meet Alice. In her daze, she didn't trip a single time.
"She looks awful. I wish there was a way to help ease her pain. Jasper can calm her, but he can't take it away completely." Alice thought to me.
"I don't know what to do other than to comfort her as best I can and hope that she finds closure." I whispered under my breath where Bella couldn't hear. Alice nodded as she led Bella inside where the scent of chocolate was coming from. I listened in as Esme greeted Bella and led her to the loveseat. I walked in the house slowly without making a sound, passing Alice as she ran upstairs quietly.
"Is it alright for me to join the two of you?" I asked low enough so only Esme could hear me. She was comforting Bella as best she could, being a mother to her since her mother was so far away, not that Bella could confide in her if she were here. It made my heart fill with pride.
She nodded over Bella's head that it was okay for me to join them on the opposite sofa. I walked in quietly and sat down on the couch across from them. A few seconds after sitting, Alice came back down to the living room, a pair of Rosalie's pajamas over her arm for Bella to wear to bed. All the shopping she had forced Bella to do and neither of them thought to get sleepwear.
Bella thanked Alice softly and leaned into Esme's embrace. A contented sigh escaped her lips as Esme rubbed soothing circles on her back. Alice excused herself quietly to step outside where Jasper sat silently. Esme continued stroking Bella's hair gently until she decided to change clothes. Bella thanked Esme for the cocoa before leaving the room, clothes in hand.
I sat in a daze while Bella slipped out of the room to change and Esme left to go meet Carlisle at the hospital. I didn't even realize it when the place on the couch next to me sunk down. I was still completely unaware of my company until I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"She's doin' better now Edward," Jasper said, "she was a wreck when she first got 'ere but she's calmed down a lot."
"Good. This afternoon wasn't easy on her. I just wish there was something I could do for her. Sadly, I wish she didn't remember. At least that way she could be happy."
"You don't mean that." Jasper said quietly, his hand still on my shoulder.
"No, I don't, but my heart breaks into smaller pieces with each new tear that she sheds."
Jasper hummed to himself quietly, removing his hand from my shoulder. Thoughts were flickering through his mind, but I didn't pay attention to them.
"Is she goin' to skip school with us tomorrow?" He asked after a few moments of silence.
"Why would we skip tomorrow?" I asked, my thoughts still on the day of agony Bella had endured. The weekend more so than just one day.
"It's goin' to be sunny tomorrow and if she's trapped 'ere with no way to get to her truck, how'll she go to school?"
I hadn't thought about that. I knew tomorrow was supposed to be sunny, and the next day too, it just hadn't registered. Before, Bella had gone to school and I had basically sat in the woods watching her through the minds of our classmates. But this time? I didn't want Bella to have to go to school without me, but there was nothing I could do to join her. I needed to hunt again as well, but I wanted to do it while Bella would be occupied. I couldn't bear to leave her alone if she needed me.
"I'm not sure. I'll have to ask her when she comes back downstairs."
"Ask me what?" Bella said as she stepped into the room. Rosalie's sweat pants and tank top hugged all of her curves and looked wonderful on her. I felt a twitch from within my pants but I pushed it aside. I heard Jasper mentally chuckle before I formed coherent words.
"It's going to be sunny tomorrow. Before, you were at school and I was basically standing in the woods analyzing every little thing you did. Did you want to stay home with us tomorrow, or would you like me to take you home before sunrise so you'll be able to drive yourself?"
She looked thoughtful for a moment, then sighed as she dropped onto the couch next to me, opposite of Jasper.
"I guess I'll go to school. I know you need to hunt anyway and I want you to take care of yourself. It will give you plenty of time if I'm not here." She stroked the purple circles under my eyes before looking over at Jasper.
"Hi Jasper. I'm sorry you're having to deal with my current emotional state. I can leave if it would make things easier for you."
"You're controllin' it very well Bella. Don't stress over it. I go to high school every day. It helps me build up a good tolerance to all kinds of mood swings." He winked at her before leaving the room to rejoin Alice outside.
The rest of the house was quiet. Emmett and Rosalie were out hunting together since Emmett and I never made the plans to go to Goat Rocks Wilderness together. Not that I would have gone this time anyway. It had been difficult enough last time before Bella and I truly knew each other. This time would just be torturous.
"You don't have to go to school if you don't want to. I could always hunt once you sleep tonight. Or you could have some alone time with the girls again tomorrow. Rosalie will be back later tonight and Alice is just outside with Jasper. You could sleep then spend the day with them tomorrow while I hunt. I'm sure Jasper and Emmett wouldn't mind going with me to give you
some girl time. Besides, if you go to school, I won't hunt, I'll just stick close to the trees and keep an eye out for you." I winked at her and she smiled gently.
"That's fine. Ditching is healthy every now and then, so someone very wise once told me. Just go ahead and go hunt tonight. I'm too tired to really enjoy our alone time right now. Besides, I don't feel much like repeating another day at that place. Which, I guess things are different now since I'm not really friends with Jessica and her group. I really would be alone anyway." She sighed and relaxed into my side.
"Please tell me what you're thinking." I said after she'd gone completely silent.
"Well," she said, "I miss Angela, but this time, I've never really gotten to know her. I want to, but that's just one more person I will have to say goodbye to later. It's best that I do the same with her as Jacob, that way, only I have to suffer the loss."
I wanted to reassure her, but I knew she was right. It would be easier on everyone else this way, but I hated to see Bella suffer for the happiness of others.
"Oh God…" She said suddenly, "Will she still be with Ben Cheney if you don't step in? I mean, maybe step in long enough for that, just so we don't ruin her future by fixing ours."
"Of course love. I'll time it just as last time. I don't think they need my help, but if you would rather me not take that chance, that's fine."
Bella and I sat in silence after that until she began to yawn. With her cocoa gone and sleep beginning to take over, I carried her upstairs to our bed and tucked her in. She was asleep before I'd even said goodnight. It had been a very long and emotionally exhausting day for her, so I couldn't much blame her body for giving up.
After kissing her head, I slipped out of the room silently and met Jasper and Alice outside.
"I'm going to hunt before Bella wakes. I'll be back in a few hours. Are you sure Charlie won't miss her?"
"I'm positive Edward. He will get up, get ready, and leave without so much as checking on her. He won't even find out that she ditched school tomorrow and Bella won't miss a thing." Alice said confidently.
"That's good to know. I'm going to go so I can get back faster. Look after her for me."
Alice nodded, sensing that I needed some time alone, and waved me away. She seemed to have something on her mind, but if it didn't involve Bella's wellbeing, I didn't much care at this point. Instead, I dashed into the trees and ran as fast as my legs would carry me. Bella's long day
of tears tore my heart out, and had I been cursed with Jasper's little talent, I'm not sure I would have been able to hold myself together.
After a run to clear my head, I sought out bigger game. Deer were fine, but I preferred something larger to sate my thirst. I was close to Canada when I caught the scent of a mountain lion. I ran towards the direction of the scent, my senses taking over my movements. I hoped that by taking down the bigger game, I could wait longer before having to leave Bella again.
I saw the mountain lion in the distance and crouched to approach it. I pounced and drained him quickly, all thrill of the hunt lost without Bella hunting beside me. Picturing her hunting, her ruby red eyes locked on her prey, made the hole in my chest reappear. Without being able to stop myself, I took down a deer and a relatively large bobcat, nearly causing my insides to slosh, and then I ran back in the direction of Bella. Even though I would be unable to ease her pain, being away from her was more torturous than being useless by her side. I could really care less about bigger, better tasting animals as each step took me closer to her. I was fed, that's all that mattered.
The sun was just beginning to rise when I approached the house. I hadn't realized how far and long I'd traveled during my run and hunt. I had purposely avoided going to the meadow, saving that for when Bella could accompany me. Instead, I'd concentrated on just the thrill of the wind in my hair, though I quickly realized that the thrill was absent without Bella by my side or on my back.
"Welcome back."
I turned towards the garage to see Rosalie leaning against it, her arms folded.
"I hear Bella is staying home from school today. Is that wise Edward?" She leaned away from the wall and walked towards me at a human pace, her face showing concern, which was unusual.
"I see no problem with her avoiding a day she's already done once. She had a long day yesterday and I think it would be beneficial for her to relax and spend the day with our family." I glanced at the sun as it slowly crept into the sky, my skin faintly casting a glimmer from its rays.
"I guess so, but what if this changes the future? I don't mean the bad things you're trying to avoid, but the good things too. What if you get so far off course with your actions that she has to be changed prematurely before she has a chance to conceive?"
So that's where the concern lies. I thought to myself.
"That won't happen Rosalie, I can assure you of that. Bella is much more aware of her self-preservation this time, and we already know all the dangers we will have to face within the next year. Everything will be fine." I assured her.
"That's my point exactly Edward!" Rosalie threw her hands in the arm, frustration evident in her stance, "What if you go about avoiding these little mishaps so thoroughly that something much worse comes instead? I don't mean to do everything exactly the same and throw us to the mercy of the Volturi, but maybe let the smaller things happen as planned. Or better yet, forget the original timing and have a child now. Why wait? It's not as if she hasn't finished this high school already, you said so yourself."
"I understand that, but this is the way it's supposed to happen." I argued.
"The way it's supposed to happen is what got us killed in the life you remember!" Rosalie spat back just as quickly.
"Look Rose, Bella deserves another chance to be with her family and to complete high school, even if she's already done it. It's not fair to her to just cut off all contact with her family and move on with her life. She would regret it for eternity."
"But with this second chance with her family, all she is doing is making them love her all the more before she has to leave anyway. It will make things much more difficult on them that way. It's better to get it over with now." Rosalie crossed her arms over her chest, her stubbornness getting in the way of reason. I glanced again to the sun, worried that Bella would wake before I got there.
"It's not your choice Rosalie. Nor is it mine." I sighed, "Let me ask you this. Had you known before your change that you were going to lose everything, would you just get it over with, or try to enjoy what time you had?"
"But that's different! If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to be turned at all. I would have done everything in my power to avoid Royce and stay alive to get exactly what I wanted. I would have been a wife and mother and I would have died with grandchildren at my feet."
"Exactly. She has a choice, and this is how she wants to do it. If you were given the choice, Emmett wouldn't convince you to be changed, as much as he wants to have you forever, he would allow the decision to be yours alone. Bella wants to be one of us again, but it's only practical that she be allowed to do it her way." I folded my arms and held my ground against Rosalie's famous glare. After a moment, I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped my lips.
"What could you possibly find funny about this conversation?" Rosalie said, her eyes still shooting daggers, the sun glinting off of her skin onto the ground.
"It's amusing to me that in the before life, you were my only ally against Bella's change. Now you are pushing for it harder than anyone, including Bella herself."
"I thought this is ultimately what she wanted. I just don't want her to lose the opportunity to be a mother." Rosalie said in a whisper, her anger dropping slightly as she flipped her hair with a hand.
"I am very glad that you approve of my Bella this time, but please Rose, allow us to do this our way. You will have a niece or nephew, I promise. You're immortal. Patience should be part of you by now." I chuckled and pulled her to me in a tight hug. From her thoughts, I knew she was rolling her eyes, but she hugged me back anyway.
"Alice said Bella will wake up in another hour," Rosalie said as we ended our hug, "I'm guessing that's why you keep staring at the sun so intently. Alice also said Bella hasn't changed her mind about school so I guess she will be with us today. It's very strange having someone around who needs sleep."
"Tell me about it," I chuckled, "And thank you for caring about Bella, even if you do have an ulterior motive. I still appreciate it."
Rose nodded to me before she disappeared into the garage. She wanted to do some work on her car after the drive to Silverdale. It wasn't exactly a long ride, but Rosalie treated her car as if it were her child. Often times in her mind, she even called the car by the name of Meghan. It was one of the few things I could name that Rosalie truly cared about something other than herself.
Collecting my thoughts, I ran upstairs to my room and looked over Bella. She was still sleeping peacefully, quiet and safe. I kissed her brow before I grabbed a change of clothes. I wanted to be sure I was showered before she could wake up and miss me.
After a quick cleansing, uncaring about spending too much time in an empty shower, I dried myself and made my way back to the bedroom. Bella was still in the exact same position, her heart beating slow and even. I truly hoped she hadn't been plagued with nightmares of our other life in my absence.
I walked quietly over to her and lowered myself gently next to her on the bed. She unconsciously shifted towards me in her sleep. I wrapped the blanket more tightly around her and went still. In my head, I said a silent prayer to help my love find closure with her grief. I also said a prayer that Rosalie would be wrong in her theory of fate sending an even bigger obstacle into our paths.
Closing my eyes, I pretended that I were able to sleep and drifted into a restful peace filled with visions of Bella in a beautiful wedding gown, all of our friends and family gathered closely around as we spoke the words that I still felt bonded us, even in this life.
"Edward?" I heard Alice whisper softly from the door.
"Yes Alice?"
She stepped inside the door. Her words and movements would have been silent to human ears.
"I wanted to tell you earlier, but you were so upset. Peter and Charlotte are coming today and leaving tomorrow afternoon. They are in the area and wanted to stop by for a visit." Alice seemed really upset by the idea but I quickly waved it away.
"They came before too. Bella and I weren't really even friends then but I was worried sick about the ordeal. This time, it doesn't much matter. I know they will keep their teeth to themselves." I chuckled at the little joke. Alice's mood lifted significantly and she began to bounce in place.
"It's going to be sunny the entire time they're here so we can't exactly go out in public, but we can play baseball tonight." Alice said happily.
Those words struck a nerve with me and I felt my arm subconsciously tighten around Bella's sleeping form. The last time I'd taken Bella to watch my family and I play baseball, it had nearly caused her death. Not to mention that her father's resentment of me began at that point.
"You're not coming?" Alice said as she flicked through her visions in her mind. My decision was uncertain, causing everything to be blurry.
"Do you see anything bad happening if Bella and I agree to go?" I asked, an edge to my voice. Her eyes became distant for a moment as I watched the visions flicker through her thoughts again.
"No. Just a fun game with friends and family. Why?" Alice looked nervous and she waited for my answer. She wanted to search the future again but she restrained herself while I sorted through my thoughts.
I explained to her in further detail about James and Victoria. I'd explained it all before, but now that the time was drawing closer, it made more sense to explain again. I knew the date was wrong, but I didn't want to take any chances. We hadn't exactly decided what to do about that coven just yet, but we had to figure it out sooner rather than later. Alice saw their arrival too late the first time. We wouldn't make that mistake again.
"I don't see any visions of other nomads as of yet so maybe they won't even decide to come here." Alice said once I was finished explaining.
"One can only hope…" I mumbled quietly.
"Bella will be waking up in a four minutes and forty three seconds. She's going to have a better day today." Alice promised.
"Thanks Alice. That makes me feel much better."
"No problem. Oh, and Peter and Charlotte will be here in another hour and a half. That gives Bella time to shower, eat, and get ready. You can shower with her, but keep your hands to yourself. That's not what Bella needs today." Alice chided. I nodded my agreement and she slipped out of the room silently. I knew I wouldn't risk the shower with Bella.
True to her word, Bella woke up exactly on time. She stretched and yawned before rubbing the sleep from her eyes and staring at me.
"Good morning." I said quietly, kissing her brow.
"Good morning." She yawned again and turned to look out the window where the sun greeted her. "So this is what it feels like to ditch on sunny days. I never got the chance before. I was already out of school." Bella's voice was slightly hoarse from the day of crying.
"It isn't as wonderful as one might imagine. It's actually quite dull most of the time. Today, however, something fun is going to happen."
"Oh really? What's happening today?" She smiled at me, her eyes still slightly puffy from the day before.
"Peter and Charlotte are coming to visit. Do you remember them?"
Bella looked thoughtful for a moment before shaking her head gently.
"Did they come here before? Or did I meet them once I was changed? I can see blurry images of them, but I wouldn't recognize them just walking down the street."
"Both, actually. They came this exact time is our other life, but you didn't know what I was at the time and had no idea they were here. My family and I were home from school due to the sun. Peter, Charlotte, and my family played baseball the night they were here. I spent that time at your house while you slept."
"Did you not want to play too?" She raised an eyebrow at me.
"It wasn't that I didn't want to play, I was just more concerned with being near you." I grinned sheepishly at her causing a delicious blush to rise to her cheeks.
"When will they be here?" She asked, yawning and stretching.
"Alice said they should arrive in about an hour and twenty two minutes. Why don't you go shower and I'll make you breakfast?" I kissed her lips gently and helped her rise from the bed. She was still sluggish but she made her way to the bathroom on her own. Once I heard the water turn on, I ran downstairs to start her breakfast.
With eggs scrambling, bacon sizzling, and toast getting ready to pop out of the toaster at any moment, Bella entered the room. Her hair was still wet and was wrapped into a loose knot on the back of her head, her clothes were all from my closet, the ones Alice had bought for her while they were in Port Angeles, and she was barefooted. Such a magnificent sight to behold.
"Wow, it smells wonderful in here." She took a deep appreciative breath and sighed. I, on the other hand, tried to inhale as little as possible. The smell of the eggs was vile, but for Bella, I could manage.
"I trust you had a nice shower." I said just as the toast popped up, ready to be smeared with butter and jelly. She'd finished faster than I planned, but I guess that was because she wanted to be ready when our guests arrived.
"I did, thank you." Bella smiled at me as she took her seat at the counter. I moved quickly to get the rest of her breakfast ready before scooping everything onto a plate and placing it before her.
"What would you like to drink love?" I asked as I handed her a fork and a napkin.
"Can I have grapefruit juice?"
"Of course." I leaned down low into the refrigerator until I located the grapefruit juice carton. Then, moving at inhuman speed, I retrieved a glass from the pantry and filled it, placing it gently in front of Bella, who was already enjoying her breakfast.
"How much more time do I have before they get here?" She asked between bites.
"Forty six minutes." Alice said as she fluttered into the room, her smile wide as she looked over the approved clothes Bella wore, her thoughts smug that she'd gotten Bella into something other than jeans and a t shirt.
Bella's outfit was lovely, I had to admit. She wore a long sleeved dark grey sweater, making her skin look even more soft and creamy than usual, and light colored jeans that rode her hips. Alice's mind flipped through the different pairs of shoes she'd bought for Bella, trying to pick out the perfect pair. She settled on a pair of black hiking boots that would come up to Bella's lower calf. She wanted her to be in heels of course, but Alice was being practical since we would be outside later.
"Okay then." Bella said as she began to eat more rapidly. I worried that she would choke at that pace, but before I could voice my concerns, all of the food was gone and Bella was drinking down her juice.
"Good, you're done! Let's go upstairs and I'll fix your hair!" Alice clapped her hands before grabbing Bella's and leading her from the room. I heard Bella sigh about halfway up the stairs. I chuckled and washed her dishes, making sure to clean the counters as well. Esme would not be happy if I left a mess for her to clean up.
Finished with my task, I walked to the living room and sat on the loveseat while I waited for Alice to finish harassing Bella. After about fifteen minutes of Bella arguing that her hair would be fine without the dryer, then another seven minutes of Alice using the hairdryer anyway, I decided to creep upstairs to see how Bella was coming along. I was just relieved that she seemed better today. Maybe not happy, but better.
"And done." Alice said as soon as I got to the door. She turned the dryer off and admired Bella in the mirror. "And now that it's dry, I'm just going to pull it back and we will be all set in that department." Alice talked as her hands were in motion. Bella sat very still, her face holding a grimace while her eyes were smiling. Not exactly happy, but still, the thought was there.
"Done!" Alice announced. "Since we will be outside later today, there really is no point in doing anything over the top makeup wise. Just one second." Alice quickly applied a nice base and a very small amount of color to Bella's eyelids and to her lips. It was a very natural look and Bella seemed pleased.
"Perfect. I'll just grab your shoes and we'll be set." Alice flashed into my closet and was back before Bella could move, already shoving socks on her feet. Bella held both of her feet out for Alice to finish.
"There. Now you can relax until they get here." Alice's eyes went distant as she searched for a vision of Peter and Charlotte. They would be arriving in seventeen minutes.
"Thank you Alice." Bella said as she stood up and admired the shoes. She seemed pleased with what she saw.
"You look stunning, as always." I said as I made my presence known to her.
"Thank you." Bella said as she rushed to my arms.
"Well I'll leave you two alone now. Just keep in mind we have company arriving in less than seventeen minutes." Alice looked pointedly at us before she slipped out of the room to go change clothes. Jasper was already in their bedroom redressing. Even if I lived forever, I would never understand Alice's love for clothes. I guess the same would go for her and my love for cars.
Bella was quiet in my arms for a few moments before my curiosity got the best of me.
"What are you thinking, love?" I stroked her hair gently and led her to the couch to sit on my lap. She chewed on her bottom lip for another moment before she relaxed her body against mine and responded.
"I'm nervous." Bella mumbled into my chest. I felt the temperature of her skin rise and knew she was blushing, embarrassed to admit something she saw as a weakness.
"Don't worry, they won't bite." I chuckled.
"I know that, I just don't want them to panic since I'm a human. You are breaking the rules you know. What if they don't approve of our relationship? What if they want to leave since I'm here?"
"Everything will be fine. Alice has already seen you getting along great with them. Today will be a good day, I promise."
"Are they vegetarians like your family?" She looked up into my eyes, worry etched across her features. Her grasp around my waist tightened ever so slightly. At least I knew she did possess some form of self preservation this time.
"No, but again, they will behave themselves. They won't hunt here out of respect for our family. Even if that were not the case, no one will let them hurt you. I promise that you'll be safe. Trust me." I felt her relax in my arms, but the worry was still there in her position. It would not take long for her to be comfortable around Alice and Jasper's friends. Alice could already see it.
"Okay." She sighed. For someone who would sleep in a house filled with vampires, it shocked me that she was worried. I suppose if you figure in the fact that she'd been attacked numerous times by human drinkers, her worry was justified.
"Six minutes!" Alice called through the house. She and Jasper were already going to stand outside to wait. Peter and Charlotte were welcome friends to this family, but our number still made them slightly uneasy at first. It helped to relax them if Alice and Jasper were waiting outside.
"Edward, I know they won't attack Bella, but I think we should explain things to them first. I see that making a difference in the way things go tonight. Neither option is bad, but it will be easier on all parties if we take the time to explain." Alice thought to me. I mentally nodded, knowing she knew my approval without me physically telling her so.
Bella and I sat quietly as I listened to the whisper of our visitors' thoughts. They were becoming more pronounced by the second as they neared our home. It wasn't long before they were standing at the edge of the woods. I watched through Alice's eyes as they walked at a human pace to greet each other.
Alice hugged Charlotte while Jasper hugged Peter. When they broke apart, they swapped partners, passing pleasantries to one another.
"Shouldn't we be getting downstairs?" Bella said as she stood from my lap. I grabbed her hand gently and helped her to sit back down. She gave me a confused look before I explained.
"Alice sees that it would be best to explain before I take you down. Nothing bad would have happened if she hadn't, but she says it will help everyone relax quicker by doing it that way."
"Oh." She said quietly. I felt a small shiver run across her body but she quickly calmed herself. I took that time to listen into the conversation downstairs. Peter and Charlotte had already been shown inside by the rest of my family and were listening eagerly as Jasper explained my relationship with Bella to them.
"He's in love with a human?" Both Peter and Charlotte said aloud at the same time. They'd both already noticed Bella's scent all through the house, but they thought Esme had invited someone over as part of the charade. They had no idea that Bella was that close to our family.
"We're not going to mention the two years worth of memories Edward. That would just be too bizarre and time consuming." Alice thought to me. I had no arguments with that.
Everyone talked quietly for a few more minutes about the relationship Bella and I have. Peter and Charlotte were both very excited to meet my Bella.
"Well now that that's settled, Edward, would you and Bella like to join us in the living room?"Carlisle said in a normal speaking voice.
"Are you ready to go downstairs?" I brushed Bella's stray hairs back from her face as she nodded. I then kissed her gently and helped her rise to her feet.
We walked down the stairs at a very slow pace. I could feel Bella's resistance, but she seemed to relax when I wrapped my arm around her waist.
Once at the bottom, she took in a sharp breath. Following her gaze, I noticed she and Peter had their eyes locked on each other. He was standing next to the sofa where Charlotte was sitting calmly. Bella's heart rate spiked and her body stiffened. I'd never seen her truly afraid before, even when she faced the Volturi the day of our deaths. She seemed to be completely paralyzed with fear.
"Hello Bella. I'm Peter, this is my mate Charlotte." Peter said calmly. Charlotte stood exaggeratingly slow and smiled at Bella, careful not to show her teeth.
"Hi." Bella said quietly. Her heart was beginning to slow slightly and I felt her body relax marginally.
"Please don't feel uncomfortable Bella. We won't bite, I promise." Charlotte said as she gently lowered herself back into the loveseat. Peter nodded and followed suit.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I was just caught off guard. It's nice to meet you both." Bella smiled warmly at them and she relaxed further, but her grip on my hand didn't lessen. It was going to be a long two days.