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 25
Tanya, Kate and Irina showed up looking like runway models. All three were tall, blonde and were incredibly beautiful. Tanya had long, curly strawberry blonde hair, Irina had chin length, pale blonde hair which was almost silver and Kate had long straight pale blonde hair.
They were all wearing designer clothing and were carrying designer luggage. It appeared that they planned on staying for a while.
As soon as they were in the door, Tanya rushed over to Edward and threw her arms around him.
"Oh, Edward, I have missed you." She purred. Yes, purred.
"Hello, Tanya." Edward said. He hadn't missed her so he couldn't return the sentiment. He extricated himself from her grasp and went to sit with Bella on a loveseat. Tanya's look of happiness from a moment ago was replaced with a look of outrage when she saw Edward kiss Bella.
Kate and Irina saw the look on their sister's face and turned to see what the cause was.
"Ladies, I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family." Carlisle announced. "This is Isabella Swan, Edward's mate."
Kate smiled kindly at Bella and then at Edward. Irina however, made a scathing noise while her sister, Tanya laughed derisively. They thought that Carlisle was making a tasteless joke.
Once they realized that he was serious, they looked appalled.
"There must be some sort of mistake." Irina said. "Edward and Tanya are mates." Irina said while looking down her nose at Bella.
"Yes, Edward and I have always shared a passionate love. We've only been apart because Edward wanted to settle down and I wasn't ready yet but I am now so we can finally be together." Tanya said while smiling seductively at Edward, who squirmed in his seat.
Bella had heard and seen enough.
"Actually Irina and Tanya, you are both mistaken. I am Edward's mate." Bella said. She raised her voice because Tanya showed every sign of interrupting.
"While I have no doubt that Tanya has feelings for Edward, I can assure you that those feelings have never and will never be reciprocated." Tanya looked unhappy but she seemed unsure how to proceed but soon rallied.
"I am sure that Edward thought that I wasn't willing to commit and rather than facing the prospect of being alone, he settled for you until I came home." Tanya said condescendingly.
"Irina and Tanya, you have both been vampires for centuries and yet neither of you seems to understand a thing about what it means to find a mate. Today we are going to correct that." Bella said firmly.
"Oh, how exactly do you propose to teach us anything?" Irina asked with a scowl.
Bella's dislike for Irina was growing by the minute. Although she would have liked to slap the scowl off of the horrible woman's face, that wasn't an option because she was still human. Instead she smiled sweetly and turned to Jasper who nodded to let her know that he was ready when she was.
"Jasper is going to assist us by using his gift. He is going to show you the emotions that are felt between Carlisle and Esme, Alice and Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett, Tanya and Edward and finally between myself and Edward." Bella stated.
"Oh, that sounds interesting." Kate exclaimed.
Both of her sisters glared at her but said nothing as Jasper began.
Both Kate and Irina looked at Carlisle and Esme, Alice and Jasper and Emmett and Rosalie with envy and longing.
They had walked the earth for so long and had meaningless flings with vampires and humans while they waited for their mates. At first they thought they were bound to find their mates soon but as each decade passed, they lost their enthusiasm for finding Mr. Right and settled for Mr. Right Now instead.
When it came time for Jasper to show the emotions between Tanya and Edward, the sisters had mixed emotions.
Kate knew that Tanya was obsessed with Edward and that was all. Irina truly believed that her sister was in love with Edward and that he was just playing hard to get. Tanya until that moment hadn't realized that what she had been feeling for Edward wasn't the call of a mate.
She was however, interested in finally learning the truth about Edward's feelings for her. She knew that she was beautiful no man had been able to resist her until Edward came along. She was determined not to sully her perfect track record and now she would be able to prove to everyone that Edward loved and wanted her too.
Unfortunately, that is not what happened, everyone was able to feel, Tanya's obsession and lust but they were also able to feel that there was no love on her part for Edward. When they felt Edward's emotions for Tanya, she looked truly bewildered. Edward only felt the affection felt for a passing acquaintance and nothing more.
Jasper then showed the emotions between Bella and Edward. Kate looked overjoyed for Edward. She had known him for a long time and was happy to see that he had finally found his other half. Irina looked mortified. She had waltzed into the Cullen's home and had insulted their new daughter. She knew that she had some serious groveling to do.
Tanya just looked stunned.
"Edward and Bella, I am so happy for you." Kate said kindly.
"Thank you." They both said in unison.
"Bella, I am so sorry. I had no idea. I hope that you can forgive me." Irina said apologetically.
"Thank you for apologizing. I understand that you were showing loyalty towards your sister. I cannot fault you for that. I accept your apology." Bella said graciously.
"You know, Edward, I can be of assistance to you if you like. After all, I have had countless human lovers. I would be more than happy to give you any pointers and I'd even be willing to volunteer to be your guinea pig if it would help you." Tanya said while giving him her most seductive look. It was very clear what she was offering.
All of the vampires in the room, including her sisters, turned to her and growled menacingly.
Tanya just raised her hands in surrender and laughed, "I was just joking." She said.
Bella looked at Tanya straight in the eye. She didn't need Jasper's gift to know that Tanya wasn't joking. She should have been furious but in that moment, she felt incredibly sorry for Tanya. As beautiful as she was, she was no different from any other insecure woman. She just wanted to love and be loved but was looking in all of the wrong places.
"Tanya, I am so very sorry that you have had to search for so long and have had no luck in finding your mate. I cannot begin to understand how lonely you have been." Bella said sympathetically.
Tanya just lowered her head in shame. Bella was being much nicer than she deserved. She had just propositioned her mate right in front of her and she was being kind?
Tanya was brought out of her revelry by Bella's next words.
"I know for a fact that your mate is out there waiting patiently for you to finish sowing your wild oats and to get over your obsession with Edward." Bella said.
Tanya's head shot up and she looked at Bella questioningly.
"How do you know this? Have you met him?" Tanya asked.
"No, I've never met him but I know how you can find him." Bella said.
"However, before I tell you, I need to be sure. Are you really ready to meet him?" Bella asked.
"Yes!" Tanya exclaimed.
"Very well, as long you are sure." Bella said and she handed over the sealed envelope that Tobias had left for Tanya.
Tanya starred at the envelope with unseeing eyes. She just held onto it as though it were the most precious thing in the world.
Kate and Irina moved to sit on either side of Tanya and wrapped an arm around her. They sensed that she would need to learn the truth in private so they took their leave of the Cullens.
As they were walking out the door, Bella ran up to Kate and gave her a hug. As she did, she slipped a piece of paper into her pocket and winked at her. Kate gave her a curious smile but said nothing.
Bella watched from the window until the sisters had driven away and then walked back to Edward and reclaimed her seat.
"Don't think for a second that any of us missed that covert move, Bella." Alice said with a grin.
"Yeah, what was that all about?" Emmett asked.
"Oh, I was just letting Kate know that her mate was going to be invited to the wedding and she would get to meet him there if she didn't find him beforehand." Bella said with a sly smile.
"That's fantastic news!" Esme exclaimed.
"Yes, it certainly is. I can see why you didn't announce that though, poor Irina would have been hurt to be the odd woman out." Carlisle said
"Those were my thoughts exactly." Bella said.
"I was looking forward to a real cat fight." Emmett said with a pout.
"Emmett, Bella handled the situation with dignity and grace and I am very proud of her." Emse said.
"Thank you Esme." Bella said with a small smile. "I just felt sorry for her. I didn't have the heart to make her feel worse."
There group murmured their understanding.
"I really wish that Tanya had opened the envelope." Jasper said.
"She will when she is ready." Bella said "Who knows, maybe she'll bring him to the wedding."
"So, you have no problem inviting her?" Alice asked curiously.
"No, not at all. She is family after all." Bella said simply.
"Speaking of wedding invitations, we have a lot of work to do…" Alice began.
Everyone groaned.
Bella tuned Alice out and leaned her head against Edward's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her, kissed her forehead and followed her lead in tuning Alice out.
Yes, they had a lot of work to do but today had been a long day and neither had any intention of doing anything else that evening but relax.
Author's Note: If you are enjoying this tale, please let me know by leaving a review.