Chapter 28:
Disclaimer: I own nothing
They looked the same as they did two years ago—just as beautiful. Esme still held the same warmth and aura of a mother and Carlisle the sense of a father. Jasper still carried his stoic and tough persona, but he seemed to not be struggling with his thirst as he used to. Emmett and Alice were both still childlike and bouncy as their eyes glistened at me. Rosalie, well, I couldn't really tell how she felt as she stared at me, just looking at me like she couldn't believe I was there, but I supposed she hadn't changed.
Edward…he was the same as when I last saw him in those woods. His golden eyes were taking me in, seeing the physical change my body had taken over the past two years in which we hadn't seen each other. He saw the way my body had actually matured at the same time as well as shrunk with the chemo and cancer. His eyes lingered on my cleavage for a second, seeing more than I had ever revealed before as a human before he continued.
The room was dead silent for several long, tense moments. The Denalis were watching the Cullens intently, waiting for their next move as the Cullens just stared at me, almost as if they were trying to confirm that their eyes were not deceiving them.
Tanya's gaze, however, rivaled anyone's in the room while she practically glared at Edward, waiting for him to do or say something she didn't like towards me. Her body was tense in the corner of the sectional she had chosen to reserve for herself during the video game Kate and I were playing. She was ready to move at any second, and ready to possibly set me at her side as she simultaneously threw him through a wall.
The silence was broken when Alice suddenly gasped, "Emmett, no!"
Before I could blink the bear-man blurred. His massive arms wrapped around me and lifted me off the ground as he shouted, "Bella-Bear!" His muscles squeezed, his natural strength adding to the crushing pressure that was quickly building in my port.
I couldn't stop the gasp of pain if I tried. Immediately, several growls rumbled around the room. In a flash, Tanya had tackled the man and torn me out of his arms—careful not to injure me. Carmen and Eleazer took me into their embraces protectively as I held my port gasping while the area throbbed. Irina crouched in front of us with a low growl of warning.
Tanya pinned Emmett to the wall with a viscous snarl by the collar of his shirt and throat. Rosalie moved to defend her mate when Kate grabbed her, quickly putting her into an arm lock that had Rosalie at her mercy with nowhere to go.
Tanya snarled; her enraged black eyes glaring into his wide gold ones. "You idiot!" she spat with pure venom. "Do you have any idea what you could have done?!" Her grip on his throat began to tighten dangerously—so tight cracks had started to form.
Alice jumped forward desperately. "Tanya, stop! It was just an accident!" she called. "He didn't mean to."
Tanya snarled. "He could have—she could've…" she trailed off as a low growl rumbled in her chest.
I took in a deep breath and the pain began to dull. I looked at the blonde holding him to the wall and took in another breath. "Tanya," I called. "It's okay. Emmett didn't mean to hurt me."
The pale woman's grip on his throat slackened slightly as her attention turned to me. Her jaw ticked. She swallowed down a mouthful of venom when she saw me still holding onto my port.
I held my free hand out to her. "I'm alright," I said. "I promise."
Her eyes studied me for a moment, looking for any other kind of injury, before she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Her head gave a sharp, curt nod as she released Emmett and blurred to my side. Her arms wrapped around me protectively and she nuzzled my head, inhaling my scent.
Kate released Rosalie, allowing the blonde to run to her mate as he rubbed the cracks on his skin that were already healing in shock. His golden eyes were fixed on Tanya, looking as if she had just kicked his puppy as she lifted her nose from my hair.
Irina rose from her crouch and let her growl cease while Kate blurred over to us. Carmen framed my face, making me look at her as she examined me for injury. "Are you sure you are alright, Bella?" she asked, her thumb gently stroked my cheekbone.
I gave her a small smile and shook my head "yes". I took her hand from my cheek. "I'm fine, Carmen. It didn't hurt very long; it was just a shock kind of thing," I assured.
The Hispanic woman didn't respond at first, taking a few seconds longer to make sure I was fine before she nodded in satisfaction. Her hand that still remained on my face lowered and Eleazer stepped into her side, taking the free hand in his.
"What the hell?" Edward's sudden exclamation made our small gathering turn its attention to him. The bronze-haired teen was standing slightly in front of the family with his arms crossed in front of his chest as he glared daggers at Tanya. "Have you and your coven lost your minds, Tanya?"
The blonde behind me scowled. "I can assure you, Edward," she said lowly, "we are all quite sane and in control of ourselves."
"In control?" Rosalie scoffed, looking away from her mate. "You just attacked my mate and could've killed him if Bella hadn't stopped you. What the hell is going on here?"
"I would not have killed Emmett," Tanya clarified, "but I do admit that I did lose myself in my…instincts for a moment."
Rosalie scowled, but couldn't reply when Carlisle stepped forward, raising his hands. "Perhaps we should all calm down and take a seat? We can discuss things more peacefully then," he suggested. He glanced nervously towards Tanya.
When the woman didn't immediately move, I realized she was silently asking me if I was fine with the suggestion. I set my hand on hers, giving it a squeeze as an answer and her arms dropped from my waist. "Alright," she agreed, taking my hand in hers.
I wordlessly followed Tanya to the couch and sat next to her. Her arm immediately wound around my waist, pulling me closer to her on the cushions until I was practically glued to her side. Kate sat on my other, staying close to me as she sat on the edge of her seat, ready for any more action that would need her assistance to ease out. Irina sat on the floor in front of me, practically leaning against my legs with how close she was and Carmen and Eleazer sat next to Kate, putting a little more space between them and her.
Emmett and Rosalie sat in the love seat, holding hands as their gazes stayed focused on me. Jasper gave Alice the armchair while he stood next to it, his hands clasped behind his back, and Esme and Carlisle sat on the other end of the sectional with some distance between them and the Denalis. Edward opted to lean against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest with a scowl.
Once everyone was seated, Carlisle cleared his throat for the room's attention. He shifted in his seat as he held Esme's waist with his right arm and her hand in his left. "I must admit," he said, "the last thing we expected when we came here was to find you, Bella." His gold eyes moved to be resting fully on me.
I rolled my shoulder. "I didn't expect to run into the Denalis when I came up here, but…" I gave another small shrug.
"Indeed," he said, pursing his lips. His eyes drifted to my place within the Denali ranks. Tanya's arm just barely tightened around me and Irina leaned back enough to have her back pressed against my bare shins. "It seems you have become quite close."
Irina smirked slightly from the floor. "Bella quickly became a member of our coven," she said. The children of the Cullens stiffened, causing her smirk to grow even more as she practically buried herself in my legs. "She's definitely always welcomed with us."
I gave a mental sigh, wishing I could rub my temples. Ease it up, Rina. Ease it up, I thought.
"She's not one of you," Edward snapped. His hands were clenched into fists under his arms as he pushed off the wall, letting them fall to his side. "Bella is our coven member and my mate."
Several growls rumbled from the Denalis. "You do not tell us who is in our family, Edward Cullen," Tanya growled. Her lip twitched into a snarl. "Bella is our family and she is my mate."
My head snapped to her and my eyes widened. Wait…Mate? Had I heard her correctly? Mate as in soulmate? As in a vampire's companion for the rest of time they are romantically and physically involved with? That kind of mate or some other kind of mate—like a pre-mate—I didn't know about?
Tanya's eyes—almost the same time as mine—widened slightly as she realized her slip-up. The golden orbs flickered towards me for a second, taking in my stunned expression before she squeezed my waist in a silent promise to discuss it later.
"Your mate?" Edward sneered, his voice filled with disgust. "She cannot be your mate." He took a step forward. "Bella is mine. I had her first and I am her mate."
Tanya growled loudly only to be cut off by Carlisle, "Please, forgive him, Tanya." The woman holding me turned her attention to the other coven leader. "We cared deeply for Bella—we still do—and seeing her with another coven has made us…a little drastic."
Kate snorted. "Speak for yourself," she grumbled. I set a hand on her forearm to silence her before she said something she shouldn't.
Her comment, however, was enough to make Rosalie's lip curl in the slightest fashion. "What exactly is that supposed to mean, Kate?" she asked, leaning forward as she arched a brow dangerously.
Kate met the blonde's glare head-on. "What it means, Rosalie," she growled, "is that you have quite a pair coming here and claiming Bella in our own home after—"
Carmen cut her off with a hand on her forearm. "What Kate is trying to say, Rosalie," she interrupted with a sharp glare to the blonde beside her, "is that certain events have made it hard to forgive easily."
Emmett leaned forward. "If this is because I hurt Bella, I'm sorry," he said. His usually strong and booming voice was quiet and meek; almost like a child begging their parents for forgiveness in breaking something. "I really didn't mean to. I was just so happy to see her and—"
"—and that is why you shouldn't be here." Every head snapped to Edward again. He was looking straight at me, his fists clenched tightly at his sides with dark eyes.
As my doe eyes met his hardly brown ones, I felt a small spark travel through my body. It was a flare; a small, small flare of something deep down in me. It was the part of me that I had been burying for so long—reserved just for him. My features darkened as I sat up straighter. "Excuse me?" I asked.
"You should not be here, Bella," he repeated, shaking his head in disapproval. "You should be in Forks with Charlie. You shouldn't even be involved with the Denalis."
"I don't have to be anywhere, Edward," I spat coldly. "And, quite frankly, I am glad I became involved with the Denalis—my family." The Cullens flinched. "Becoming involved with Tanya especially has helped me in several ways, and I would not take it back."
I heard small purrs rumble from the Denalis as Tanya took my hand, giving me a content and pleased smile. She leaned forward and kissed my cheek affectionately with a small purr. The tip of her nose gently nuzzled my cheek before she pulled away and gave my hand a small squeeze simultaneously.
Edward's eyes went completely black and he took a step forward with a growl. The room tensed and Kate grabbed my wrist, ready to throw me, as Tanya held my hand tightly, sitting forward. Jasper was immediately holding him in place, his hand on his shoulder as he shoved waves of calm into him. The bronze-haired vampire didn't struggle with his eyes still glued on Tanya.
His growl slowly dissipated in his chest as Jasper's gift began to work. He swallowed hard, ticked his jaw and he lifted his chin, but didn't say a word as he continued to glare daggers at Tanya.
Awkwardly, Esme cleared her throat. Instinctively my eyes drifted from Edward to the caramel haired woman. "Why are you here, Bella?" she asked carefully. Her eyes flickered to Tanya behind me. "What would make you want to leave Forks?"
I pursed my lips when the spotlight shone directly on me. As every pair of topaz eyes turned to me, I suddenly felt as though I was…dreaming. Not dreaming like when you slept, though, almost like when you slip off into one of your fantasies that seems so real, but not at the same time.
Sort of like when you graduate or go to the first day of school. It seems almost unreal when it happens, and yet you still know that it is happening, because you are there, speaking, touching and hearing everything.
I had wondered how this would happen many times before. In my weaker moments, I would wonder about the Cullens; what they were doing and how they were. I would wonder if they were missing me, thinking of me as I thought of them. I would wonder if they would ever find out about what happened to me. Would Alice see a vision of my cancer, or would she see me die from it? If she did see it, would she even be so concerned as to look through my entire life until they saw the whole story? Or, would I die and they found out through various channels years later?
The questions plagued my mind horribly until I would smack and scold myself for ever wondering such things. Now, however, as the Cullens sat in the room with me, waiting to hear my story, I realized that I never once had wondered if I would tell them myself. I had never thought of seeing them again, not until now at this very moment, and the thought of it was startling. Yet, somehow, that fear seemed to make it more real. It felt…tangible for once.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat that formed at the thought. Tanya's hand gave mine a gentle squeeze of encouragement, bringing me out of my thoughts. I gave the blonde a small smile as Irina reached up to take my free hand in hers comfortingly.
I cleared my throat as I turned my full attention to the woman I had once thought of as my mother. "I moved up here because I have cancer, Esme," I said. Before I could continue her gold eyes widened and her hand covered her mouth. Alice gasped behind me as Carlisle's gold eyes blinked, processing the information.
I glanced at Carmen and Eleazer, and both gave me nods. "Charlie and I moved up here to get me better treatment after Phil met the brother of a good doctor. They are taking care of me free of charge," I said.
"How…?" the breathy question made me turn my attention to Rosalie. The sight I saw surprised me. Rosalie Hale—the strong and confident blonde vampire—was forcing herself to swallow the lump in her throat that blocked her words. Her eyes were soft, shocked…vulnerable as she forced her question out, "How long have you had it?"
I pursed my lips as I considered it. "I had it when I was little, but went into remission for a while before it came back two years ago. I found out about it just before you left," I explained.
The woman stared at me for a moment, as if seeing me for the first time before she fell back against the cushions of the couch. Her eyes drifted down, staring blankly at the floor as Emmett set his hand on her shoulder comfortingly, giving it a squeeze as he looked at me. "Two years?" he asked.
I nodded.
"But…but that means this whole time, when we thought you were fine you were…battling cancer?" Esme said from my other side. The statement sounded more as though she wanted me to confirm it, as if it were a question more than anything.
"Yes," Irina answered for me. Her eyes narrowed. "Cancer that was practically terminal."
As soon as the words left her mouth I wanted to kick her. I snapped my gaze to the dirty blonde and gave her hand a harsh squeeze as the Cullens stiffened. Esme's eyes filled with venom tears as she covered her mouth once again.
Irina turned her head to look at me, raising a brow to only meet my stern glare. The dirty-blonde scowled, but lowered her head slightly in guilt as Jasper snapped his head to me. "You're terminal?" he asked in disbelief.
The blonde in front of me squeezed my hand apologetically as Tanya answered for me, "Her cancer was at its worse stages when you left. Over the past two years they've been able to…get a better handle on it, though." Her hand squeezed mine gently as her thumb began to draw across my knuckles with a small smile.
I gave her a small smile in reply, and Kate leaned into me showing support. Carmen and Eleazer gave me the most affection they could while being the furthest from me with smiles as Irina buried herself further into my legs, one of her arms wrapping around my calf to hold it.
Carlisle cleared his throat for our attention. The doctor was studying me, taking in my physical appearance as he asked, "What type of cancer do you have, Bella? Which stage is it in?"
"Ovarian," I replied. "Stage three."
"Your cancer is gynecological?" he asked surprised. "Is it the same you had as a child?"
I nodded. "Yes to both. When I was little it came as a pretty big shock, as you can imagine," I said. "It was only stage two back then, however, and after a few rounds of chemo I was in remission."
"How didn't I see this?" Alice whispered from the chair. I turned my full attention to the young, peppy vampire I used to think of as my best friend and sister. Her eyes were dull and sad with no life or happiness in them as her head lowered. "Why didn't I see any of this? I never saw you getting diagnosed. I never saw you coming here. I never saw you with cancer. I never even saw you again…never…" Her breathing became shallow and rapid. Her eyes looked at me desperately. "Why didn't you tell us? I could have looked. I could have helped."
I snorted. "I wanted that life behind me, Alice," I said. "I was bullied in school as a little girl for the effects the chemo had on me. And after the bullying stopped it just turned to pointing and staring, knowing I was awkward because I was that girl. Moving to Forks gave me a new chance. No one but Charlie knew of my cancer before."
"But if you had told us maybe we would've seen this coming; I would've seen this coming," Alice argued. "I could've-could've told you when to get a check-up so you wouldn't have gotten sick again. I could've-could've…"
Jasper left Edward's side—now that the bronze haired boy was calm enough—to Alice's. He gently wrapped his arms around his wife as she looked down with venom tears in her eyes. She wordlessly leaned against him, using him as an anchor.
I sighed. "Even if I had told you, Alice," I said lowly, "you couldn't have done anything. When the cancer hadn't come back for years my check-ups became less persistent. When I tested positive we had no idea I even had it and the stage it was in meant I had had it for a while. Even if I had told you, the outcome wouldn't have been any different."
Alice didn't answer as she buried herself in Jasper, hiding herself from the room. Tanya pulled her hand from mine at their contact and slipped it around my waist instead. She pulled me against her body in a need to feel our bodies as close as theirs were. I didn't object to the contact as I leaned into her, enjoying how our bodies fit together perfectly.
Like two jigsaw puzzles.
I smiled slightly at the thought when Carmen suddenly stood, gathering everyone's attention. She cocked her head at me. "It's been a while since you last ate, Bella. Perhaps I should make you something to eat?" she asked.
It didn't escape my notice how Esme's eyes narrowed on the Hispanic woman behind her. I was pretty sure I even saw a slight sneer at the question, but brushed it aside as I nodded. "I suppose, but I'm sure I can—"
Carmen blurred out of the room.
"—do it…myself?"
Kate chuckled from next to me. "You know better than to think Carmen will let you make your own food, Bella," she teased, giving my shoulder a small nudge.
I rolled my eyes. "I know that it's practically impossible to make Carmen not cook, Kate, but I can't help it. I've cooked for people for years and then suddenly I'm the one being cooked for. It's a large adjustment to make after a lifestyle like that."
Tanya chuckled. "Then perhaps it's a good thing she refuses your help."
I rolled my eyes. "You, as a vampire, would say that."
"Or just as the crazy girlfriend," Irina piped up from the floor.
I snorted with Kate and Emmett—even though he was still comforting Rosalie who even cracked a smile—as Eleazer chuckled. Tanya scowled. "I've said it five hundred times. I am not a crazy girlfriend."
"You threw Kate into the wall for punching me."
"She hurt you. I was merely just getting her away before she could damage you any further."
"What about the Frisbee?"
"…A natural reaction."
"Uh-huh, sure."
Kate raised her finger. "And if I do this…?" Her finger sparked as it made contact with my shoulder. And—knowing it wouldn't hurt me—I didn't even flinch as Tanya glared daggers at her sister with a growl, but didn't attack her.
Instead, however, Edward literally jumped across the room and tackled Kate off the couch. The two landed on the ground with him on top before Kate quickly threw him off.
"The hell?" she growled.
He stood up. "Are you insane, Kate?" he snarled. "You could have hurt Bella or even stopped her heart if you had used too much energy. What kind of stunt were you trying to pull?"
Kate scowled as she crossed her arms. "I would not have hurt Bella, Edward. I have been alive far longer than you and have had several centuries to learn how to control my gift. I do not appreciate you attacking me for something so miniscule," she growled.
"But she is weak!" he snapped. "You could have killed her if you hadn't controlled yourself—"
Kate's hand was suddenly gripping the collar of his shirt. With a hard tug, she not only cut him off, but slightly tore the fabric in his shirt as they were brought nose to nose. A growl rumbled in her chest. "Get this through your thick skull, Cullen," she snarled. "Bella is my sister, and I would never do anything to harm her. Got it? And—since you don't know her that well now—her illness has physically made her less tolerate, but not weak. And if you say another word of my gift, or anything else, killing her because of said illness I will personally castrate you."
The bronze-haired vampire, honestly, looked terrified as he swallowed hard. His gold eyes were so wide he looked like a deer caught in the headlights as he was limply held up by Kate's hand gripping the collar of his shirt.
Next to me, Tanya was smirking as Irina rolled her eyes at her sister. I, however, was going between laughing my ass off as Kate threatened to change Edward from a rooster to a hen, or if I should be breaking the two apart before Kate actually damaged more than just the collar of his shirt.
Although, I was kind of fascinated by what I was seeing. I knew that the Denalis had talked about being protective and touchy, but hearing Kate practically blow up a mountain from just a small mention of my illness was a little…flattering. I'm sure it was kind of odd to understand, but seeing someone so genuinely caring about something said like that made me want to smile.
Sure I had heard it from Charlie and the Pack at home plenty of times, but that was different. I had been friends with some of them forever and they weren't telling off the Edward Cullen himself for a comment he had made. I suppose it was just kind of refreshing seeing how protective the Denalis would get of me.
Carlisle—both ending my thoughts and indecision—cleared his throat and carefully spoke up from next to Esme, "He does have a point, Kate. Bella's sickness does make her more vulnerable to things than a completely healthy human."
"We know that, Carlisle," Tanya said as she raised her head to look over mine. "Otherwise we wouldn't have made sure to ask her several questions on what dos and don'ts there were when it came to her cancer and how to treat her. And, Kate, you can let go of Edward before he becomes the first vampire to piss himself."
The straight haired blonde smirked and cocked her head, but loosened her grip slightly. "I would admit I wouldn't mind being able to see that," she said. After a moment, she shoved him back. "However, I don't want the house smelling like Edward piss."
I snorted as Edward stumbled, waving his arms in the air to gather his balance. When he wasn't going to topple over, he straightened his shirt collar and rolled his head, pretending as though nothing had happened with Kate.
Eleazer spoke up, "Also, we are not concerned of Kate's gift because Bella is a shield." He looked towards me. "I felt her gift when I touched her hand. She is a powerful one at that, and I have no doubt she will be a physical shield as well when turned."
The last line made me smile slightly. I knew the Denalis really had no choice but to eventually turn me—especially since I was apparently Tanya's mate that I was going to scream at her about later—but hearing them say it always made me feel a warmth in my stomach when compared to the Cullens.
"A shield?" Jasper asked as Alice finally calmed down. The woman's eyes were now open and staring at me with her head resting on her mate's chest as she still kept herself in his arms.
Tanya nodded, smiling proudly. "Yes," she boasted. "Bella is a shield. We theorize that she might even be able to withstand the Volturi gifts."
A few of the Cullens blinked surprised when Edward spoke up, "But how can you be so powerful as a human? If anything, only minimal gifts like my own should be blocked out."
I shrugged, having never really thought of it. "Perhaps it's God's great gift for all the shit I've had to go through," I said. Tanya stiffened next to me slightly as Esme and Emmett ducked their heads—they knew I wasn't just talking about the cancer.
I pushed myself off the couch and grabbed Kate, hauling her towards the TV. "Alright, let's get this freaking game over with. I'm done playing nice and letting you believe you are winning."
Kate scoffed and turned on the console, tossing me a controller. "In your dreams, Swan," she sneered. "Prepare yourself for the huge whooping you are about to receive."
I cocked my brow. "I win you sing My Humps and have to be my personal servant for the rest of the day while referring to me as 'my Queen.'"
She smirked and held out her hand. "I win you make me a song on the piano and—as you have yet to properly—you can kiss me."
I scowled as a few jaws dropped, but stuck out my hand to take hers. "You have yourself a deal, my soon to be loyal slave for a day."
"Hehe, very funny." She pulled her hand away and we turned to the screen. "Three…two…one…DIE! DIE! DIE!"
