Chapter Twenty-six – Unexpected
"I don't like this… I mean, I really don't like this. I do not think that you have to go. Maybe you can meet Renesmee without meeting the rest of the Cullens, can't you?" Paul pleaded me desperately, and I scoffed.
"Paul! You, Seth, and Jake will be there. And the Cullens have excellent control, remember?" I reminded him gently, and he growled, shaking his head.
"Peace treaty my ass! That moody one almost killed Bella when she was human, and a single fucking drop of blood set him off!" He spat, and I scoffed again.
"Paul, we're going. Jake's been dying for me to meet Nessie for a while, and now that the whole Volturri mess has blown over, and Bella's so well in control, why not?" He snarled a little.
"And we need to test that on you?" he yowled, and I shot him a look. He knew well and good that Bella was around Charlie and Sue all the time, and she hadn't so much as growled at them.
"Fine, fine…but I still don't like it," he growled, and I sniggered, ignoring him as we pulled into the Cullen driveway. My stomach flipped as the looming mansion came into view.
Truthfully, I was just as nervous as Paul, though I'd never tell him that. The thought of being with vampires nerved me to no end, yet I was still anticipating it. These people were most likely going to be my family in-law and I had to get to know them. But at least two of them had been killers, they ate people, they drank their blood.
I shivered slightly as we stepped onto the doorstep, and Paul's arm tightened around me as his form went rigid. "Vampire smell..." he shuddered under his breath, and I jabbed him in the side threateningly.
"Shut it!" I warned under my breath as I reached to knock on the door, but my fist didn't need to make contact before it was pulled open swiftly by Jake, who was grinning broadly.
"RACHEL!" he yelped, squishing me in his arms as he reached out and wrapped me in a hug. I laughed as my brother dropped me back on the ground, still grinning.
"Long time, no see, baby bro!" I smiled, and he scoffed slightly as he motioned for us to come in. Paul once again slinked his arm obsessively around my waist and I shot him an annoyed glare, shaking it off.
"Okay, this is Nessie," he said, leading me into a starch white living room and pointing to a small girl sitting on the most beautiful woman I had ever saw's lap. Long brown hair framed her pale white face, her gold eyes surveying me with polite interest. My breath was taken away by the whole room; every one of them was gorgeous, so much so that I felt myself swaying on my feet.
They were all pale and each seemed to be more beautiful than the next, all of them offering me small smiles as well. But Renesmee, she was a beauty in her own way. She was fair, her bronze hair so long it surely surpassed her feet. She had little dimples, a slight tinge of pink colored her cheeks… but the thing that stood out the most was definitely her brown, chocolate eyes, which were deep and flecked with interest and understanding, much too wise for a girl her age.
She looked to be a petite seven year old, but she could fit so easily into her mother's lap it appeared she could have been five as well. "Hello, Rachel! It's amazing to meet you…" she smiled slightly at my bewildered face, for her voice was carrying and majestic, it hinted that she was twenty years old!
"You too," I finally sputtered, sticking out my hand though I felt a bit ridiculous. She bounded off her mom's lap, and caught me around the middle in a hug, ignoring my outstretched hand. After a moment, I wrapped my hands around awkwardly, but smiled at her anyway.
"Jake's told me a lot about you," she said softly, and I shot Jake a look. She chuckled at this, shaking her head firmly. "Oh no, nothing bad! I promise you." I scowled at him anyway, rolling my eyes.
"Err- anyway, this is Bella, Ness's mom, and this is-" But I had interrupted him, giving Bella a cold gaze.
"Are you the one who made my brother run away from home?" I asked her coldly, and she looked highly embarrassed. I noticed Jake's cheeks turn a deep shade of red; the smiles fade off of some of the Cullen's faces, and Nessie's face bunch up in confusion.
"No. That was entirely his decision… and I'm Edward, Bella's husband and Renesmee's father," Edward interjected, his face rigid. I scowled at him, and Jake cleared his throat, stepping in between us.
"Anyway, this is Alice and Jasper, Esme and Carlisle, and Emmett and Blondie... I mean Rosalie." He had quickly changed Rosalie's name as Nessie shot him a look of exasperation and agitation. I nodded curtly at each one of them, and they smiled back, which made me feel guilty enough to finally sigh, and then smile fully.
Paul's arm was snaked around my waist again, and I leaned into his side as Esme motioned for us to sink into the couch, which we did immediately. She seemed one of the two least hostile of the bunch, the other being Dr. Cullen.
"So, you two are engaged?" Jake asked as he sat down himself, Nessie sliding into lap. I noticed Bella purse her lips at this, eyeing Jake disdainfully. It was Paul who answered him.
"Yup, I was pretty damn surprised when she agreed… she's so independent." Paul chortled, and I giggled, kissing him sloppily on the cheek. Jake pulled a face, pretending to gag.
"My sister, Walker," he growled threateningly. Paul scowled at Jacob, holding me tighter.
"My fiancée, Black!" he retorted, and I giggled again. Jake rolled his eyes dismissively.
"So, already drawing out wedding plans?" Jake inquired, and I turned a deep shade of scarlet. Glancing at Paul, I saw he had the same reaction.
"Umm… well, maybe not for a while." I said a bit tentatively. Paul nodded at my side, and Jake sniggered. Alice let out a disappointed squeak.
"Why not? Don't want to get hitched and have any pups?" he taunted, and I hissed.
"Shut it!" I warned, and he laughed again. Paul looked exceedingly uncomfortable next to me as Jake continued to probe me, and I quickly changed the subject, making idle small talk until the sun hung midway through the sky, and I stood up, relieved to be going.
The vampires unnerved me, with their beauty and piercing gazes… it was extremely chilling. When we finally took our leave, Paul practically carried me to the car in his rush to get away. "Ugh, finally… those lee- I mean vamps make me nervous as fuck. Almost got up and ran away with you seven times…" he shivered slightly, and I smiled at him reassuringly.
"It's okay, I felt the same way. I don't think I'm going to be visiting the Cullen's for a while, anyway…" I trailed off, and Paul smirked in a 'I told ya so' kind of way. I scoffed back at him.
"Well, there is a reason we had to leave early, anyway." Paul said this nervously, and I examined him suspiciously.
"Which would be?" I prodded austerely, and he swallowed uncomfortably, glaring out of the window.
"Ah-well, you see, my dad and the girl that he cheated on my mom with ten years ago… well they've gotten married-"
"What?" I shrieked in angry disbelief, that they hadn't invited their own son to the wedding! I had never met Rupert Walker, or his mistress. Lili was her name, apparently, but I was assuming they were dreadful to Paul, since they never called or talked to each other. Paul sighed as he pulled into a rather unfamiliar driveway, a neat brick house in front of us.
"Rach, listen! They eloped. Didn't invite anyone… just went up and did it as soon as my mother signed the divorce papers… Anyway, they wanna make up for it and invited me over. Guess I'd bring you along as well… you'll get to meet both of my parents, plus my new stepmom." He looked extremely put off as he uttered the last sentence, his face screwed up in what looked like annoyance.
"Well, then, better get in, shall we?" I quipped, and he groaned, but nodded, opening the door and running around to my side, opening the door for me and letting me step out into the pouring rain, crouching over me as if he was a giant bat to try and keep me dry.
He led me up under the porch, shaking himself out quickly before ringing the doorbell, and almost immediately it was tugged open. I was caught off guard, and yelped, stumbling backward into Paul's arms.
The woman who answered had dirty blond hair pulled back into an elegant sweep, a black skirt and a blue blouse dressing her, though I could have sworn on my life that she was not wearing a bra as her breasts bounced and flew as she jumped up and down excitedly.
She was grinning broadly, and held out her arms for us to walk into, which I did though very reluctantly, Paul even more so. "Ooh, Paul, this must be Rachel then?" she beamed, and Paul flushed but nodded.
"Erm- yes, this is Rachel. Rach, this is my… dad's wife, Lili." He offered awkwardly. Lili grabbed my hand brightly, pulling me into another hug before letting me fall back.
"Well, it's wonderful meeting you! I expect you've heard Rupert and mine big news? Oh come on, I won't bite! I promise!" she giggled as she turned back from her position at the end of the doorway, her eyes twinkling. Somewhat taken aback by her peppy attitude, I followed with Paul at my side.
"She's something, no?" Paul breathed in my ear, and I sniggered. But my attention was diverted by a man who looked severely liked Paul, with the exception of his black, straight hair as opposed to Paul's curly brown locks.
"This is my dad, Rupert. Dad, this is Rachel…my fiancée," he breathed, and I beamed at him with a slight smirk, winking. Mr. Walker walked over to me swiftly, and gripped my arm, rigidly, though he was smiling.
"Pleasure to meet you, Paul has spoken of you when we have talked before." Mr. Walker said this in such a tone, I was afraid he was criticizing me for it, but he was smiling nonetheless, though when I looked a bit closer, I saw it was more of a grimace.
"Oh, Rupie! You never told me Paul spoke of her so much!" Lili murmured, scampering to him and pecking him sloppily on the cheek. At her soft touch, Rupert turned and granted her a real smile, swelling with pride as he grabbed her around the middle.
"Oh dear, sit, sit! I almost forgot I asked you… but as I was going to say, has Rupert told you of our excellent news?" Lili smiled, clutching her stomach with happiness.
"Err- yes, I was under the impression that was why we were here?" Paul cocked an eyebrow and Lili waved that away, rolling her eyes.
"No, I didn't mean our marriage… What I'm talking about is that I'm expecting!" she murmured, happy tears forming in her green eyes. Paul froze next to me, and I clasped a hand to my mouth in shock. Rupert was quite frozen as well, surveying Paul's reaction. Paul finally nodded his body still stiff as a board. I squeezed his hand, still trying to recover myself from the shock of it.
"That's… great!" I finally broke the tense silence, and Lili, who was staring around in unaware bliss, beamed at me.
"Isn't it? Just amazing, I mean? Totally unexpected, of course, but I'm ecstatic nonetheless!" she sighed dreamily, and Rupert finally relaxed a bit.
On our way home, Paul maintained a stony silence until we were inside. He finally seemed to burst. "I CANNOT believe them! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH OLDER MY DAD IS THAN LILI?" he roared, and I pursed my lips, but nodded.
"I imagined. But they're both happy with each other, and Lili seemed to be positively glowing about having a baby…" I trailed off at the furious glare Paul was emitting at me, and placed my hands on my hips.
"Oh, come off it Paul!" I griped, and he hissed, shaking his head.
"Rachel, Lili is not that bad, but dad was the worst father anybody could ask for! Why do you think I'm so messed up?"
"I don't think you're messed up!" I exclaimed in a hushed tone, angry. He rolled his eyes, but said no more as he gathered me in his arms.
"Well, at least I'll always have you!" he murmured, kissing my cheek affectionately. I glared at him still, angry that he was taking his frustration out on me.
"Yeah, yeah. You will. Just stop yelling at me for stuff that is not my fucking fault, okay?" I demanded, and he laughed while nodding in agreement.
"Yeah, I promise I won't. I'm just kinda freaking out a little, ya know?" he asked, and I rolled my eyes.
"I guessed that that was the case."
Heyla,
As promised, another chapter! Thanks to those who did, they're awesome!
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As always, TwilightHeart21