BPOV
I nervously tapped my foot in the direction of the language carousel, awaiting my mother's arrival into Sea-Tac. I'd explained over the course of a few phone conversations, that my life wasn't entirely the same as it was when I left Phoenix.
It was actually nowhere in the vicinity of same.
In fact, it had taken three busses, an airplane and formally changed its country code.
I had no idea what I was going to be able to explain, or what she would detect and I would have to provide logic or reason for.
"Why doesn't she have something similar?"
It was an odd concept of solitude. To know only Alice, Edward and myself, were vested with such ostentatious abilities, while the rest of human existence carried on blindly. With only limited knowledge about the fundamentals of the reincarnation, death and birth. In the subsequent minutes, I watched the passing lambs navigate the airport, I remembered my time in the dark and silently gave a prayer of thanks.
"It's not genetic, Love." Edward reminded, drawing me away from my thoughts. "It's individualized. Not congenital happenstance."
I wasn't morally opposed to any explanation relative to keeping myself out of a sanatorium, but I had little faith in my ability to delude my mother into believing I was still "normal."
"Lying to her has never been one of my strong suits."
He wrapped his unused arm around me. "Creative dodging and vagueness, isn't lying."
A quick glance and diffusing smile caught him with too much smugness in his perfect lips.
"Are you pardoning yourself or trying to comfort me?"
"Both." We were lost in each other. Our silent conversation unnoticed by the swirl of passerby. The rampant noise of footfalls and rolling wheels, pooled together to form cover for unspoken words. They seemed louder, as Edward brushed his thumb along my cheek and continued to whisper soft little words into my soul as he merged his lips with mine.
"Bella?"
I pulled away from him, startled by her voice. "Mom!"
I hugged her tightly as she laughed and hugged me back. I could feel her liveliness when she pulled away and looked me over.
"You look...happy." Her eyes shifted momentarily to Edward and back to me. "How are you?"
I briefly peeked over at him too. Then turned my attentions on her. "I'm amazing."
"You don't say?" She smiled and smoothed my arms. Then her eyes narrowed and her smile broadened. The laugh lines which accompanied it, only went to highlight her eyes with years of joy.
"I'm guessing that has something to do with him?"
"Edward Cullen." He aptly stretched out his hand and she reciprocated.
"Good to meet you. I'm Renee." she clarified, standing back. "If Bella hasn't already filled in that detail."
"Of course," he covered, because I absolutely hadn't. "How was the flight?"
"Oh, as good as to be expected. Thanks."
I don't know why, but the realization of oncoming awkwardness hadn't dawned on me until he asked about her flight. He would know how the flight went if she was thinking about it. Not only that minor detail, but every thought she was having, including ones about him and I. I blushed until my face flamed uncomfortably.
"Okay, Bella?" Edward not only noticed my flamboyant coloring, but the levity in his question told me he didn't truly need an explanation.
My response shot daggers at him. "I'm perfect."
-ER-
It wasn't until we had my mother settled in the guest room, that I was able to question him covertly in the kitchen.
"Well?"
His face remained passive. "What?"
"Edward!" I sounded like an insolent child. "You know very well what."
He licked over his lip and rode out a wave of deliberation. Possessing a hold over me was agreeable to him in a way which unnerved me. "She's happy, you're happy."
"Your sum up is not only irritating, but pandering and semi-insulting." I was beyond curious to uncover what my mother thought so I could ultimately broach any subject carefully. His tight lip was particularly maddening when I knew his insight was virtually endless.
"She has an interesting way of looking at things," he finally answered. He took a drink of water and put down his glass before continuing. "And you're right. She very perceptive."
I groaned. "Anything else?"
He appeared affronted. "You're greedy."
I smacked his arm. "And I can only take so much stalling before I give in to the urge to pummel you."
"Fair enough," he conceded. "How about we negotiate? Information for a practice run?"
An irrepressible noise of frustration emanated from me. "You want to trade information for assured injuries to your toes?"
Since the mention of our bordering grandiose party, Edward had regrettably received the notion it would be entertaining to teach me to dance. Since it was one of the only skills he had, past or present, I didn't posses. The ability to see previous lives and play nearly any piano piece while composing poetry in French, didn't seem enough of an accomplishment. Not to mention, I was growing our child in my spare time and under the constant strain of what might befall her and us.
It was a completely negligible skill, but I agreed because I hoped in another life, I'd be permitted to recall it. Not the dancing, just the happiness in his eyes I would get to see whenever I wished.
"You can handle constant mental transportation between the present and the past, but dancing frustrates you?"
"I'm not handling it as well as I used to." My argument was weaker than my dancing skills. He knew this and his desire to coerce me was becoming unspeakably predatory.
"You will."
My heart spasmed freely and it was with great difficulty, I convinced it to regulate.
"Why have you not ambushed me with this before?"
He knew I wasn't capable in the past either. Why he chose this life to try to instruct me, was suspect.
"Maybe, I have."
My upper-hand waned as I questioned him. He unapologetically had an answer for everything. With each alluring step, we were arriving closer to a constructed waltz which only permitted him to lead. In anticipation, I felt it prudent to remind him I was only letting him think he was getting his way.
"Then It stands to reason, you're a terrible teacher."
His dark laughter was short lived. Instead, his action absorbed the offense and he embraced me in a way which was a thread short of threatening. It was with little difficulty our kitchen became a make shift dance floor, where in, I was not only lithe, but ridiculously self satisfied as my feet moved.
"Then how are you able to do this?" he questioned as I kept up with him, and didn't crush a single toe.
"Devine intervention." I decreed. In reality, it was something akin to an intervention. I never believed dancing of any kind was in my future, let alone learning to the degree where I was comfortable with the steps.
His eyes met mine. "I'll take that as a testament to my skills."
"Stalling will only cause my two left feet to make a return." He was taking his sweet time to torture me for several more seconds then twirled me. To my surprise, I managed to stay upright and balanced. I smirked a his test and beamed at him.
He chuckled. "She senses there's something different about you. It frustrates her she can't quite name it."
"Good luck on that avenue."
He pulled me back in. "The way I look at you preoccupies her."
This didn't seem entirely off the mark, though I was interested in her theories. "Why?"
"As she formed it, because she's never seen the intensity before. She's worried I'll consume you."
I minimally thought that over, but nearly instantaneously arrived at a conclusion. "She's worried about the wrong thing."
His eyes outlined in puzzlement and moved to bring me in closer. "Is she?"
"Isn't she?" I wasn't the least bit concerned of what she believed of our feelings for one another. She wouldn't be able to truly comprehend the depths. It was impossible for Edward to actually consume me. We were two halves of a complete entity, when one was afflicted, the other would be also.
It was because he found me I was permitted to finally thrive. I was finally able to find some semblance of myself. My gift, my sons, our daughter, everything fuzing together in a fantastical way. My wholeness and extreme happiness were only possible because he'd spoken to me. I shuttered thinking about if he had failed to take the step again.
Where would I have been?
Though, my greater concern would have been his fate. If he walked out of the park without a word. Would he have been dead already?
Would I have felt it? Or been oblivious my reason for breathing abandoned me on earth?
He had died in the past, separated and alone. In lives where he never spoke to me, his passing was only as relevant as any other stranger's.
In those lives, It was like he never existed.
"Bella?" he was alarmed beyond measure at my lack of responsiveness. "A silver mine for your thoughts?"
"She is worried about the wrong thing." I could scarcely see him through the burgeoning tears collecting in my eyes, but I knew my truth.
"The minute you stop consuming me, I won't exist."
-ER-
The complex dress I was placing over my head did little to calm my nerves about being in a room full of people, when I could randomly tune out and tune into, anything from their past.
"You're going to be fine," Alice reassured, surely noting my expression as I struggled. It was at her insistence and at the guidance of a particular delve into the future, that we'd gone shopping and picked out the exact dress from her vision. Although, I didn't understand her desire to procure that specific dress, or the importance, I wasn't of a mind to argue with her.
I blew out a breath, adjusting the fabric around my shoulders.
"Not only are there people down there I've never met, but they're going to think I've escaped from a padded cell."
"You only tune out twice all evening, and no one really notices. They'll think you've had a few."
I laughed against my better judgement. The dress finally settled around me.
"I wish I could."
"While no one can see my niece, she is in there. Let's leave her champagne free and protect her IQ points."
I nodded and hugged her awkwardly, in order to avoid accidentally moving anything out of place. We were both far overdressed for a house party, but I was willing to embrace it. I knew my time in snug dresses was to be short lived.
Alice analyzed her hazel, delicately beaded dress, and adjusted it just so after I released her.
"You look fabulous."
Her simper was somewhat reserved. "You'll forgive me for being a little insecure."
She turned me towards the mirror. It was an odd sensation staring at my reflection. Within the sheaths of cobalt lace which adorned my body, and an unyielding confidence in my eyes, I appeared more like I envisioned myself, than I could ever remember.
Except, I was stronger. This fierce, fearless woman was a version which wouldn't die.
A version which would fight until she couldn't breathe and even then, would still find a way to survive.
A version which loved infinitely, and would chose her family over a maniacal murderer.
"Time to get us downstairs." Alice tugged on my fingers and I made my way to join her on the steps.
She ambled gracefully down the steps and met Jasper at the bottom. He kissed her tenderly on the cheek, before leading her down the hallway and out of sight.
Triumphantly, I tackled half of the ever widening steps without feeling overwhelmed. The heels I wore were no match for my newfound balance. My breath only caught in my throat when I was greeted with his presence. He appeared from the shadow of the archway next to the beginning of the staircase. Ridiculously dapper in a blue suit with a retro sophisticated cut, accompanied by his modern day sexy mess of hair, he waited for me.
Entranced by hypnotized bolts of blue, the remaining steps were not to be remembered. I could have flown should it have been necessary to reach him.
He was silent when our hands slipped together, but his eyes relayed his coming words.
"His muse proudly displayed her wings." He loosely held my hand and began to circle me.
"But beneath her flesh, the devil covertly branded her." He'd let go of my hand, but I could still feel him move around me.
"Which only inspired him," His lips came to rest by my ear. " to consume her."
He began to furiously attack my neck with his lips, as I moaned.
"Is it too late to call this off and have you take me against that wall?"
Alice interrupted us then with a hand over her eyes. "Don't try it. Your guests are getting antsy."
Reluctantly, Edward led me around the corner with Alice in front. Everyone looked to be getting along alright. I had invited Rose, she was chatting with Adrien and Nate, laughing at something one of them said. My mother danced with Josh on her feet, he giggled as she moved.
Alice had invited a few of her longtime clients who we'd recently assisted in designing their master bath. Some of our known neighbors and their children were mingling near the overly loud speakers. The lighting was ridiculously low and the accent lighting made our expansive space appear somehow smaller and more like an upscale club.
Before I could lecture Alice about the unnecessary touches, Edward was guiding me in the opposite direction. A broad unfamiliar man stood just beyond the group, waving in our direction.
"He lives!"
I couldn't suppress my smile at his child like buoyancy. Edward nodded and greeted him with a short handshake.
"The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."
I stared between them both quizzically.
"When my condo sold," Edward began. "and I disappeared, it was the assumption in certain circles."
My frown did little to hide my disenchantment. "Logic seems evasive in certain circles."
They're shared laughter echoed.
"Bella, my agent and friend, loosely translated, Emmett."
I extended my hand. "Pleasure."
Emmett's delighted eyes were calming. "Is all mine."
"And it all becomes clear," he pulled back. "I would have exaggerated my death too, Cullen."
I could only feel the lightest trickle of heat to my cheeks as I was rushed away.
A solitary man was seated at the pew, flicking a matchbook between his fingers. He glanced at the thick watch, then peered at the door, as if it was a habit. Though dressed sharply, his suit and tie appeared to be for the benefit of an empty room.
She arrived dramatically through the door, a little one in her arms and white dress hugging her curves, despite the circumstances.
In the next second, she sang her heart out to a club full of people, as the piano player accompanied her.
Then forwarded to where they'd withered and aged, she said goodbye and kissed his forehead. He handed her a faded dingy matchbook.
"The Blue Tavern," I muttered without realizing it was not the right time or place. Edward squeezed my hand to draw me back.
"Huh?" Emmett was justifiably confused. "Sounds familiar."
I tried to downplay my shock at his appraisal, but quickly dismissed it.
"Oh, nothing." It was a matter of a second before I drew lines which connected the dots. Edward was quick to distract Emmett, but I hardly heard the gist of it before Alice was at my side whispering.
"That's incredible."
To have a link with her was beginning to be essential, if not a little fun. "So much so."
"I saw them hit it off, but...wow."
I thought about going over to Rose, but part of me wondered if it was unfair of me to force anything. I wondered if they would happen on their own, naturally.
Though, they might not have been at the party if it not for Edward and I. Fate had already intervened and used us as a catalyst.
Alice tilted her flute of champagne to her mouth. "It's going to happen, with or without you." A quick drink followed.
"Which way is better?" I couldn't help but hoped organically would make for a better story.
"Without."
I nodded happily as she slipped away again. Edward's voice drew me back to their conversation.
"Bella, I'm going to show Emmett around."
With a confirming glance, and a confident smile, he proclaimed he knew exactly where he was taking Emmett. It was going to be Edward who led him to her, and I couldn't contain my excitement.
"Hurry back." He nodded devoutly in response.
"Lovely to meet you." I waved as they walked off together.
"You too," Emmett called, still a little off kilter.
To know Edward was going to add a verse to their unfolding story made me feel by association, I was too.
I took the opportunity to bask in the excitement and tried to calm my nerves. Learning the bit of information was more than worth the occasional moments of awkwardness. I fast forwarded to how wonderful it would be when I was not at the mercy of what I saw, but it was at my beck and call.
Providing the time ever came.
I milled with Alice and Jasper, and visited with my mom for a few minutes. She was unnaturally skittish and quiet, but I was stolen away before I could question the reason.
"Dance with me."
I smiled, without turning around. His stirring words brought me back to my birthday. When I knew nothing except, I had fallen for someone I never believed I could never keep.
My smile widened as my back stayed to him.
"That wasn't quite a request."
My mother gave me a sideways stare and attempted to politely stifle her laughter. He tried again.
"Do me the honor of dancing with me?"
Something about defying him was radically enticing.
"Regrettably, my dance card is completely full."
My mother laughed harder. "He does know you're not a dancer, right?"
I heard the challenge his voice imbibed.
"I think she might surprise you."
Edward gently yanked on my hand, causing me to turn and step right into his arms.
His commanding attitude and demanding actions were alluring.
"Very subtle."
We moved at his lead and and flowed like liquid glass across the nearly empty floor. He'd taken his queue from Alice and Jasper. They appeared more like extras from Strictly Ballroom, which caused me to roll my eyes.
"I wasn't aiming for subtle." My heart speed frantically, though I wasn't able to control it. I could only breathe deeply and become oblivious to anything external. His eyes held me, as much as our motions. Some undeclared intention flamed and dissipated while the speed of the music kept time with our feet.
"What were you aiming for?"
"Grandeur." He pulled me closer and pressed two fingers to my heart. "Endless grandeur."
The song closed, and our feet slowed while his sentiment left me perplexed.
-ER-
As the evening sprawled on, I took the opportunity to see how Rose and Emmett were getting along. It seemed impossible that two people Edward and I managed to incorporate into our lives at separate times had history together.
In the deepening of the night, I managed to spy them together in a semi private corner. Complexly immeshed in one another, unable to notice my steady clacking coming nearer to them. I passed by quickly, thoroughly satisfied in their apparent happiness. I was making my way back from restroom in the outer hall when my mother stopped me.
"Hi, Sweetheart. Have a minute?"
"Of course." I was anxious to get back to Edward and rifle through his eyes for an explanation to his earlier riddle, but would always make time for her.
She appeared nervous again, but resolved as her words stumbled out.
"This arrived in my mailbox two days ago. It's addressed to you. But only has a name..." she trailed off and handed me the envelope.
Bella Black
There was no question who the sender was. My eyes pinched shut to will it away, but it didn't stop the encroached dread. The omen barring envelope weighted me to a past I could never completely abandon. She continued on with a relatively needless explanation.
"I debated whether or not to just throw it away, but I finally decided you might need it in court. I'm sure if your dad still were with us, he'd tell me to burn it."
I was sure given any other circumstance, I would have burned it. With little choice, I began to open it, certain it was better to face what was coming to me, but her fingers stilled mine.
"Whatever is in there, don't let him ruin your bliss, Bella. This life you're carving out with, Edward. The way you've transformed, it's inspiring in a way I never thought possible. It's something fairytales are made from."
I cringed.
"Except in fairytales, the villain is always defeated."
I ripped it open and recognized the scrawl instantly.
Bella,
I don't know where you got the idea to fuck someone else and take off, but your ass and those kids belong to me. One chance Bella. You'll still be a whore, but if you come back and let me fuck you like one, no one has to die. If you don't, I'm going to be forced to take matters into my own hands and start taking out people you love one by one. I think I'll start with the person who was stupid enough to give you this letter. It's your call. I hope for your mom's sake you make the right choice.
Seven days. Enough time to enjoy your party and say goodbye.
I could feel myself becoming light headed and moved to sit in the nearby chair. "Did you tell him you were coming here?"
She appeared shocked as she moved with me. "No. I haven't spoken to him."
I kept the letter close, as scenarios formed in my head. It wasn't beyond him to hire someone to watch her, or tap her phone, in order to know every move she was making.
She appeared momentarily afraid. "Is it bad?"
"He's desperate." I was vastly understating. He claimed no one would die if I went back, but I could only figure his rage would serve to end me as it had in the past. His promise to refrain from killing my mother would mean nothing to me if I abandoned Edward in the same fashion as before.
He wouldn't survive it.
I refused to stop consuming him. I knew what needed to be done and what sacrifices I would need to make.
My mother nodded. "Edward was looking for you."
I held my breath momentarily and force out an answer. "Tell him I went to lay down."
She agreed as I bolted from sight. I was set in my path, distracted by nothing, but the uncertain decisions I refused to finalize and the snap motions of my legs.