This chapter is in Edward's POV… made especially for one very enthusiastic reviewer (:
William, our butler (A/N: I tried not to give him a super clichéd butler-ey name like Geoffrey or Reginald or something like that), entered the living room where my father, Bella's father, and I were discussing the matter of me courting Bella.
"There is a young lady by the name of Alice here for you Mister Edward."
Bella's father shot me a puzzled glance. Most likely wondering if I was trying to court more that one girl at a time. But that would only happen if they were all replicas of my sweet beautiful Isabella. And even then, there's really no comparison to the original.
"Alice?" I asked. "Alice who?"
"She wouldn't say her last name."
"Would you mind terribly if I went to see about this matter quickly," I hesitantly asked Bella's father. He seemed more at ease now that he realized I had no idea who this girl was.
"Not at all young man. By all means go tend to the matter," he graciously replied.
I thanked him and excused myself from the room. Will brought me to the couches in one corner of the dining room where my mother, Bella, and her mother were talking to the girl who I guess was Alice. I only know one girl named Alice and she lives in Mississippi. I haven't seen her in years though.
I couldn't see how the girl looked, however, because the mothers were in front of her and I couldn't see past them.
But they heard us approaching them and stepped aside so that I could see the girl.
"Alice Brandon?" I asked, incredulous. She most definitely was not in Mississippi nowA/N: that's where Alice lived right?) Like I said, it'd been years since I'd seen her and in my excitement I scooped her up into my arms and spun her around.
She laughed and laughed but when I finally set her down she said, "Actually, it's Alice Cullen now."
I looked her over. Not only had her name changed, but other things about her as well. Her skin was extremely pale and her eyes were a deep gold color, almost black even with slight bags underneath them. Probably from her trip from Mississippi. Her black hair was much shorter now and resembled a boy's cut but her face was not one of a boy's. She was still tiny as she was when we were younger but had grown into a very beautiful girl. Beautiful in the least romantic way possible however.
"Have you gotten married?"Iasked concerning her name change.
"Not at all," she said, laughing as if that was the most absurd thing she had ever heard. "I've been adopted. Carlisle Cullen adopted me a month ago."
"Dr. Cullen? But...he lives here in Chicago. He's my doctor. How did he know about you in Mississippi?"
"Well this is going to sound odd," she began. "But I saw him coming to Mississippi before he even came. I saw the future, just like that time when we were younger, do you remember?"
"You mean when you told me to duck my head and seconds later a acorn flew by? Of course I remember, you saved my head that day," I laughed.
"Well with Carlisle Cullen it was very much the same. I saw him coming for me. He knew who I was. And then two afternoons later he showed up at the asylum--I mean the house I was staying at. Did you know my mother passed away finally?"
I was still confused about her adoption. I do not think that her visions of the future were fictitious or that she was crazy. But sometimes I worried about her. She said asylum. I didn't miss that detail.
Her mother, well her step mother, died and she said finally. Although, having met the horrible woman myself, I do not blame her for wishing to rejoice.
At this time I remembered Bella, however, and she probably still knew nothing about why Alice was here. Who she was. Or how I knew her.
"Bella, Mrs. Swan do forgive me. I've not introduced you to this unexpected guest of mine. This is my cousin Alice. Our fathers were brothers but her father died when she was young."
"It's nice to meet friends of Edwards. When we were children I never met any of his friends as he always came to Mississippi to see me," Alice said and then she steeped forward and hugged Mrs. Swan and gave both of Bella's cheeks a kiss.
"Its lovely to meet you as well," Bella said returning the gesture slightly hesitantly. "I'm sorry about your father. Did you say your mother died as well?"
"I don't much remember my father, I was far too young. But my mother was a cruel woman. And I know how horrible I must sound but I doubt there is anybody alive who grieves her death."
"Oh. I'm so sorry," Bella said, shocked.
"Alice, would you be alright to stay and chat with Bella for a while. I've got to just finish something up quickly."
"Absolutely. I've much to learn about Bella, charming as she is," Alice replied with a bright smile. Bella blushed at the compliment and I headed back towards the living room.
When I entered I said, "Father, you'll never guess who's just arrived. Alice Brandon only, she is Alice Cullen now. The doctor seems to have adopted her!"
"My dear niece is here? We've got much catching up to do for I've not seen her in years!" my father said, just as excitedly as I had. "Alice lives in Mississippi and we rarely visit anymore I'm afraid," my father explained to Mr. Swan.
"Oh, well you should go see her now then. Family is always first. I'm suited for waiting," he replied.
"That'd be rude. You've waited sufficiently and our conversation would never finish if I left now."
"Well Mr. Swan," I started, retracing our earlier talk before Alice came. "You daughter has become very special to me. I'd do anything for her and if she'd allow me I would like to court her, with your permission of course," I said nervously.
"She's very special to you, you say. You'd do anything for her is that right?" he said, thoughtfully.
"Yes, anything."
"That's quite a proclamation, boy. Will you be able to honor that?"
"Well, she's quite a girl so I truly believe I will be able to."
"You've spoken with your father about this," he asked me, but the question was more directed at my father.
"We've talked about this in depth for many days. He's set on your daughter. He's never been interested in another girl before she came to his class. He's truly mad about her I think." I was positive my face was red and I tried to focus my attention of a corner of the room to make it more unnoticeable.
"It would be her choice of course," Bella's father said after a moment of deliberation.
"Always," I responded immediately. Did that mean what I thought it did?
"I suppose you have my blessing to court my Isabella. But you had better take good care of her, I won't stand for any less," he said firmly.
"I will do everything in my power to see to that, sir," I said, trying my hardest to not sound frightened about what he might do if I didn't take care of Bella. But nothing will ever happen because I'll never put her in danger in any way.
But he said yes! He consented! I tried to remain calm on the outside but in my head I was screaming and leaping for joy.
My father interrupted my mental celebrating by asking Mr. Swan if he'd like to meet Alice. He agreed and we all went to join the ladies in the dining room.
"Uncle Edward!" Alice exclaimed the moment she saw my father. "I was wondering when I'd get to see you." She rushed over to him and he spun her around the same as I had.
"It's great to see you dear. How are you? Are you well? I hear you've been adopted, is that true?" my father asked her in a row of never ending questions once he set her down. They talked and caught up on the years together while I asked for a word with Bella.
"Bella, there's something important I'd like to speak with you about. But I'd rather not do it around Alice. She gets so excited about things and I think this would blow her over the top."
"Okay. Where would you like to go then?"
"Hold on one moment Bella," I said. "Would everybody excuse Bella and I for a minute or two?"
I waited a few seconds and nobody responded. They were all wrapped into their conversations but I knew my father heard me. He lifted his head a bit and nodded ever so slightly to me in a way of communication we had developed over times when he was already busy doing something.
As I was turning to guide Bella towards the back door I was my father discreetly nod towards somebody else. I knew it was William but I didn't mind much. We both knew that I knew that he followed me most places I went and now probably even more because I was in the presence of a young woman.
I took Bella into the flower garden my mother had constructed in the back yard. I led her through the tall rows of honeysuckle and roses. We walked through the flowers in a comfortable silence for a time and Bella occasionally leaned down to smell a one.
"So Edward, what was the important matter you wished to speak to me about?" she asked after a while.
"Well, I was talking to your father earlier...," I started, unsure of how I should continue.
"And?" Bella asked after I didn't continue with my thought.
I smiled at her and she returned it readily, blushing a bit. I love her smile. "We were talking about you…and me…us." Now I was the one blushing.
"Us?" Bella asked. "I didn't know there was an 'us," she said softly.
"Only if you want there to be, Bella," I whispered just as soft.
"You said you talked to my father about this?" she asked. Her questions were making me nervous. Maybe any feelings I thought she might have felt towards me were merely imagined ones.
"Yes," was all I said.
"So you're serious about this Edward. Honestly?"
"With all my heart," I said with as much confidence as I could muster up to mask my upended nerves. She blushed a bright red then. "If you will agree to it, I would genuinely wish to court you Bella." Three shades brighter this time.
"Of course I would want you to court me Edward." Then she suddenly hugged me, and before I could hug her back, she stepped away.
"I'm sorry. I suppose I'm just excited."
"That's perfectly fine with me, Bella. Would you like to go back inside now."
"Sure Edward."
So we went back in and everybody was still mid-conversation. They may not have all noticed we were even gone at all. We joined into the conversations but all too soon Bella left with her family. And then shortly following that Alice's escort came to see her safely home.
Now, I'm supposedly sleeping but my heart won't stop pumping wildly. I am so deep in love nobody or nothing could ever pull me back out of it.
It's a little late but it's a bit longer than usual so I hope that helps. Review and tell me what you thought. Next chapter will be partially in Alice's POV and you'll learn more about her past (: