Why Do Good Girls Like Bad Boys?
Chapter Twenty-One: Cold Hard Bitch...Jet
Disclaimer: I am just a wanderer traveling this Earth, the fair Lady Stephenie owns Twilight and I own nothing. My soul belongs to my Edward, wherever he may be.
I took a cue from my dream and asked Edward if he would call Carlisle and tell him what was going on here. We couldn't live like prisoners in the Mansion, although waking up with Edward holding me was quite addicting. We had to unite and be a family. People were getting hurt, killed. Esme and Carlisle were flying in into Port Angeles tonite.
Meanwhile, with Quil and Embry in the pokey, we weren't expecting the next bit of news. Charlie called in the morning to check in with me and then asked to speak with Alice. I brought the phone into Alice and Jasper's room and let them have privacy.
Alice came into our room in kind of a stupor, her eyes glazed over. "It's gone." Was all she said, "It's all gone." She gave the phone back to me and then she went back into the guest room and laid down.
Jasper came in and shut the door. "Alice's house burned down last night." He whispered, "I don't want to leave her alone, she's in shock." He left quietly, closing the door behind him.
Emmett and Rose came in and sat on the bed. "What are we going to do?" Rose whispered. She looked at me with a stern look. "We gotta do something, Bella. You know how this is going to end." She looked at me and then to Edward and back to me.
I got up, clothed only in Edward's ivory button down shirt and went to the window. The shutters were lifted when the boys got home. I looked out onto the swaying, green tree tops and the misty covered mountains. So beautiful. I pursed my lips. Felt my resolve building.
"I'm going to the Rez." I stated plainly, firmly.
"No way!" Emmett's voice boomed in disapproval.
"It's the only way to make it stop." Rose agreed with me. She and I have been together for a long time. She knows the rules of engagement in a war. And this was definitely war. "We're dealing with out of control boys. They haven't gotten the point that they are fucking with the wrong people."
"We go to meet them." I turned around.
Edward's face was ...shit, he was pissed. His beautiful lips were thinned to a scowl, his eyebrows knitted into a deep frown. His jaw was tense, his arms were crossed over his chest. He was standing like he was about to throw himself in front of me should I bolt for the door.
"Edward, the rules of war state you do not wait for the enemy to come and find you. You go to meet him. I'm going to the Rez. I'm going tonite. I'm not going to cower inside this beautiful prison and hope it all magically goes away. He's not going to stop. He's never going to stop." I closed the space between us. Reaching up to touch his cheek, I said tenderly,"I love you. You are my heart, my soul. I can't live without you. If he can't get to me..." Anguish choked the words in my throat.
Edward turned and kissed the palm of my hand. A tear slid slowly down the corner of his eye. I caught it with my finger and put it in my mouth.
"Mmmm..." I smiled, "Venom."
He laughed once and smiled at me, although his eyes still held the agony of my decision.
"Look, we'll dress for battle. Nothing less than a 20 gauge on me and my girls. A taser in each boot. Poison tipped throwing stars. I'll wear frikken body armor, for Christ's sake. Anything to make you feel better. Wait, if I can get in my Dad's safe, he's got a 45 magnum." I turned to Rose, my little thief.
"I'll get on it as soon as your Dad leaves for work." Rose stated, "Should we arm the truck with the roof mounted Gatling gun?"
"That wouldn't be a bad idea. Hey! What ever happened to that grenade launcher that we took down the water tower with last year?"
"Ah...yes, my Captain! It's still in Alice's trunk, last time I looked. I believe we still have one grenade left too." Rose was bouncing up and down on the bed in excitement, "We should mount it in the back of the truck bed, that way we can say good-bye properly!"
Edward and Emmett just stared, jaws dropped slightly, eyebrows arched.
"Let's go Emmett!" Rose ordered, "I've got to release some of this energy and you are going to help me!" She threw her head back and laughed maniacally. Emmett just followed like a good minion. He closed the door behind him.
I hopped up on the bed, actually happy at my decision. Edward clearly was not. He sat next to me, and took my hand, looking down at our entwined hands.
"Edward..." I laid him back on the bed and straddled his middle. "This is nothing to worry about. I admit I was scared yesterday for a while, but I had some time to think about it and you know, my girls and I have been through something like this before, but with a slightly different species."
I leaned over and started kissing his neck from his collarbone to his earlobe. He held onto my hips and moaned quietly. I trailed wet kisses over his Adam's apple to his other ear lobe which I took in between my teeth and bit. He growled low. His body was responding even if his mind was occupied.
"Bella," his voice was rough, "I can't let you girls go alone. I can't go on the rez though, if I break the treaty, it's war and Forks will be in the middle." He unbuttoned his shirt on me and kissed me from my collarbone and proceeded lower.
"I believe," I panted, "war has been duly declared and Forks is already suffering. Battle lines have been drawn. People are choosing sides."
He tried to turn us over, but I stopped him.
"Relax, my love, let me do the work tonite." I murmured into the hollow of his neck.
After Charlie left for work, Rose and I went about securing my truck for battle. Alice and Jasper went to the airport to pick up her Mom and Carlisle. They would be dealing with the police and insurance matters, stuff like that and then meet us around lunch time at the Mansion. Edward would not leave my side, even to the extreme of waiting for me outside the bathroom. Oh brother.
I went under my bed, well, I attempted to, but Edward thought I should just stay bent over for a while. Geesh, he's insatiable...it's one of his endearing qualities.
"Edward, darling, " I laughed as he lifted the back of my skirt, "we've got work to do."
"In a minute, love, in a minute." I love that man.
Well, after a couple of interruptions..ahem..I finally was able to get the trunk out from under my bed. I opened the long rectangular box's lid and smiled at my old friends. Three sets of one piece black thigh, shoulder, ass and chest protecting body armor, crossed reverse shotgun holsters, leather strapped thigh accommodating quick release weapons holders, fresh tasers, 3 pairs of steel toed boots, 3 pairs metal mesh meat cutter's (anti-teeth) gloves lined in fleece and covered with black leather, anti assault helmets with night vision goggles.
I sighed in appreciation of the beauty of it all.
"I'm impressed. Is it comfortable?" Edward asked, picking up the one-piece.
"Oh, totally. It fits like a second skin. It's light and the material breaths."
"Put it on...let me see you in it?" He said with a wicked grin.
I started getting undressed to Edward's enjoyment.
Rose stuck her head in the door. "Hey! You got the armor out, cool. Let me grab mine while I'm here."
"I think we should put it on now, before we go meet Esme." I said, "I'll pack Alice's set for when we see her."
"Good idea, Captain," Rose winked, grabbed her gear and went to the bathroom to change.
When I was done slipping on the one-piece, the boots and the gloves, Edward was sitting back against the bed, just staring in awe and lust. I stood in front of the full length mirror on my closet door, adjusting the suit. I French braided my hair and clipped the hanging braid in a circle to my head. I looked myself over..."Hm! Still fits snuggly. Cool."
"I'll say it does. Hey, what's this?" He was pointing to the row of silver snaps starting below my bellybutton area and ending at the small of my back.
"It's so you will expose yourself as little as possible when you have to have an in the field human moment." I answered matter of factly, knowing full well what was coming next.
But of course, he wanted a demonstration, which meant he unsnapped all of the snaps to see if it would accommodate his fleshly intrusion. Oh boy, it sure did.
A very naughty male laugh and a sexy female giggle told me that Emmett was enjoying the suit on Rosalie as well.
I covered my suit with somewhat loose fitting khakis and a black long sleeved t shirt. I packed a duffle bag with Alice's gear and another long one with my helmet, weapons, etc.
Rose opened the safe easily and I shoved Charlie's 45 into the ass holster, Rose had Charlie's baretta in hers. The shotguns, the tasers, and other stuff went into the duffle. I stashed the not as yet tipped stars in my tit flaps, and shoved a bunch in the duffle. Edward looked at me proudly and I smiled back.
"Edward?" I asked, curious about something.
"Yes, love?"
"Do you ever wish you'd fallen in love with someone more...girly? I mean, you know, someone who doesn't know how to throw a star with dead on accuracy or doesn't even know what body armor is?" I asked sheepishly, sticking my sheathed Bowie in my pants.
"You mean someone more at home in aprons and make up? Someone who will worship me? No, Bella, if the gods came to me and said I could design a girl for me to love, it would have been you, my darling. I worship you. I love that you are tough, independent, smart, beautiful and a warrior. I love that you are with me, that even though I'm a pompous ass, you love me. Even though I don't deserve you whatsoever, you love me. I want you to live with me for all eternity. Bella..." He crossed the room and sunk down to one knee at my feet and took my hands in mine.
"Bella, my dearest love, will you please spend the rest of eternity with me as your mate?"
"You want to change me, so we will be immortal together?" The smile on my face was huge and filled with hope as he spoke the words I longed to hear.
"Yes, Bella. You and me. Immortals together for eternity." He looked deeply into my eyes.
Could he have any doubt as to what my answer would be?
"Yes, my Edward, yes, there is nothing I want more than to be by your side as your wife and as your immortal together for eternity."
"Thank you..thank you." He kissed my hands.
Rose, Emmett, Edward and I met Esme, Carlisle, Alice and Jasper at the Mansion around 1 o'clock. After we exchanged heartfelt greetings, Esme lead us into the kitchen where she had lunch from the Pizzeria waiting for us. Platters of stuffed manicotti, lasagne and antipasto salad were on the kitchen island in a lovely display. To think that just a few hours ago we were sitting around in the same spot playing silly drinking games in our underwear. Today we were in our battle gear and would be discussing the escalation of war in Forks.
The three of us discussed strategies and weaponry. Carlisle seemed to be impressed with my girls and my knowledge of self preservation.
"What was it that you mentioned about taking out the water tower with a grenade launcher?" Edward asked me,"Was that a prank or something else?"
My girls and I laughed at the absurdity of that statement considering the city of Forks was nearly leveled and everyone in it killed.
"Well," I began, I got up and paced the kitchen as I recalled the story, "basically and to cut to the chase, a coven of demon worshipping spell casters moved into Forks a few years back and were tainting the water supply with certain herbs that brought the town to it's knees. This coven of Vampires from Volterra, Italy...they call themselves The Volturi..they're really a bunch of old geezers with paper looking skin and they smell funny. Anyways, they came to town and threatened to wipe Forks off the face of the planet if we didn't get rid of these maniacs. At first everyone all laughed in their faces, but then, this little bitch ripped the mind of the Mayor of Forks right out of his brain in front of the whole town. Well, no one laughed after that, but were paralyzed to do anything, because these sorcerers had spiked the water so that whoever drank it, fell under their command."
"Yes, of course I remember that, it was a horrible time. No one knew what was happening. But the girls, they were amazing. They saved the town. That's why the city gives basically gives them carte blanche in these kinds of matters." Esme interjected proudly, hugging Alice who was now decked out in her battle gear.
"Anyways," I smiled at Esme and continued, "the girls and I are more beer drinkers than water drinkers, you know? So we were clear. Since no one in the town was going to man-up, we kind of took care of things. We found out where they were holed up and it was the water tower, naturally. So, one night when they were up there chanting over the water supply, we got out this grenade launcher that we lifted from the armory and blasted them. Story over."
"You came up against the Volturi?" Jasper's eyes were huge.
"Ya, you know them?" Rose asked everyone.
Edward, Emmett, Jasper, and Carlisle looked at us incredulously.
"Yes, we have had dealings with them before." Carlisle stated. "They're very powerful."
"Well, I suppose they scare most people, but to us...eh." I said plainly.
Edward was staring at me. I couldn't read his face. Then, he suddenly stood up and took my hand, pulling me behind him out of the kitchen.
"We'll be right back," he said over his shoulder and lead me up the stairs and into his bedroom.
"Edward, what's wrong?" I was worried at his urgency.
He shut the door and pushed me up against it. His mouth found mine and kissed me hard, holding my face in his hands.
"Edward, what?" I managed to say when his lips moved to my neck.
"Listening to the story...your bravery...I..I'm incredibly turned on and I couldn't stand not kissing you for another second."
Edward's need was hot and fervent. He ripped my khaki's off and opened my snaps in one swoop. Right there, up against the door. Oh, my darling Edward.
We rejoined the family, who just shook their heads at us and giggled.
Edward shyly said, "Sorry for the interruption." More giggles.
Carlisle was so happy to see his son in love and so happy, he was practically beside himself, smiling proudly and just beaming.
"Well, shit Edward, are you going to be humping her during the fight?" Emmett laughed.
I didn't see him leap, but all of a sudden Edward was on top of Emmett on the floor pounding his face in. Jasper came behind Edward and dragged him off, but not before he gave Emmett a hard kick in the face.
Esme took my hand, "Girls, let's go into the other room before it gets really stupid."
"I think it's too late for that, Mom," Alice laughed.
We sat around on the couches asking Esme questions about the change and married life with Carlisle. She made it sound so wonderful, like a fairytale. Esme was glowing. Her new life as a vampire really looked good on her. She was nice looking before, but now she was just unbelievably gorgeous. Her pale skin was smooth and creamy, her long auburn hair softly fell in waves down her back. But more than that, her love for Carlisle and his for her was so evident it made me blush when they looked at each other. We talked about my wedding plans. Carlisle and Esme would be staying until the wedding and then all eight of us would go to Denali together.
All four boys were now fully engaged in tumbling around the floor, roaring loudly, fists flying. We looked at our men, then each other and cracked up.
"I'm so happy to be home." Esme laughed and grabbed us all in a group hug.
A/N: Oh Edward is such a naughty boy! As the girls prepare to battle for the good folks of Forks, will the Cullens man-up and join them or retreat behind the treaty? And, if Quil and Embry were locked up – who did the job on Alice's house? Can Edward get his mind off Bella's snaps to be of any help??
Thank you, you absolutely delicious Twilighters for your reviews and adds! You know the thing about reviews is that they are like a shot of writer's adrenaline!
...Love and Lemondrops!...BSL...
