Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. All recognizable characters belong to SM.
Happily Ever After is Worth Fighting For:
A Bella and Edward Story Part 24
Bella was pacing and muttering to herself. Every once in a while she would throw her hands up in exasperation. Her family all sat and watched her in fascination. Since they had met Bella she had gone through a myriad of emotions in their presence but this was new. Although they all had super hearing, no one could make out what she was saying so they just watched.
As suddenly as she had started to pace, she stopped and wheeled around to face them.
"I am not sure how I am supposed to feel." Bella said while looking pleadingly at Carlisle. "It's too much too soon. I wasn't expecting to see them all so soon."
Bella ran into Esme's waiting arms and started to cry.
Everyone was truly alarmed now.
Jasper sent out waves of calm to try sooth her but it just wasn't working. Bella was dealing with far too many emotions and they were changing almost at vampiric speed. In a whispered voice that was too low for Bella to hear, he clued his family in to this fact.
"Bella, sweetheart what is it?" Esme asked softly.
"Yes, Bella please tell us what is troubling you. Maybe we can help." Carlisle said gently.
"I'm so confused and my human brain can make sense of this. I want to tell you but I'm afraid that you'll hate me." Bella sobbed.
"We could never hate you, Bella." Edward assured her.
"Do you promise?" Bella asked hopefully.
They all promised and took a seat on the floor in front of the loveseat she sat on in between Esme and Carlisle. Edward remained seated at her feet with her hand held in his, trying to give her strength.
"In Twilight book, Carlisle showed Laurent, mercy and he went to join the Denali coven for a while. Although he gave their diet a try, he cheated often because the lure of human blood was too great.
During his stay, he developed a relationship to Tanya's sister Irina but it was just a passing infatuation for him.
In the second book, New Moon, he returns to Forks as a favor to Victoria. He was supposed to see how well protected I was. He came to this house and saw that it was vacant and then he came across me alone in the meadow. He decided to kill me and acted as though he was doing me a favor because Victoria wanted my death to be long and drawn out so that I would suffer. It was meant to hurt Edward because he was responsible for her mate, James' death. Fortunately, the wolves were nearby and destroyed him.
Unfortunately, thanks to his relationship with the Denali family, he learned all about our family and shared that information with Victoria before his death.
In the third book, Eclipse, Carlisle called Tanya and her family to request their help in the fight against Victoria and her newborn army. Tanya said that they would only help if Carlisle allowed them to avenge Laurent's murder. Carlisle refused because Laurent was about to kill me before the wolves came to my rescue. They in turn refused to help us.
In the fourth book, Edward made me feel guilty for not wanting to invite them to the wedding. He played the 'they are family' card and so I agreed. Tanya made a pass at him on our wedding day.
Kate was friendly enough but Irina boycotted the wedding. Later, after the baby was born, Irina decided to make peace with our family but saw our daughter and ran off to betray us to the Volturi. This time, Tanya and Kate stood with us against the Volturi. Irina ended up being killed by the Volturi and her sisters were left to mourn her."
The family sat there trying to absorb this information but were having difficulty. They never thought that Irina would ever betray them.
"I have all of these emotions warring within me. I know that logically, Laurent wasn't allowed to live so he didn't end up toying with Irina's affections resulting in her betraying the family. Since Victoria was killed, there was no newborn army so the sisters haven't turned their back on us. Our wedding hasn't occurred so Tanya hasn't made a pass at Edward right in front of me on our wedding day. Our child hasn't been born so Irina hasn't sold us all out to the Volturi. I know all of this logically but I can't help not wanting Tanya around Edward or Irina around any of us." Bella said.
"Bella, I noticed that you don't seem to have those same feelings about Kate, why is that." Jasper asked.
"Oh, I forgot. Kate helped me master my shield. We became friends even after I tried to kill her for threatening to use her gift to shock my baby." Bella said while massaging her temples.
"She what?" Everyone yelled.
"She was only trying to help me focus because using Edward as a guinea pig wasn't working. She had no intention of harming our child she just made me believe she did in order to motivate me." Bella explained calmly. "That is something else that hasn't happened and yet I have no problem liking her. My head really hurts." Bella said pitiably.
"There now, sweetheart. We understand. From what you have explained, I can understand why you are having a hard time sorting through your emotions." Esme said while rubbing Bella's back.
"Yes, Bella, I have my vampiric brain and I am having the same difficulty." Carlisle confessed.
"So you don't hate me?" Bella asked hopefully?
"Of course not." Rosalie said.
"Really?" Bella questioned incredulously. "I was sure that you especially would."
"Bella, when people have the potential to threaten your family, mate and or your baby, it is understandable to be wary of them." Rosalie explained. "I would feel the same in your shoe. I do feel the same. Earlier today when those bimbos tried to harm you, my first instinct was to kill them. You're family Bella and no one messes with my family."
"Wow, thanks, Rosalie." Bella said with a smile which Rosalie returned.
"Bella, the only thing that we can do is to let them make the first move. We'll play it by ear." Jasper said.
"Okay, Jasper." Bella said.
"Bella, you might want to go freshen up. They'll be here in ten minutes." Alice said.
"May the games begin?" Emmett chuckled. He for one was looking forward to someone else on the receiving end of Bella's wrath. If Tanya stayed true to form, she was in for a world of hurt because Bella took no prisoners.
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