AN: SM owns Twilight – I own nothing.
Thank you all for reading & reviewing! Your support means so much!
Okay...emotional roller coaster now boarding. Just keep your hands inside until the end of the chapter, okay? Slight lemon in this at the end as well – if you are underage or you don't wish to read that sort of thing, please be warned!
Moving along...
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"How did they get her so quickly?" Jasper gasped in shock. Both of us had thought that it would take them at least days, if not weeks or months to find her. The fact that they found her so quickly can only mean one thing and I shuddered at the thought.
"She was close, Jasper," Carlisle said cryptically.
And that just confirmed my suspicions. How long has she been just on the outskirts so that we wouldn't know, how long has she been this close to myself and Bree? I don't think I really want the answer to that question.
"How close?" Jasper growled. I knew he would beat himself up over this. It's not his fault. There was no sign of her besides that faint scent that only I, and probably Bree, could smell. And I wasn't about to go tracking her down. Avoidance was my thing these days.
"Close enough," Carlisle sighed. "She uh...was near a school."
"Oh my god," I gasped in horror. "Please tell me she didn't...please, Carlisle," I said pleadingly. Not another child, please anything but that.
"She didn't get the chance, fortunately. But she was planning to, which will help as evidence against her at trial. That's good news, Bella...even though it may not sound like it. The Volturi may simply make an example of her and leave Bree alone," he explained hesitantly.
The realization of what she was going to do triggered so much anger inside of me, that Jasper growled from the sheer intensity of what I was putting out. Alice, sensing the anger rolling off of me as well, wisely moved out of my lap, wide eyed and fearful.
I wanted to tear her apart, piece by fucking piece. She was going to kidnap a child...she was going to threaten to turn another child to get to me. It would have worked too...there would have been no way I could have let more children suffer the way Bree had, and she knew it. No, I hope the Volturi let her live so that I can do it myself. A feral growl escaped my chest at the thought of them killing her instead of me.
"Darlin'..."
"None of this was my fault...you were right all along, Jasper," I said with a dark chuckle. "It's all hers," I growled, anger completely consuming me. I felt Jasper sending me his loving calm which was comforting just as it always was but this anger couldn't be tamed. This anger was my need for revenge...revenge for what she did to me, my family, to Bree and her family. She would pay – and if I had my say in things, I would be the one to do it, not the Volturi.
"Grab her, Major!" Peter yelled dashing into the room. For once his gift was working against me, instead of for me.
Jasper lunged for me but being so motivated by anger, I was quicker this time. I made it outside the mansion with them hot on my heels.
"Fuck," Peter groaned.
"Bella, NO!" Jasper yelled.
"Yes," I hissed.
I pushed my legs as fast as they would go. Peter and Jasper pushed faster as well. I would reach the house first though...they couldn't prevent that. Jane's gift wouldn't work so I'd simply need to get past Demetri and Felix. It was a long shot, but I would do whatever was necessary to get to her.
The house was in view and Jasper had tried to send me a large dose of calm but I blocked it easily. He whimpered as he attempted to send me fear and lethargy but surprisingly, I blocked that as well...for the very first time I had removed my shield from him. I will love him for the rest of eternity and will never remove it from him again but in this moment, he would not stop me from this – no one would.
"She's blocking me," he informed Peter, who groaned another 'fuck' in response.
I broke through the front door leaving half of it in splinters and the other half swinging from the hinges. And then I saw her...evil was her name and she would die today. I lunged for her, nothing else visible in my fury... only to be met with Felix's restraining embrace. He was strong – strength was his natural gift...but a gift none the less and I broke free. Demetri lunged for me as I was mid air bringing us down in a heap of tangled limbs.
"Get control of her, now!" Jane roared.
Jasper's responding growl was added to my own growls as I fought fiercely against Demetri, slowly inching my way to my target. Victoria gazed back at me fearfully – and it was the most beautiful fucking sight I've ever seen. She backed away but had nowhere to go, as I literally attempted to claw my way forward with Demetri and Felix ontop of me on the floor.
Jasper's roar of frustration echoed loudly, he knew he couldn't tear them away from me it would give me the one second I would need to make it to her.
"Bella, please. Please, darlin'...they'll hurt you, and you know I can't let that happen," he begged me, pulling at his hair.
I didn't care at the moment what happened to me, my sole focus was on the evil thing staring into my eyes – the evil that steals and takes and kills everything she comes across. She would be the one losing today, I would be the one stealing her life, and I would be the one to kill her.
"Mom?" Bree's voice rang out, the sound was like a bucket of ice water being poured over my anger. I whipped my head around trying to find where her voice was coming from. She couldn't be here, she couldn't...evil was here.
Peter stepped slowly into my view and knelt down in front of me holding a cell phone.
"Mom, are you there...is everything okay?" Bree's voice reverberated coming from the phone.
Oh thank god, she wasn't here. How much had she heard though? Peter shook his head in silent answer.
"I'm here sweetie, everything is okay," I assured her. Felix was literally sprawled on top of me pressing me into the floor with Demetri on his back.
"Hello, Bree," Victoria purred.
Bree gasped and whimpered at hearing her voice but a new sound rang out just then, a beautiful sound - Victoria's shrieks of pain. Jane was glaring murderously at her as she writhed on the floor in front of me. Bree's whimpers cut off as she too listened to the sound...yes, it truly was a beautiful sound.
"Where is she?" Bree whispered.
"We'll talk about it when I get back, okay? Is Grandpa with you?" I asked her.
"I'm here, Bella...she's fine. Come home, daughter...please," Carlisle said pleadingly.
"I will," I said, looking up to find Jasper looking crazed as his eyes were locked on Felix's form over top of mine. "Hang up."
Peter did as I asked and moved away. "Let me up," I told them, but they didn't budge an inch.
Jasper growled and looked about one second away from tearing Felix and Demetri apart to remove them. "Let her go," Jane ordered.
They released me and Jasper had me in his arms a moment later, checking me over for injuries meticulously. He clutched me to him tightly, his hold desperate and possessive. Victoria's shrieks of pain were still echoing deliciously through the room as Jane kept her glare solely on her.
"Thank you," I told her sincerely. It wasn't her death but it was a small piece – for now.
"My pleasure," she replied, turning up the pain a notch and Victoria gasped and howled in agony. I really do like Jane...I wish there was something I could do for her.
"When?" I asked her simply.
"They will be here in two days time," she replied. "I'm sorry but Aro would have simply read from my thoughts of your gift, I had to tell him. I will voice my opinion that the girl should be left unharmed, it's all that I can do however – and it won't mean anything I'm afraid."
"Thank you, Jane. It does mean something – to me," I said giving her a small smile, which she returned...before returning her glare back to Victoria.
"Let's go back," I said, nuzzling my face into Jasper's chest. He nodded and scooped me up, carrying me back to the mansion with Peter following.
Reaching the mansion found Bree, Esme, and Carlisle awaiting our return on the back patio. Esme rushed forward and practically tore me from Jasper's arms. She crushed me in her embrace before she pulled back and looked me over for injuries herself.
"She's fine, dear," Carlisle said, stepping forward and attempting to pull his wife away from me. She glared at him and turned back to me.
Before she could pull me back into her arms though, Bree was wound around me and I lifted her up and buried my face into her hair.
"Did she hurt you?" she whispered.
"No, baby...she didn't hurt me, she couldn't. You know why?" I asked her, pulling back to look into her eyes.
"Why?" she whispered, nervously playing with a piece of my hair in her hand.
"Because she can't anymore...I won't let her," I told her. "You give me so much strength, Bree...and I won't let her hurt you or anyone else ever again."
She laid her head down on my shoulder and Jasper pressed a kiss to each of our heads. Pressing on my lower back lightly to let me know he really wanted me inside. I carried Bree back inside with us and as we entered the great room, Alice dashed over to me.
"I could see Jasper and I was so worried...I thought...I thought...," Alice trailed off as she wrapped her arms around Bree and myself the best she could. I stiffened slightly because I wasn't quite to that point yet – I comforted her when she was close to a breakdown yes, but I wasn't quite ready for this.
"Sorry," she murmured sadly, releasing us.
"I'm just not there yet, Alice. I'm sorry," I told her.
"It's okay, I understand. Maybe someday?" she asked hopeful.
"Maybe," I replied. It was the best I could give her.
She nodded solemnly before heading toward her room. Rose and Char stood off to the side and both motioned with their eyes to Jasper. I looked over to him and saw the pure need to be alone with me written all over him.
"Hey peanut! Where's my hug?" Peter asked.
"Uncle Peter!" Bree squealed, jumping from my arms and running over to him. He scooped her up and tickled her, causing her to giggle and squirm in his arms. He winked at me and he too motioned with his eyes over to Jasper. I nodded and grabbed Jasper's hand, silently leading him into the sitting room, I pushed him down onto one of the sofas and planted myself straddling his lap.
"Baby?" I asked, running my fingers through his hair. "Are you okay?"
He closed his eyes briefly before crashing his mouth to mine. It was more than a kiss though, this kiss held love, lust, hopes, and dreams. He was pouring his feelings into me and I was giving them right back to him.
He pulled back and studied me for a moment. "I am so fucking proud of you, darlin'," he said grinning widely.
"You are?" I asked shocked. I thought he would yell at me, be mad, something other than this. I mean I did run off completely crazed and I blocked him...how could he be proud of me for that?
"Very. You beat her today, Bella," he said, placing his palms on my cheeks.
"I didn't even get to her," I replied incredulously.
"You beat her when you finally stopped blaming yourself for the things she's done. And you beat her when you decided you wouldn't let her hurt you anymore – you took that power away from her, and darlin'... I am so damn proud of you," he said, bringing his mouth to mine once again. I moaned into his mouth and he chuckled, pulling away.
"Shh, some of them can still hear us," he said, looking smug.
"I don't fucking care," I replied, pulling his lips back to mine and swirling my tongue around his. God he tastes so fucking good...
"Bree," he mumbled against my lips. Well that did it and I pulled back and may have pouted...just a little. He tugged at my stuck out bottom lip with his teeth... Okay, so I was pouting a lot.
A throat clearing brought our attentions away from each other. Edward stood in the archway to the sitting room with his head down, staring at the floor.
"What is it, Edward?" I sighed. What on earth could he want now?
"Actually, I was hoping to talk to Jasper," he replied.
I raised my eyebrow and looked to Jasper who sighed heavily. "Go ahead," Jasper told him.
"I just wanted to apologize to you...for my behavior. I know what I've done was wrong and I'm truly ashamed of it. I know you know how I still feel about her," he said glancing over to me. "I can't help how I feel and I'm not sure when or if that will ever change, but I'm trying to...be accepting and to...let go," he said, his focus on me when he said the last part.
Jasper studied him for a moment. "Okay," he replied simply.
Edward nodded and turned to leave..."Edward," I called out to him.
He spun back around, shocked as he held my gaze. "Thank you – for finally listening," I told him.
"I'm trying," he said quietly before leaving the room.
Jasper and I gazed at one another once again...both of our thoughts turning the same direction – two days. They would be here in just two days and everything could change. So many decisions lay in the Volturi's hands. Victoria's fate was sealed one way or another – whether by their hands or our own – she would die for what she's done. But they held Bree's fate as well as my own...and that could go many different ways. It's taken so much to get us where we are today...so much pain, hurt, betrayal. But we survived it all and I had to think we would survive this as well...looking into the eyes of my mate, I couldn't think anything less.
For two days we spent every possible moment together, always touching or connecting in some way. We spent time together with the others as well, sometimes all of us together, sometimes just a few of us – everyone putting the coming events aside until the time came. We also had time that was just for Bree, Jasper, and myself to be together...to connect and be our own family.
It was the night before the morning they would arrive, and we had just finished making love, when Jasper asked me...
"You know that I love Bree like a father, don't you, Bella?" he asked.
"Of course, anyone could plainly see that – no empathy gift needed," I slightly teased him.
He was serious though, which confused me. "If I asked you for something...would you give it to me?" he questioned.
"Anything – I would give you anything," I told him honestly and without hesitation, running my fingers through his hair.
"Will you make me her father?" he asked, gazing hopefully into my eyes.
"You already are," I replied simply, furrowing my brows at him.
"No, not the same way that you are her mother. I want that physical bond with her – like you have. I want to be as close to a biological father as I can be," he explained. "I talked to Carlisle and he believes that it's possible and Bree has given her enthusiastic consent as well," he added, looking incredibly hopeful.
"What are you saying?" I asked, not quite following.
"I'm asking you to inject me with some of your venom, Bella; to give me some of Adam's venom," he explained, gauging my reaction.
A whoosh of air left my lungs at that...I never even considered that possibility. But thinking it through, I guess it made sense and could work. If I could do it – that is.
"Are you sure? I'm not really sure if I can," I told him hesitantly.
"I'm sure and you can do anything, Bella," he assured. "Please, darlin'...make me her father," he said pleadingly.
"Okay," I breathed, nodding my head in acceptance as well.
His whole face lit up in response and he moved his body over mine; pulling my legs up around his waist, he re-entered me slowly. His pace was slow, his thrusts gentle and loving. Each one bringing us closer and closer.
As we neared the very edge together, he flipped us so that I was straddling him. I rocked fluidly above him and he brought my mouth down to meet his, murmuring his love and gratitude against it. I moved my mouth down along his jaw and found the spot on his neck that I would sink my teeth into and bathed it in my venom – preparing. And as we fell over that edge together, I sunk my teeth deeply into his neck as his groans of pleasure reached my ears. I quickly began injecting my venom and Adam's into his veins; needing to hold him down as he gasped and writhed underneath me at the searing pain of my venom tearing through him.
I sobbed against him as I tore my teeth from his neck and sealed the wound with more venom. He trembled as it travel through him and mixed with his own and I held him tightly to me telling him how sorry I was to cause him any pain.
When the trembling ceased he clutched me to him and cocooned me in his love – and I felt it already. Our connection had also increased beyond anything we could have ever imagined. He felt it too as he placed tender kisses all over my neck and his marks...
A reminder that we were and always would be together...no matter what tomorrow may bring.
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AN:
I don't consider that a cliffie! Not technically anyway. =P Don't worry next chapter = the Volturi's arrival
We are winding down folks. I'm estimating 2 more chapters after this plus an epi, but that may change if I get wordy or change my mind about something between now and then.
I'm also a little nervous about this one, so if it sucks please just be gentle. I'm not sure why I'm feeling so sensitive about it but – gah! *blows nose* Pay no attention to me, I must be pmsing – I'm off to find some chocolate now! *waves*
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