Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the authors. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

This story takes place in an alternate universe and begins almost fifteen years after chapter three of New Moon. When Charlie called Renée to come to Forks, Bella went back to Jacksonville with Renée.

Thanks to Alphie, Be My Escape and Bronzehairedgirl for their help and patience with this story. They were all so much more than beta readers.

So Not Fair

by silly bella

Marietta gave me a loathsome stare. I can't believe I had a crush on him. I mean, he's with my mother. This is so not fair! I hate him. I hate them both. What was I thinking?

At least she was over her crush. One less thing for me to worry about.

Bella started to speak, but Marietta interrupted her. "It's going to take me a while to get used to you dating a seventeen-year-old. Even if he is a hundred-and-twenty." That's creepy. It's just creepy. I hate him.

All right, maybe not one less thing for me to worry about. More like a different thing for me to worry about.

Then she played the trump card. The pain hit me, so strong it was almost physical. Even Jasper nearly doubled over from my emotions. He lowered his brows as he looked at me. But I couldn't tell him what I saw through Marietta's mind. I couldn't tell him about Tony, holding Bella on his lap, his arms wrapped tightly around her as he kissed her. All I could do was clench my hands into fists as Marietta narrowed her eyes in my direction and bombarded me with images of her parents. Did she know that I could see them exactly as she remembered them in her thoughts? Could she have possibly guessed?

Bella felt me stiffen and gazed my direction to reassure me, then turned back to her daughter as Marietta began to look around the room. Her eyes lit on Alice. "So you would be the Alice I'm named after."

Alice nodded, her grin enormous. Marietta rolled her eyes. "Whatever." My mother is crazy. Bonkers. Insane. Nuts. I wonder if they'll make me live with Gram Marietta or Gram Renée when they lock her up? Then Marietta glanced at Esme. She's not old enough to be any of these people's mother. And at Jasper. He seems a little broody. Rosalie. She's so beautiful. And Emmett. Obviously, I've been focused on the wrong brother. "Hi," she grinned.

Marietta tucked her chin a bit and fluttered her eyelids. She walked towards Emmett and held out her hand. "I'm Marietta. And you would be?"

Emmett didn't speak at first. It was Rosalie who laughed and said, "He would be Emmett."

I pressed my lips together to stop the laughter before I whispered to Bella, "She's over her crush on me. Emmett's in for some trouble, though."

"Oh, really?" Bella laughed and raised her eyebrows at Emmett.

Emmett stared at me, and I knew he'd heard. Tell her no worries, brother. I've got Rosalie.

Rosalie eyed Marietta appraisingly. This is Bella's daughter? She has such poise.

A low growl erupted from my chest.

Don't be so sensitive, Edward. It's just an observation. She could be interesting. Much more interesting than her mother.

What exactly did Rosalie have in mind? Marietta grinned at Rosalie. "You're incredibly beautiful. I wish I looked like you."

Rosalie grinned. "Why, thank you." She flashed a triumphant smile at me. I rolled my eyes and glanced at Bella. Her lips formed a tiny, perfect 'o' as she watched her daughter and Rosalie in disbelief. Emmett, always able to find humor in any situation, laughed, which drew Marietta's attention back to him.

She sighed and fluttered her lashes. He's smiling at me.

Alice's jaw dropped. Of course. That's why she was so familiar when she was flirting with you. She acts like Rosalie. Unbelievable. She looks like Bella and acts like Rosalie. No wonder she drives you nuts. Alice bit back her laughter.

Shocked by the comparison, I remembered my own response when I first met Marietta. She'd liked attracting attention. She'd reminded me of Rosalie. I wondered if Bella had noticed this and how she felt about it if she had.

Emmett coughed uncomfortably. This is not my fault. I didn't do anything.

Rosalie's grin grew even broader. "He is hot, isn't he?" She winked conspiratorially at Marietta. "Great minds think alike."

Marietta's eyes widened. "But… but he's your brother." Unbelievable. This family is unbelievable. Did they recognize any taboos? I'll bet they could fuel a week of talk shows. Maybe more.

"Not exactly," Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Come on; let's go have some fun while I explain the dynamics of my family to you." Without waiting for a response from Marietta, she turned, tossing her hair over her shoulder and headed, at human speed so Marietta could follow, up the stairs. Marietta followed, executing the exact same movements, although not quite as graceful as Rosalie's exit. Still, for a human, it was amazing how well she carried herself.

Emmett grinned at Bella and exclaimed, "I'm not missing this!" before he raced behind them to the second floor. Bella sat awestruck next to me.

"Well, that was interesting," Jasper deadpanned.

"More like disturbing." Alice stared wistfully up the stairs. She's my namesake. She's supposed to like me. "How did that happen?" I understood perfectly.

"You have no idea how disturbing. Trust me, I could read their thoughts, too." I shook my head. "I need to purge my brain."

Bella frowned. "Want to explain that?"

"I believe," Jasper spoke with authority, "that my brother is experiencing cognitive dissonance at the combination of your daughter's appearance and personality. The living image of you acting like Rosalie might have put him over the edge." He grinned at me. "You going to be all right, Edward?"

Before I could respond, Bella interjected frantically, "But what are they doing?"

Carlisle paused briefly, and then said, "I believe Rosalie is fixing her hair. They're talking about how it holds curl."

Jasper snickered. You should see your face, Edward.

"You have got to be kidding," Bella stammered. "Mari Alice and Rosalie are playing Guinea Pig Barbie?"

"Unbelievable," muttered Alice. And so not fair.

"All things considered, quite a positive outcome. It could have been much worse," Carlisle observed. "Marietta is quite a resilient child. She seems to have taken the whole situation in stride."

Bella seemed relieved by Carlisle's comments. "She's OK, then. She understands?" There was hope in Bella's voice.

"I don't know that I'd go so far as to say that she understands. She's incredibly angry, but she's fine. And she seems to be having a good time with Rosalie and Emmett," Carlisle reassured her.

"Bella, why don't I bring you some more tea? It appears you've had a difficult day; maybe one cup wasn't enough," Esme was there, soothing Bella's anxiety. Jasper smiled. I knew he was helping, too. I could hear her heartbeat slowing down to a normal pace instead of the frantic cadence it had drummed earlier.

Marietta knew. It made me smile because I didn't have to hide my feelings for Bella anymore. And, relatively speaking, Marietta had accepted the situation. I could be happy with Bella. I inhaled her scent as she sat beside me on the couch and kept smiling, even as my throat burned with thirst. I looked forward to the constant fire, the never-ending temptation. As far as I was concerned, this was heaven.