Final chapter of the the week!

I tried to stretch for your guys, it was a lot shorter than this.

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Forgive any grammar or punctuation mistakes please.

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The moment James and his coven were gone, Rosalie grabbed Bella and headed straight for Emmett's Jeep wanting to get the girl far away from the baseball field. The rest of her family following her lead as they quickly packed up and headed for the house.

It was not that they were frightened but they did worry about the way James had interacted with Bella. He had looked like he wanted to kill her as much as he lusted after her. Two emotions that Victoria knew for certain James was very much capable of carrying out.

Bella held onto the blonde's thigh the entire ride back. She was not in the least bit worried, she knew his type. She knew his type so much that she wasn't even the least bit concerned but she held onto her vampire's thigh for two very important reasons. The first being that she knew the blonde would feel better if they were touching in some way right now. The second was so that she could remind herself that Rosalie would probably not take it well if she started humming a tune to accompany her good mood.

She knew the blonde wasn't scared but she was at least concerned and Bella didn't see the reason why. James was nothing special as far as she was concerned, the same fucker with a different name as far as she was concerned. They were dangerous but more so to the themselves and the people not paying attention. Bella had long ago decided she wasn't going to be a victim and therefore she wasn't going to play James' little game. He was that kid that liked to poke and prod at their older sibling in front of the mother knowing full well nothing would happen, but he wouldn't dare do it when the mother wasn't around to stop the older sibling from retaliating.

He liked to fuck with the Cullen's, poke the sleeping bear, but that's all because it got his rocks off but never more because he knew he was no match. Then he'd leave when he knew the next poke would be lethal, only to return later and start the game all over again. She wasn't into that kind of childish bullshit, she would not play that game. He was certifiable though, it was so fucking obvious to her, she knew her silent refusal to play would not go over well with him but she didn't really care.

She knew their pacifist ways is what kept James alive anyway. There whole violence being the last option shtick could be a handicap sometimes. Someone like James would become more than just a nuisance eventually and when he flipped the script on them they'd be in for a huge surprise. Bella didn't believe in waiting for someone to pull the trigger, she did it herself, because in their shoes...she would've ended his life a long time ago. He served no purpose in anything but to wreak havoc and end lives, it didn't make sense for them to continue to let him do it to them when something could be done about it.

They arrived in time with Jasper and Emmett who had kept pace with the Jeep as a safety precaution. This one had not ended like the other encounters with James and they didn't want to take any chances. Bella bit her tongue about that too, they wouldn't have to do this if they'd killed the fucker ages ago. Nevermind the fact that Emmett should have absolutely gutted him for not only wanting him dead but continuously staking claim on Victoria when it was not his right. Was there something so completely wrong with her that she was the only one that would react so violently to something like that or were they not aware of the level of mind fuckery and disrespect they let go on every time they saw James.

Bella glanced at Rosalie, that thing stirring in her at the knowledge that James had called her his and walked away tonight. She didn't really give two fucks if something was wrong with her, it was a mistake to not have killed him long ago. A mistake she'd rectify soon enough, because she wasn't as forgiving as they seemed to be. She didn't care about much, she liked her unbothered disposition but best believe she was no fucking pushover.

"What did you do?" Edward demanded the moment they entered the living room, turning to Bella who seemed more interested in Rosalie.

Her expression betrayed nothing, she just seemed to be looking at the blonde but he knew enough to know different.

"Watch your tone" Rosalie growled angrily.

She was still on edge and she wouldn't take well to anyone talking like that to Bella on a good day much less right now.

"Forgive me. I didn't mean to come off hostile. It's just that James' thoughts became frightened then insulted. He wants Bella to teach her a lesson. He was angry, but it was out of fear driven thoughts" Edward explained as Bella simply inclined her head in acceptance of his apology as she took a seat in the couch and pulled Rosalie down with her

"He's coming back?" Victoria frowned.

Bella fought the urge to roll her eyes at her. She'd spent how many years with the man? She should know better than any of them what the fuck he would do next. It was one thing to try and forget her time with him but that's something she should only do after he was dead. Someone like that, there was no place for ignorance because it was an ugly past. Granted Bella didn't know exactly what occurred in her past but she had a pretty good idea and for that fact Victoria should be wary.

"Oh yeah, he's coming back, not soon in about a month" Bella replied coolly as she popped a lollipop into her mouth.

Her head was on straight again, she could talk to them and keep herself in check. They couldn't handle what she was thinking, they'd feel attacked and everything in between and really Bella was not the one for that kind of drama. They'd see a side of her they would not like and she be very unapologetic about all of it. No one had ever sugar coated the truth for her and she wasn't about to do it for any of them.

"And of course you're not concerned" Rosalie replied tightly as she glared at Bella

She wasn't even upset with the brunette, there was absolutely nothing to be upset with the brunette for. She was just upset with the situation, upset with the way James had talked about her, and annoyed with the nonchalant demeanor the brunette had currently.

"He likes to play games. That girl on his arm is as close to a drug addict as a vampire can probably get. He likes that but he wants a little defiance to prove he's top dog. That girl doesn't give him that, she'd probably too much like him and there's no contrast...it bores him. So he comes over here to have a little fun, you talk to him, he upsets you, riles you up and he gets to see it. Maybe he hangs around a little bit for a few more encounters so he can feel good about himself, because he knows you won't lay a hand on him if all he does is talk. I didn't play the game, he's a psychopath so he's insulted that I didn't. In his mind, me not playing the game is more insulting than anything I could ever done. It's his game and how dare I not participate?"

"She's right, his emotions are not...right. I knew he was apathetic but being a psychopath does actually make sense" Jasper mused.

He had 3 doctorates in psychology...how he managed to miss it until now was beyond him.

"He's clearly not crazy enough if he's going wait and plan" Emmett huffed

"He's simply just an organized psychopath. He's got a ritual during his hunts and kills doesn't he?" Bella questioned Victoria knowingly

"He does" Victoria frowned. It was so vicious Victoria hardly ever hung around for it unless she was forced to.

"He'll go rant and rave about me and how I think I'm better than him. Then he'll talk himself into proving me wrong. Plan and obsess, maybe do a little recon, execute his plan and then attack when he sees fit" Bella shrugged

"How can you be so nonchalant about this?" Alice frowned, her life was in danger

"He's not the first person to want me dead, you get used to it" Bella replied,

Well aware that Rosalie would not like that she gave the blonde an apologetic look for being so nonchalant about her life being endangered. She was well aware that if roles were reversed she'd be upset with the blonde too.

"That….is not okay, Bella" Alice hissed

"I never said it was, I was just answering the question" so irrationally emotional they could be sometimes

"So what's the plan?" Emmett questioned

"Well it would be unwise to go hunting them down right now. We'll have to wait and see what he does. No one goes out alone and there will always be someone with Bella at all times, we won't just be looking out for Jacob. Alice…" Carlisle began

"I'll keep an eye out to see what he decides" Alice nodded finishing his thought,

"Anything else?" Rosalie questioned tightly. She'd forgotten about that love obsessed mongrel that was still stalking Bella according Edward. Everyone wanted her mate, and while she could definitely see why, she was not in the least bit appreciative. Right now, she just needed to not be here with all of them, she just wanted Bella and silence.

"No, that's it" Carlisle replied and then there was a yelp as Rosalie grabbed Bella and nearly dragged the girl up the stairs, the taller brunette scrambling to avoid bashing her knees into the staircase.

It was not with malicious content, Bella knew, the blonde simply needed to get them alone quickly. She also knew she was also going to hear about her uncaring disposition as well, she'd set herself up for that one.

The door slammed shut as Bella righted herself before she slammed into the bed the blonde vampire had angrily chucked her towards. Okay, so maybe she'd been wrong and Rosalie was a bit upset with her.

"Ouch" Bella hissed as she rubbed gingerly at the abused back of her head courtesy of Rosalie's head slap. An action that left her open to be beaten viciously with a pillow which sounded a lot softer than it felt.

She scrambled before popping up on the other side of the bed, ready to demand an explanation for the sudden burst of violence but the look the blonde vampire wore stopped the words somewhere in her throat on their trip up and out. She'd never seen a look like the one she was witnessing on Rosalie's face before and Bella wanted to kick her own ass for putting it there to begin with. She was so good with rolling with everything that she forgot she was the blonde's hardstop at times. She was not used to it yet, the knowledge that someone could be so absolutely in love with her that she mattered above all else.

The blonde looked murderous, which was fine, Bella thought it was one of Rosalie's hottest looks. The fire in those golden orbs blazing away and burning everything in their path...that was fine but that wasn't the only emotion present. It was the other emotion that gave her complete and utter pause, the guilt washing over her. Rosalie looked genuinely scared and it was not a look Bella had ever seen or ever wanted to see on the blonde's face ever again. Not even her fight with Charlie had put a look like this on her face.

The brunette moved quickly, scrambling over the bed to get to the blonde. Rosalie was stiff as Bella picked her up and carried her into the bathroom. The brunette taking very little care in stripping them both and carrying her into the shower and under the warming shower spray above them,

"I'm so sorry" Bella whispered as she pressed her forehead against the blonde's and made eye contact

"You're my mate. How would you feel if I was so nonchalant about a threat on my life?" the blonde whispered. Her anger was quickly dissipating as the need to be understood took its place, she was vulnerable but she could only be like this for Bella.

"I didn't think of it like that. I've become so desensitized to it and I didn't think and I'm so sorry for that" well she had, but clearly not enough

"You can't do that to me"

"Okay" Bella nodded it was a simple word but Rosalie knew Bella and knew it simply meant that the brunette would do everything in her power to not do it again.

"Kiss me" Rosalie mumbled, she was done talking about it.

She wasn't worried about the kind of threat James could pose, it just didn't sit well with her how he'd referred to Bella. The suggestions he'd made, and then the anger and hostility he showed her it was all too much. Then to hear her own mate dismiss her own life like that had been the straw to break the camel's back. James was after all a vampire, one that had lasted for sometime after his change, however long that may be. She was more than confident she could take him, but a threat to her mate's life was still a threat to her mate's life and she wouldn't take it lightly. It made her feel better if Bella didn't as well. She wasn't scared of him or his threats but of what Bella might do or attempt to do. Nevermind the chance he may very well get his hands on her, however miniscule that chance was, it was still a chance.

So yeah, maybe she was scared. Not of James, but what he just might do to get to Bella.

Her mind was racing with thought after thought but all that bled away as Bella's lips met her own because that girl made kissing an absolute art form.

They were cocooned in their own world, actually hidden under the sheets. Still naked as music played quietly in the background. Bella's fingers dancing against her naked midsection as they simply breathed.

"Do you believe in God?" Bella questioned curiously

"I don't know" Rosalie was no definitive answer to completely explain creation. Something's happened that could only be declared to be a miracle. Science was agreed upon fact in several situations. Plus she was a fucking vampire, there was a level of supernatural involved in that but if he existed why did things like what happen to her happen at all?, "Do you?"

"I think so. I just don't think there's a full understanding of the guy"

"What do you mean?"

"Like maybe he's not as hands on as people believe him to be, but when you pray he may work on your behalf if need be"

"Possibly, where are you going with this?"

"Ms. Nan you used to take Jamal and I to church. She wasn't forcing church on us and when we got old enough to understand it all, we got to choose if we wanted to go with her. It helped me, when I was angry and making trouble for everyone. I was in fights all the time, ruining school property, I was just a headache and I was mad. I remember Ms. Nan picked me up one day, because I'd just gotten mad and put my fist through the mirror in the girl's bathroom, she took me straight to Pastor Lance. He was talking and trying to understand why I was so mad and then I was ranting about how much I hated my life. How I wanted it to end, how I hated God because he made me the way I was and made my parents hate me. I just let loose and he sat there and listened to it all, like he understood. Then when I was done, he talked to me. Helped me understand God didn't make anyone do anything. His whole thing was about being able to freely choose. So he wasn't going to make anyone do or feel anything about anyone or anything. My parents hate for me was their own and no one else was to blame but themselves."

"You said you were suicidal"

"I didn't want Ms. Nan or Jamal to deal with the idea of me straight up slitting my wrist. So I punched windows and mirrors. If I could 'accidently' cut my wrist that way, they'd be better, it would be an easier pill to swallow"

"Bella"

"I'm not telling you this to make you depressed. The point I was getting to was that, Pastor Lance would pray with me. It didn't sound much like what I'd heard them do during church, but he just told me to talk and God would decipher. I don't know if it worked but I did feel better after it, I only ever asked for one thing though"

"What's that?"

"Someone to understand me. Someone that saw me, so I didn't always have to be the brave one. Someone that could make me stronger, so we could take turns protecting one another from the shitty world. Someone that I could tell about all my weaknesses, fears, shortcomings and they wouldn't care. Someone who made me feel loved and perfect even if I wasn't. Then after Angelique and I broke up I just kind of added on. I asked him that the next person I loved in that way would love me back like that"

"Bella..."

"I didn't think it was going to happen. I'm good looking, I know that, but at the end of the day I'm a girl with a dick and it's not normal. I didn't think anyone could love all of me like that. The novelty would wear off eventually. I'm saying all this to say thank you for proving me wrong"

"You never have to thank me for that"

"Yeah, I do. I'm not an easy person to love"

"Have you met me?"

"Who told you that, loving you is easier than breathing Rosalie" Bella told her simply and the blonde vampire could only stare at the brunette. She knew she wasn't an easy person but she couldn't remember a time when Bella had been genuinely frustrated with her. Part of her wondered if it was because she'd never done anything to truly upset the brunette yet but even that was confusing because the only time Bella had shown anger was when someone had wronged her.

The whole thing left the blonde thinking in circles so rather than decipher it anymore, she took it for what it was. She had a mate that loved her unconditionally, that couldn't even fathom any of her flaws ever changing that.

"Come here" the blonde murmured before capturing the brunette's lips, kissing what could not be spoken between the two.

Usually she was the one being held in moments like this but, this time as Bella whispered to her all about what she considered to be her shortcomings.

"Eels scare the living fuck out of me"

"I guess we can hold hand when we go snorkeling. I don't trust them either" the blonde hummed.

She made no comment at the single drop that touched her chest where Bella's face was buried against her.

"Can I poke them with a stick" despite knowing that it would probably come back to bit her in the ass the blonde didn't miss a beat. If that's what she felt she needed to do to overcome her fear then she'd swim around and let her poke every eel they could find until she was content.

"Sure"

"Cool...about that chicken...?"

"Go to sleep Isabella"...that fucking chicken.