I'm sorry for the small week delay, I had this since last week but guess what? I got myself my very own Sam! (One more Chance readers will understand) Yup! I got a beautiful Beagle puppy of 2 months and I'm SO excited and happy! I love him so much! Anyway the reason it took me a few more days was because get got sick, I took him for his shots and the stupid vet shot him something else and because he's so young his body didn't take it well and he was paralyzed for a few hours. (I almost killed someone that day) So now his stomach is sensitive and I have to take good care of him and watch his every move. So that happened to me this week AND my beta and prereader Joy1 had an accident and was out of commission for a few days and just heard from her.
Anyway, enough with the rant!
Thanks to Joy1, Cattinson and Lisopera for their amazing work! I don't know what I'd do without you!
SM owns the world!
Chapter 21: The Last Song Ever
"The Last Song Ever" - Secondhand Serenade
I wish my life was this song
cause songs they never die
I could write for years and years
and never have to cry I'd show you how I feel
without saying a word
I could wrap up both our hearts
I know it sounds absurd
And i saw the tears on your face
i shot you down and i slammed the door
but couldn't make a sound
so please stay sweet my dear
don't hate me now
i can't tell how this last song ends
The way that i feel tonight so down
so down i pray i can swim just
so i wont drown and the waves that crash over me
i am gasping for air take my hand
so i can breath as i write this last song down
"What the hell are you doing?" Alice asked me bewildered.
"I don't know," I placed the piano by the tree Alice is sitting on. "This seemed like a good idea three minutes ago."
"Aww! You're planning on serenading her? That's so romantic!"
"You said the same thing about the flowers." I deadpanned.
"Well, yeah but this will work out. I can feel it."
"Can you see it?" I asked.
"No, Seth is planning to ask me for a favor or something. My future is mixed with his at the moment."
"Ok, well you can leave now."
"What?! Don't I get to watch?"
"This isn't 'The Notebook' Alice, of course you can't watch. Besides, I don't want anyone to see me kiss goodbye the last bit of dignity I have left."
"Pff, please you lost all dignity you had yesterday." She said knowingly, and images from yesterday's incident with Bella flashed through her mind.
"You saw that?!"
"Of course I did!" Alice snapped.
"Why didn't you warn me?!"
"It was too late, besides where would be the fun in that?!" She giggled.
I cursed under my breath and turned away hiding my embarrassment.
"Go, before I bite your head off."
She giggled again.
"Alright, alright I'll go. I'll see if I can't rip Jasper away from the TV. He's still obsessed with the bloodbath going on in Seattle."
"The Volturi hasn't intervened?" I asked wide eyed, to be honest I didn't care. I was just surprised the Volturi were being bested. "It's been months."
"Maybe there are no vampires involved after all it could be a drug war or something like that." She shrugged, "Although Jasper swears there are vampires involved."
"It doesn't make sense, why would anyone risk themselves with an army? There are no other clans in Washington. We were the last ones there and we didn't even hunt humans."
"Maybe there are now, who knows? Jasper also said they are not in Washington anymore, the killings have move upstate towards the border."
"Really?" I asked, not really caring. Even if the crossed they border we were still far away.
"Yeah, anyway I better go. Good luck!"
"Keep Lizzie occupied for a while, don't let her go outside until I get back."
"Will do!" Alice saluted me and off she went.
I mumbled a 'thanks' and picked up the green grand piano again. I walked into the small clearing until I reached the middle the cottage was just a few feet away so this would be good. I could hear Bella flipping through some pages inside in her living room she was probably reading I was glad she wasn't asleep. I took the bench from the hood and put it by the keyboard, sitting on it.
I closed my eyes and tried to feel the forest around me, hearing and smelling the life surrounding it. The most prominent sound was of course, the heartbeat belonging to the angel inside that cottage.
I brushed my fingers along the keys, imaging the sound it would make. I started humming Lizzie's lullaby and softly pressed the keys to the first notes. I heard Bella's heartbeat stutter before it started beating furiously. She closed her book and I heard her footsteps come near the window. I didn't look up but I heard the rustle of fabric as she peeked through the curtain. She closed the curtain again but didn't move from her spot.
I continue with Lizzie's lullaby until I reached the part I was still struggling with and started the song again. I did the same process about ten times when I finally found the right notes and connected the verses continuing with the song. It was far from done yet, but I was finally past that bridge I was struggling with. I played that a couple more times and then with my heart in my throat I changed the song to my angel's lullaby.
She gasped, and seconds later I heard her move away from the window, I was so into my music I hadn't noticed she had stayed there the whole time I played Lizzie's song. She was pacing around her living room, and I think I heard her sniffle. I continued with her song, determined to get my point across.
"You are my one and only," I whispered, even though I knew she wouldn't hear me.
I continued to play and when the song ended I started again. Telling her without words I won't give up on us.
"What are you doing to me?" She asked so quietly from inside I didn't know if she was actually talking to me.
I didn't stop. She said she didn't want to hear my words so she would hear me this way. The past two months were torture, I was done being passive about this, I had to find a way she would talk to me again. She had done it yesterday, so I guessed she was ready, I just had to blow it all up with my little stunt.
I heard her cry quietly, and I bet she was struggling to remain quiet. A door inside opened, I guess she had walked into her room, and then her cries muffled by what I guess was a pillow.
"Go away!" She suddenly screamed at me.
I didn't answer, and continued to play.
I heard stomping, and suddenly the door opened.
"What? You think a little song will be enough?" She said bitterly.
"No, a thousand songs won't ever be enough to tell you how much I love you."
She glared and wiped out her angry tears.
"So what do you think you are doing?"
I shrugged.
"Answer me!" She demanded.
"You won't believe anything I say, so what's the point in explaining myself?"
"I want to know what the hell you are doing in my front yard!"
I tried not to laugh at her kitten like temper.
"I thought you could use some music. It's so quiet in here."
"Bullshit, I told you this wasn't a movie. A little serenade means shit."
"Ah! But you are wrong" I smirked "this isn't your regular serenade, when have you seen a hero serenade his beloved with a green, glittered piano? You have to give me some credit with originality." I winked.
She stared at me incredulously, with her mouth hang opened.
"You catching flies?"
She shut her mouth and sneered at me.
"That song is getting old by the way." She said bitterly referring to her lullaby.
"The meaning behind it is still true, no matter how old it is. That's the beauty about music, don't you think? It lasts forever just like my love for you." She huffed and rolled her eyes again "And I fixed a few things," I shrugged "added a few verses."
"I noticed, why? You re-arranging it for your friend?" Her tone was sarcastic.
"Which friend? And why would I do that? It's your song."
"Whatever." She turned around to walk back into the cottage.
"No." I spoke before she could take a step inside "Who are you talking about?" I stopped playing and faced her fully.
"The blonde one, what's her name? Kenya? Tanya?"
What?
"That's stupid." I made a face "Why would I-" Then it hit me. God! How stupid I am! But wait… "Are you jealous?" I was stunned, and… hopeful.
She scoffed.
"No, I just think it's rude to recycle songs, you should at least try a little harder and make her, her own song. Or has it always been hers?" She cocked a brow.
"You are being totally ridiculous, there's nothing going on between Tanya and I, she's like a sister to me and this song has always and will always be yours."
"What about the first one you were playing?" She was skeptical.
"That's Elizabeth's, it's not finished yet." I went back to my piano and started playing Lizzie's song.
She was quiet, studying me, trying to read me.
"Well," she started quietly "it's beautiful she's going to love it." She reclined on the door.
"I don't know about that," I studied the keys "I'm still struggling with it."
"Why?" Unconsciously, she took a step closer
"The bridge, I think I got it but I'm not sure how to continue from there."
"I'm not Beethoven so I don't know what you are talking about." Her clipped tone was back, but she took another step closer, her eyes fixed on my hands on the keys.
"The bridge is the connection between verses or to the climax I don't know how to go from there."
She quieted for a minute, thinking about my words.
…
…
"What do you do for inspiration?"
I looked up at her, by now she was just a couple feet away from the hood of the piano.
I shrugged.
"Well, with yours I just had to picture your eyes, or imagine your voice or hear your heartbeat."
"Now who is being ridiculous?" She took a step back.
"Don't be so cynical, it's true."
"Then why don't you do the same with hers?"
"It's different, she has your eyes so when I look at her I feel like I'm looking at you, and her heart beat is quicker so the tempo doesn't work. I'm working with her laugh, but she hasn't been too happy lately so you see my problem. It was easier before."
"Before I came back?" The hurt in her eyes made me realize how my words sounded and I wanted to kick myself again. "You're saying it's my fault then?"
"No, I didn't mean it that way. What I mean is, when we thought you were dead" I stopped playing again so she could listen clearly "Lizzie was crushed, I was crushed we were all suffering and mourning. As you know, Lizzie and I have a weird connection, we kind of feel each others emotions… as we started healing, when I took her around the world she was finally smiling again… she was healing, we were healing so it was easier to write."
She looked down, staring at the pictures pasted on the hood.
"What about now?" She whispered.
"She knows what's going on between us. She's sad, I feel her sadness and that's… killing me."
Her eyes shot back at me, understanding filling them.
"So that's why you are here? You only want me back for Lizzie?"
"No, that's a bonus. I do want you back, but that's only for selfish reasons, I know you don't believe me but I love you and the reason I'm here in your front yard is to apologize."
"What for now?" She reclined the side of her hip on the piano.
"Yesterday, I didn't really apologize. You were mad which I totally understand and I was… shocked? I don't know but please, believe me. I'm really sorry Bella. I didn't want to invade your privacy like that. I didn't mean any harm. I was just worried and wanted to check on you."
She looked down at the pictures on the hood again, her eyes scanning all the drawings and polaroids.
…
…
"I'm sorry I screamed at you." She started softly "I just didn't expect to see you there." She looked away, finding the forest very interesting.
"I understand, and I promise I won't do it again."
She looked back at me.
"Have you done it before? Since I came back?"
"Going into your room?"
She nodded.
"No, it was the first time I promise." I left out the part where I watch after them every night from the woods. It didn't matter if she was Ok with that or not, I wasn't stopping until Victoria's body was turned into ash and if she knew about it she'd only be uncomfortable.
She stared at me, as if trying to decide to believe me or not. I resumed my task, continuing with my daughter's lullaby and leaving her alone with her thoughts.
"It's a little jumpy." She softly said after a while.
"What's jumpy?"
"The part after… uhm, the bridge?" I nodded "The whole song is more like a happy stroll along the beach… then it suddenly turns into a run, too dramatic… Lizzie's temper is calmer than that." She reclined her elbows on the hood. Watching my fingers on the keys.
"You think it's the tempo or the notes?"
She thought for a minute.
"A bit of both, I guess."
…
…
"Can I ask you something?" I asked tentatively after a few minutes of awkward silence.
She shrugged.
"Yesterday, why did you start talking to me again?"
She was quiet again, staring at the pictures below her.
"I thought I could try and have a civil relationship with you. I had a horrible childhood because of my parents divorce they fought all the time and I felt like a ping pong going from one place to another every summer and holidays. I don't want Lizzie to go through that too."
"You never talked about it I didn't realized it had been that bad."
She shook her head.
"I got over it eventually, both of them wanted me close but they couldn't agree on anything. It could have been worse though, they could have been throwing me around because neither wanted the me."
"I'm sorry."
She waved me away.
"Anyway, Lizzie wants to be with both of us and who am I to take that away from her? And I don't want to make this anymore difficult for her, her life is difficult as it is already. So I thought I could give it a try and try to let go of my anger."
I held my breath.
"Let go of your anger?" I asked hopeful.
She stared at me for a long second before looking down again and continuing.
"I can't forget what happened Edward, no matter how guilty you feel or how sorry you are I can't forgive you." My heart fell "But I can try and be civil with you for Elizabeth, I don't want to be bitter or angry anymore."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked down so she wouldn't see the pain in my eyes.
"I talked to Leah… I got a new shot at life and I don't want to spend it thinking about the past or about you. It's not worth it, I want it to be my life and I want to be happy with my daughter and I want her to be happy with me. If talking to you makes her happy that's what I'll do, but that's it."
"You still don't believe me do you?" I whispered.
She didn't answer and I took that as a confirmation.
"Have you thought about what I told you?" I asked.
"You have said so many things." She snorted looking away.
"About what I told you when you were at the hospital, after James' attack."
…
…
…
"You said… 'As long as it makes you happy… as long as it's what's best for you' I remember." She whispered.
"Did you think about it?"
She nodded.
"I forced myself to think back… and came up with a conclusion."
"What is that?" I breathed, going still as a statue.
"You were doing me a favour." She said firmly.
"What?" I asked aghast.
"Maybe you didn't do it with malice, you are not bad but you still led me on… doing the human girl a favour, granting her her wish by staying until you couldn't pretend anymore."
I was on my feet and in front of her in an instant, startling her.
"Bella, that's absurd. Why would anyone do that? You know me, think about all the time we spent together, think about the man you knew. You really think I'd do something like that? Risk my entire family of exposure just to do a favour to a human girl?"
"I can't see any other explanation."
"What about this one?" I held her face "Because I love you." I said firmly.
"If you loved me, you wouldn't have left."
"You think I left because I don't love you." I stated.
"Yeah." She made a duh face.
"Ok, let me ask you a question then. You gave up Lizzie, right?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
She answered right away.
"Because I couldn't be with her, if I died she would be alone and in danger."
"So you gave up on her for her own good, not because you didn't love her?"
"Of course." She glared "Why would you think otherwise."
"You left her." I said simply and her eyes widened, comprehension dawning on her.
"This is not the same thing." She shook her head, trying to break free.
"It sure is," I insisted fiercely "the only difference is that I lied about it to protect you."
"Protect me from what?" She gritted.
"From myself! Bella don't you get it?"
"What is there to get?! You were crystal clear! You said you didn't want me, that I wasn't good enough for you!"
Again with this.
"Bella, I lied. Don't you see? I only left you in the first place because I wanted you to have a chance at a normal, happy, human life. I could see what I was doing to you—keeping you constantly on the edge of danger, taking you away from the world you belonged in, risking your life every moment I was with you. So I had to try. I had to do something, and it seemed like leaving was the only way."
"And hurting me in the process was the only option, too? Edward, it doesn't make any sense! If you worried about me being in danger, leaving me was worse! I went through two vampire attacks! I birthed your daughter, got cancer, run along with wolves and I jumped from a cliff! How on earth would I be safer without you? Stop using that as an excuse. You left because you got bored, I understand that I don't blame you for that, what I blame you for is for how and when you left." Her voice was a mixed with angry sobs and pained tears. I took a hold of her face again, forcing her to look at me. My voice shook as I spoke.
"If I hadn't thought you would be better off, I could have never made myself leave. I'm much too selfish. Only you could be more important than what I wanted… what I needed. What I want and need is to be with you, and I know I'll never be strong enough to leave again. I have too many excuses to stay—thank heaven for that!"
"What about your distractions?"
I laughed without a trace of humor. "Just part of the lie, love. There was no distraction from the… the agony. My heart hasn't beat in almost a hundred years, but this was different. It was like my heart was gone—like I was hollow. Like I'd left everything that was inside me here with you." I placed my hand over her heart.
"Edward, please stop… I can't trust you. You hurt me too much." She cried "Don't make this any harder I just want to move on and forget this. I want to start again and have a good relationship with you please stop, don't mess things up."
"What do I have to do… or give you to make you trust me again? Anything… it's yours." I wiped her tears away with my thumbs.
She looked deep into my eyes, trying to figure me out again. Testing me.
"You won't give me what I want." She said convinced.
"Of course I will, I'll give you anything!"
She looked down as more tears fell from her eyes and she shook her head.
"Tell me what you want Bella." I urged, brushing her hair away from her beautiful face.
"I want you to prove it to me, prove me you still love me and you won't ever go away."
"I won't! I swear! I'll never leave you or Elizabeth willingly," I shook my head "You two mean everything to me I love both of you beyond reason." I cried. "What do I have to do for you to trust me?"
She looked up at me with determination in her eyes.
"Give me something only you can give me."
"Wha-"
"But not because I asked you, but because you want to."
"Something only I can give you?" I asked myself, then looked at her questioningly "Like what?"
"You'll figure it out."
"Bella, I don-" I stopped midsentence and went rigid.
I looked up behind Bella and adjusted my eyes so I could see through the woods but saw nothing, he was still too far away. He had caught our scents so he was coming our way, I let out an involuntary hiss.
"Edward?" Bella asked nervously "What is it?" She looked around, sensing my defensive stance.
"Laurent," I growled I could now hear his feet running as they hit the ground too. I stepped around Bella and pulled her behind me as she clutched to the back of my upper arm. I felt her heart beat furiously against her chest on my back, attracting much more attention than necessarily for the vampire coming our way.
"Are you Ok?" I looked over down at her.
"Yeah, I'm just… nervous. Shouldn't we go back to the house with Elizabeth?"
I thought about it for a second, I didn't want him near her but at the same time I wanted to be close to her in case she needed me and I wanted more protection for Bella as well with my brothers being near besides, if Jasper was present he could help me getting a read about Laurent… He would tell me if I was overreacting or not. I don't know what was up with me, I guess I was just fiercely over protective of the girls I loved and I didn't care, I wasn't taking any chances.
"Get on my back." I urged her.
"What? I can walk."
I sighed.
"Don't be stubborn now; there's no time." I argued.
Before she could say anything else, I swooped her up in my arms and took off.
"Edward!" She shrieked and I couldn't hold my chuckle despite the tension emanating from my body.
We reached the house in seconds, and I put Bella back on the ground. Her legs wobbled and I caught her before she'd fall.
"Damn, I thought I had got used to that." She grumbled closing her eyes.
"You need to sit down?" I tried to hold my laughter. "You look pale."
She glared at me.
"Look who's talking, Mr. Whitey."
"Did you just make a joke?" I asked amused.
"Not a good one, apparently," she grumbled sitting on a bench near her.
"You Ok?" I asked truly worried now; she looked sick.
"Yeah, I just got dizzy… I get lightheaded pretty easy nowadays. I think it's a side effect from my medicines."
Now I felt like crap. "I'm so sorry Bella, I didn't know."
She waved me away, "I've gotten used to you laughing at my expense to prove your superiority."
There was no malice in her words, just acceptance. When we were together I had laughed at her human ways... I thought about that. I laughed at her many times and it was condescending. I did see myself as the superior intellect...at least I used to. She interrupted my inner musing by asking, "Is he close?"
I looked up and listened in.
"He'll be here in two minutes." Alice answered walking out from the kitchen door with Jasper "The rest are staying inside with Lizzie. Carlisle is not back home yet."
I offered Bella my hand hesitantly she took it and I helped her get up enjoying the brief contact. We formed a loose line, with Alice next to me and Jasper on Bella's other side as we waited for Laurent. The air was completely still the only sound was Bella's quick heartbeat and her deep breathing as she tried to calm her dizziness. I looked down at her and was glad to see the color coming back to her cheeks.
A minute and a half later, Laurent appeared at the edge of the back lawn. He didn't react at all at our defensive position. He ignored the tension in the air and just smiled at us. I didn't know what to make of that.
Purpose...He walked with purpose.
"Laurent, what a nice surprise to see you here," Jasper said for me, I was too busy trying to figure out his line of thought.
"I must say I'm the surprised one." He said eyes solely on Bella as he took a few steps towards us. "I see it and I can't believe it! Bella, it's so good to see you alive and healthy. You look wonderful!" He stopped several feet away from us.
"Thank you Laurent; you look good too." Bella blushed. "I prefer the butterscotch eyes to ruby eyes." She smiled.
"I must say, your new look suits you as much as my eyes," He winked.
Bella unconsciously passed her fingers through her hair it had grown a couple inches since she got here. It reached about two fingers above her shoulders now.
"Yeah, it's… something." She made a face.
"I'm sorry I can't give you a warmer greeting." He motioned to the distance between us, "I'm still new to this lifestyle and… to be honest you still smell as good as I remember." He joked.
"Don't even think about it." I couldn't stop myself from growling.
"Oh, I'm sorry Edward… I don't mean your mate any harm. I'm just stating the obvious."
"Why are you here, Laurent?" I asked, sick of this bullshit. His mind was overactive. He was thinking too much on how to behave and what to say. Again, he wouldn't be the first one to do this. Almost everyone who knew I read minds would do the same on occasion to protect their privacy around me.
"Well Edward, I've been a nomad for a great part of my existence until I found Irina." He placed his right hand over his heart, "That makes me appreciate my friends I consider Bella and all of you my friends so I wanted to see you happy with my own eyes." He explained, his eyes looked sincere but I was still on guard. "I'm also a bit curious… Bella, where were you all this time? We looked for you all over Washington." Laurent said, remembering when my siblings, the Denalis and him had gone all over the state in search of her.
"Yeah, sorry about that… I was in Kent with a friend's sister."
"Something's wrong." Jasper thought "Why is he nervous?"
Subtly, I took a step closer to Bella.
"Well, I have tons of questions for you my dear, dear Bella… especially about your precious daughter! Such a wonderful creature! We have tons to talk about, are you guys going to invite me in?"
"No." I said without taking my eyes out of him.
I didn't want him any closer, I know I was being paranoid and might be overreacting as always but with our story I didn't trust anyone who wasn't my immediate family around my girls.
"No?" He was taken aback "What you mean no? Just for a little while, I had a long journey here, we are family now Edward, I'm with your cousin. Can't I stay for a few days?"
"Esme is redecorating the house," I lied "I'm sorry, it's a mess.
I didn't feel any amount of guilt. Thinking I lost Bella for a whole year made me like this, I didn't care if I looked like a dick but no one I didn't trust was coming close to her or our daughter. I lived a hell without her, it was like a reflex reaction to avoid that kind of pain again.
"You are redecorating the house? I'm sorry, I didn't know I should have come later in the week then."
Well, if you had only called before ambushing us like this?
"Yeah, we are rearranging the rooms for Seth, Bella and Lizzie." Alice seconded me.
"Seth? Who's Seth?" He cocked his head to the side curiously.
"He's a friend of ours from La Push." Alice answered.
"I thought vampires weren't allowed there?" He asked with new curiosity, his eyes flicking back to the house.
"He's not a vampire." I said simply, withholding Seth's true nature in case Lizzie could hear. "He's a friend of Bella's, he helped her when she was pregnant. The others didn't tell you about him?"
"No, Kate just told me you got a pet?" He made a face, "I thought that's what I smelled back there."
We heard Emmett's laughter in the distance.
"Yeah, that's a good description." I chuckled.
Bella raised her eyebrow ay us, "Refrain from calling my best friend here a pet. I know that's how you regard humans, but it's insulting to those of us with a heartbeat."
A pet. She thought I saw her as a pet. She yelled that at Alice didn't she?
New rule. No pet jokes, even about Seth.
"By the way, why did I catch your scents back there too?" He pointed behind himself "Yours, Bella and your daughter's scent was strong."
"We were taking a walk," I said before Bella could tell him she and Lizzie lived there. I didn't want anyone to know they lived alone. "Bella and I were talking before you got here."
"Oh! That's good, very good. You need to exercise young lady," He shook a finger at her, "I know humans do that to stay healthy. Now tell me Bella, how did you get that horrible illness?" He asked concerned "What did you do all this years without your mate? He was going beyond crazy with worry looking for you. Are you completely recovered?"
"Uhm," Bella looked at me, unsure of what to say. She knew I didn't trust him and since I had been spreading lies on Laurent's face all this time she wasn't sure what to say. I nodded at her encouragingly, it didn't really matter if Laurent knew about her past, what mattered was the present. "The pregnancy was difficult," She started "and fast… I was very weak. Nothing stayed in my stomach so I got anemia, which then turned into leukemia… I moved from La Push to Seattle for my therapies."
"So you were in La Push before?" He asked with new curiosity "How long?"
Bella tilted her head a moment...too long a moment. Something was going through her head, I could see it in her eyes. They were calculating… confused, like solving a math problem. It was the same look she had when I bared my soul at her only moment ago.
"Yeah," she said slowly, her eyes still on the vampire "since I left Forks right after my father died." She gave him a once over, staring at her clothes… more specifically his hoodie under his jacket "Jacob, my dad's godson, built me a cabin. I lived there until I had to move to Seattle for my therapies."
"Jacob?" Laurent questioned.
"Yeah, he's friends with Seth too." She met Laurent's eyes, "A pack of brothers...always there to protect me."
Laurent stiffened for some reason.
"Seth… can I meet this Seth?" He asked "Does he know you are vampires?" I nodded "Why is he here?"
"Yes, he knows and it's a long story," I answered "he's here mostly to protect Lizzie they have… a special bond, " I said still feeling a little unease about my daughter belonging to someone besides me. No matter how great Seth is, Lizzie is my little angel.
"Aw! I don't doubt it! Your daughter is so special, amazing! She has everyone wrapped around her little finger with just one look! And so beautiful, just like her mother. I wonder what the Volturi would think of her-"
"Don't you even think about it!" I growled and flexed my muscles ready to launch myself at him "No one, and I mean absolutely no one out of this family can know about her, you hear me?!"
I've heard tons of stories about the Volturi from Carlisle, I've never met them but I know Aro, their leader liked to collect rare and special things and would do anything to get what he wished for. I know Elizabeth would be too precious to him.
"Edward," Jasper warned and I was stunned when I felt Bella's warm hand on my back, it calmed me ten times more than Jasper's gift could.
"What Edward was trying to say," Bella said calmly, but underneath her steady voice I could see the fear in her eyes, "is that no one can know of Elizabeth for her safety. We would appreciate if her existence stayed between us."
"Of course, I'm sorry… how stupid of me. I won't say a thing, you have my word."
Bella laughed at him.
"What is funny?" Laurent asked confusedly.
"I have your word," Bella snickered. "Your choices in alliances haven't been the best in the past Laurent. Nice hoodie by the way, I think I've seen it before."
Laurent's mind went blank and said nothing as Jasper and I stared at Bella puzzled as she continued.
"Thanks for your concern, but let's be honest here. You are not my friend Laurent, I don't even think we ever spoke that time back in forks… why are you really he-"
"Daddy!" Lizzie opened the window to her room and popped her head out "You wanna watch a mo-" She gasped "Oh! Uncle Laurent! How are you?!" She waved at him from the third floor.
"Hello little one! I'm fine thank you! How about you?"
I didn't need Jasper's gift to see the relief in Laurent's eyes at the change of topic. I took another step and positioned myself between him and Bella. Something was wrong, Jasper and Alice could feel it too.
"I'm good! Where's Aunt Irina?!" She looked around.
From the Denali sisters Carmen, Irina and Kate were the ones she liked the most when they visited the first time. Well, if you see it the other way around Tanya was the only one she didn't like.
"She's back home, but she sent you a little something." Laurent took out a small box from his pocket, from his thoughts I got it was a silver bracelet with Elizabeth's name on it.
Lizzie gasped.
"Daaaaddyyyy," She said in a sweet sing song voice "can I come out now? It's sooo boring in here!" she stared at me with big puppy eyes. I damn the day Alice taught her that trick.
I looked at the space between Laurent and I, then at Jasper and Alice. Three vampires, plus the other three inside… they were safe enough.
I sighed.
"Emmett can you bring her out, please?" I relented.
Bella broke in, "Tell Seth to come too, Laurent wants to meet him." I couldn't decipher the look in her eyes, it was a mix between worry and… I don't know… hope?
"Goodie!" She clapped her hands "SEETH! CURFEW IS OVER! CURFEW IS OVER! I'M A FREE WOMAN! THANKS HEAVENS AND EVERYONE ABOVE!"
Everybody laughed and I rolled my eyes at her dramatics.
"Like father, like daughter," Bella chuckled.
"What was that?"
"C'mon," She laughed, "you are as dramatic as her." It took me a moment to answer, as I got a little lost on her beautiful wide smile.
"I'm not dramatic," I defended myself.
"Please! You are the ultimate drama queen," she insisted.
"She's right about that," Jasper said with a smirk. "You are worse than a pregnant woman."
I was about to shoot something back when the back door opened revealing Lizzie in Seth's arms and Emmett behind them.
Bella called to Seth, "Set her down. She's not a baby." Seth and I looked at each other, neither wanting Lizzie out of his arms, but Bella had that calculated look again gesturing forward. Lizzie got to her feet as the tension reliever arrived.
"Yo! Laurent!" Emmett waved happily as they walked towards us. "What brought your ugly face here?" he joked.
I looked up and saw Rosalie watching us from her and Emmett's room. She had a scowl on her face but I could also see a glint of worry in her eyes. She caught me looking and sneered at me. As always I ignored her and returned my attention back at my little angel just as Bella picked her up and took a few steps backwards, but my thoughts came to a halt when I caught Seth's confused expression. Bella's face however looked triumphant… and pained.
Seth's eyes unfocused and his nostrils flared, just then a light breeze ran across the lawn. Seth's body went rigid before letting out an ear-splitting growl.
Then, everything happened in less than a second.
"Seth! Don't!" Jasper screamed.
Before he had finished, Bella closed her arms around Lizzie and I covered my girls with my body just as Seth's skin ripped and his giant wolf form materialized in the middle of the clearing with a thunderous growl.
I felt his paw accidentally kick my back tearing my shirt apart and ignored the pain his claw inflicted on my bare back. Simultaneously, I grabbed my girls and moved them to the other side of the lawn as Lizzie's loud wails broke through the forest.
"Are you Ok?!" I asked frantically, looking down.
Lizzie was trembling, crying hysterically as she clung to what was left of my shirt and Bella's eyes were red with tears as she glared over my shoulder as she nodded. I brushed Lizzie's hair away from her face to check on her but thankfully she wasn't hurt. I turned my head around and found Emmett and Jasper restraining Seth. Alarmed Esme and Rosalie were coming out of the house. Laurent was nowhere to be seen.
"What happened?!" Esme asked over Lizzie's cries.
"Seth! What's the matter bud?!" Jasper tried to calm Seth whose mind was a complete chaos, his only coherent thought being going after Laurent. "Calm down bro!"
"That dog!" Rose shouted. "I told you he was dangerous!"
Seth howled trying to get away.
"Shut up Rosalie! And stay away!" I shouted at her. "Alice! Stay with Bella!" I handed Lizzie to Bella and went to stand in front of Seth. Lizzie's sobs became louder as she called after me.
"NO! DA-ADDY! NOO!" She called after me.
Forcefully, I grabbed Seth's big head making him look me in the eyes. His eyes were full of ire, pain and hurt just as Bella's.
"Tell me." I told him quietly, somehow I had a pretty good idea what this was about.
He calmed enough to stare back at me and showed me that memory he had showed me a long time ago… the memory of that dark rainy day four years ago.
"The scent… the hoodie… Charlie... He killed Charlie!"
A fierce loud growl erupted from my chest shaking the woods around us. Seeing red, I took off from the clearing and followed his scent with just one thought in mind.
Revenge.
-SLA-
"Where are we going?" His voice was stiff, and scared.
"Charlie won't be home till the morning. I thought we could star gaze in our meadow." I said shyly.
He stared at me, his eyes pained but full of longing.
"It's cold." He said quietly.
I turned back to my truck and grabbed the blanket I still had there from the last time we had star gazed together. I wrapped it around me and went to stand in front of him.
"Edward, I love you. I really want this, I trust you."
"Why, Bella? Why this? Why not a car, an Ipod… anything else you want is yours. I swear."
I stood on my toes to reach him better and grabbed his face, the quilt falling to the ground around us.
"You are the best thing that ever happened to me, you give me so much… just by loving me, I want to give you something back-"
"You give me everything just by breathing."
I shook my head.
"I wanna be yours in every way…I know what happened tonight scared you… you won't even touch me or look my way… you don't have to be scared. I want to show you I won't go away… I'm yours forever no matter what. I love you so much" her voice broke "no matter what happened tonight or what happens tomorrow… I'll always be yours."
Dun, dun, duuun! So it WAS Laurent who killed Charlie! Some of you guessed right! I know you have lot's of questions like why didn't Laurent recognized Seth's scent? All will be explained next chapter!
Now, Bella and Edward finally had a civilized little talk, what do you think? Who has changed teams? Does Team Edward still think Bella's being a brat? What about Team Bella? You guys still think Edward should lick the ground she walks on?
Let me know!
I SWEAR "You and Me" chapter 2 will be up before Sunday! That's my goal!
PS. I'm in potty training mode with my puppy, I'm using the training pads and news paper tricks but he still pees everywhere... you guys have any suggestions? I can't take him out yet because of what happened to him his shots didn't have effect so he's not protected.
See you next week (I promise!)
Tammy