Twilight-Forever
Chapter Thirty-five
Transformation
By Cindra
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters this is just because someone gave me a challenge and mostly for fun.
Edward awoke to a moonlit bedroom with Bella sound asleep in his arms. They'd missed dinner, as it was going on one in the morning. He was starving and needed to check on Ness. He carefully eased out of bed, as not to awaken his love.
She snuggled into his pillow, sighing his name contently in her sleep.
"Sleep well, my darling. I'm off to check on Ness and then raid the fridge, as we both missed dinner." He tucked her in, brushing a kiss across her forehead.
She blinked open her eyes. "Hmmm…go hunting you need to feed…dark emerald eyes might be sexy to me, but…" She reached up to run her fingers through his hair and he turned him face to kiss her palm. "Dark Edward to the others…"
"I've had other things on my mind. Hunting was the least of them." He leaned down to kiss her, his nose rubbing against her own.
"We could go hunting together and then raid the kitchen for an early morning snack." She felt energized, not the least bit sleepy, and all it had taken was his touch.
"This is new. With Ness you slept twelve hours straight." He arched a brow.
"I feel jazzed, full of energy, not the least bit sleepy." She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him until they were breathless.
"As much as I want to feast on you again…" He growled between kisses.
"I'm starving too, but the babies need tending. Meaning food of both sorts and we need to look in on Ness." Bella reluctantly let him go, eyes dark chocolate with desire.
"Shower…" Edward forced himself to leave their bed.
Bella threw back the covers, stretching like a content feline, eyes drinking in her mate. "That sounds heavenly…" She purred, getting up to slink against him.
"At this rate we're never leaving this room. We'll both starve…" He groaned, burying his face in her hair. Arms instinctively pulling her tight against him.
"Shower first…" She rained kisses across his chest. "Then Ness, as she's sleeping soundly in her room. Then hunting and afterwards a first light picnic by the hot springs, maybe even a hot steamy soak after would be nice." She turned her face meet his kiss, before he swept her up into his arms, and carried her into the bathroom.
Sometime later…
The two of them silently opened Nessie's door and stepped inside to check on her. Jake was sound asleep with her snuggled against his massive chest, his arm protectively around her.
"Be right back." Bella zipped off to get her camera.
"One of these days this isn't going to be so adorable." Edward gritted his teeth.
"The Grans got her ready for bed while the lad sat through his lecture on his lack of control that afternoon. After that he needed to hold his Sprite and guard over her while she slumbered." Ian growled softly from the rocking chair in the corner of her room. He was feeding Misfit her morning bottle.
Ian, he's like a son to me. It's the principle of the matter that gets my back up, seeing them like this makes me wary to think of how she'll be when she's older. Edward raked his fingers through his hair, before fisting both hands at his sides, willing his body not to give in and throw Jake out the window.
You're a father, Lad. She's your baby girl, always will be, it's natural for you to want to give him a thrashing for sleeping with her in his arms innocent or not. Ian nodded in understanding.
Jake couldn't help but lose it yesterday. It wasn't intentional that he let loose on Van and Jazz…
Aye, that'd be true and all that… nevertheless, he can't lose control like that ever again. It's one rule that can't be bent. Weres in a berserker rage can hurt and kill innocents. Control is key in keeping balance with his animal spirit. Ian cuddled Misfit against his shoulder like a newborn babe.
Jake knows about the rules, one only has to see Emily to see the aftermath of a Were berserker rage. Jake vowed that he would never lose it like that and he's infuriated with himself that he did. Edward knelt down to greet Lady and Rad. The two pups had left their puppy bed to see him.
"Hello, kids, do you have to go out?" He chuckled softly, when they licked him in the face, wagging their awkward tails in happy greeting. "My new look doesn't scare you at all does it."
You're their master. They trust and love you unconditionally, as does this little girl. Ian set Missy down and she made a beeline for Edward.
"Good thing you're nearly impervious to harm or your back would be scratched to ribbons." He chuckled when Missy got settled across Edward's shoulders.
"Yes, well, after these three do their business, it's back to bed for them. Bella and I are going hunting and the babies can't come along." He reached up to scratch her under the chin. Missy purred with contentment.
"Good thinking, my boy. Your new look does bring out the darker image of you and your darkened irises are a sure sign that you haven't hunted in over a fortnight." Ian thoughtfully scratched his chin, eyes serious. "Balance is key."
"My prince is having one of those months, Grandpa. Be nice." Bella had both her Digital Video Camcorder and her Nikon capturing the moment.
"He doesn't look nearly as menacing now that he's…" Jake growled softly opening his eyes to take in whom was in Ness's room, all his senses instantly flared in warning.
"Now that I'm what, son?" Edward arched an inquiring brow.
"It's amazing what a change in appearance can do isn't it, kiddo?" Ian chuckled, eyes dancing with amusement.
"Whoa…uh, nice haircut…" Jake's eyes widened with apprehension. There was more than just Vampire in his veins and his Were side was beginning to show. "I needed to hold Ness…"
"Yes, Alice outdid herself with my new look." Edward kept his tone low and unthreatening, as not to awaken Ness, all the while locking eyes with him trying not to laugh, as his thoughts were highly amusing. "And after undergoing the third-degree from your elders, I can more than understand your need to hold Renesmee."
"Yeah, that one strike policy bites…" Jake rolled his eyes.
"I agree that three strikes seem fairer, but ancient bylaws rarely change." Edward nodded waiting for Jake's thoughts to calm enough for him to speak his mind or if he were brave enough to.
"Jake hasn't even had one strike yet, because what happened yesterday was not him throwing a tantrum like Sam did with Emily. Jake was having a mental breakdown. Our baby girl finally confided to us about her feelings, instead of just with Jasper during their afternoon walks." Bella's eyes narrowed at her grandfather.
"I was there, sweetie. It was very much a tantrum at being kept in the dark by his Sprite. Aye, there was emotional strife to be sure, but it was a blending of the two. Which is why he only received a warning and is on probation. Breaking probation earns him a stay here at the ranch where he will learn control over his temper." Ian countered in a soothing tone.
"I was out of line. They called me on it." Jake's brow rose this time as he listened to Edward's thoughts. "Ness is as safe with me as Bella was with you. That won't change when she's older. You have my word on that. I was an ass when I was pursuing Bella, so I get your concerns, but that wasn't me. I was just trying to compete with you. Half the time I felt like I was possessed or something and blamed it on being a Were."
"Uncle was on the fence about Edward after he abandoned her, so he chose Jake as a suitable mate for her. In doing so he awakened the sleeping soul of his ancestor inside him. So in truth you were somewhat possessed." Ian nodded.
"I blamed it on Sam, Jared, and Paul. Paul mostly, as he acted like a badass jerk most of the time. Though, since Ness you've been the Jake I know and love." Bella framed a shot of Jake and Ness with her camera.
"I'm not worried about your intentions, Jacob. Ness is my main concern and how much she's like her mother when she sets her mind on something that she wants." Edward shot Bella a knowing look.
Bella flushed crimson, "You sang to me too, but in a human way. We were always so close to being torn apart, so I took matters into my own hands."
"Aye, the Lad here has a will of iron, as his lady fair was quite the handful." Ian kissed Bella on top of her head.
Jake wisely chose not to comment on that instead he remained firm on his previous vow. "You have nothing to worry about anything serious happening between me and Ness until years from now when it's our wedding night. Anything else you'll have to deal, just like Charlie did when you were dating Bells. That's like still years away, so just see this for what it is, me protecting my Sprite. Okay."
"I know that I'm being worrisome over things far on the horizon, it's just that I haven't hunted in three weeks. I've been stressed out of my mind half that duration and it's all starting to wear on me…" Edward started to apologize when his phone started to vibrated in his jeans pocket.
"For the love of all that's Holy, what now? Is home burning to the ground? It had better be to call here at one in the morning." He snarled under his breath, eyes darkening to near black as he took out his phone and answered it.
"This had better be an emergency call." He snarled into the phone.
"Bells driving you insane, huh? Need reinforcements? I can be there in a few hours, just say the word, little Bro." Emmett chuckled in response.
"What part of no family privileges until Carlisle and Esme say otherwise did the two of you not understand?" He felt like crushing his phone.
"Awe, come on, Edward! It's not fair! This baby-sitting the pups detail bites! It was fine for the first few days, but then Billy left with Brady. Now they're all sulking because he's there with Jake having all the fun while they're stuck back here in Forks. The twins are teaching at the school and looking after Leah, so they're no help either. I've tried every sport, no dice, they miss Jake. Ben and Tia went up north with Rosalie. It's just me and the pups. Quil's beyond bummed because Claire's staying with her Grandparents and won't be back until Ness and Bella's birthdays. We're talking majorly bummed wolves here." Em pleaded his case.
"Rose, Ben, and Tia went to Denali? Why? Who sent for them?" Edward ignored his whining and focused on that one detail instead.
"Garrett said Kate's had a falling out with Tanya. She packed up and left their coven and shacked up with a Watcher dude that they swear is the reason all of them aren't hybrids yet. Rosalie went to go see what's what. Ben and Tia wanted to climb Denali. They called Carlisle's phone, but he hasn't returned any of their calls. None of you have. What's up with that?"
"Tanya married Aiden. They refuse to accept their union, calling her a traitor to her own kind, as Aiden is a former Watcher and a Prince of Avalon. That prejudice is the only reason Oberon has not changed them yet. There is far more to this than that, but I'm not in the mood to reminisce about old times. They are in the wrong. We're backing Tanya and Aiden and that's why we haven't returned their calls." Edward paced on the deck outside, so he wouldn't awaken his baby girl.
"Tanya married Aiden? Ya know a little heads up would have been nice!"
"You haven't been home when we've called and I refuse to leave a message about that part of our lives on voice mail!"
"I had to drive to Seattle with the supply truck…"
"What the bloody hell for?"
"Rosalie and I had a fight and she left me. Then after that Ben and Tia took off after her to go climbing. I had to feed the pups…my attempt at that went south…"
"Emmett, did you burn down the house!" Edward's eyes widened in alarm, all but shouting the question into his phone.
"Not exactly no…I mean, how was I supposed to know the microwave was gonna blow up and shoot flames?"
"You blew up the microwave?"
"Yeah, I didn't think about metal and microwaves not…"
"Emmett! Any fool with a brain knows not to put any metal in a microwave oven!"
"I'm new at this! The oven catching on fire and the oil fire on the stove were flukes too…"
"Answer the question yes or no? Did you nearly burn down the house or not!"
"Not exactly…"
"Yes or no, Emmett!"
"Christ, baby brother, you're in one hell of a mood. Did baby sis kick you out of bed…"
"Emmett! I haven't hunted in three weeks! It's been one bloody situation after another! My stress level is off the charts! And no Bella did not kick me out of our bedroom! Did you or did you not set fire to Mom's kitchen several times? There by, nearly burning down the house!" His entire body was quaking with fury.
"Well, yeah, when ya put it that way. But it's all fixed. Mom's kitchen is better than new. I read all the instruction manuals, so I know what not to do and haven't had a firefighter here since. I even made me and the pups spaghetti…"
"Firefighters! It was bad enough to call the Fire Department?" His whole body was shaking uncontrollably now and Misfit wisely jumped off his shoulders to cower behind Bella's legs.
The phone went flying into her hands, as he couldn't hold on to it with hands that were transforming into massive paws.
Ian raced outside getting between Bella and Edward. "Bella, go back inside." He ordered sharply.
"No. He won't harm me, Grandpa. He's just furious at Emmett for trying to burn the house down." Bella put the phone back to her ear. "I'll call you back, Emmett. Your call pushed my lion over the edge and now he's…Gorgeous. Like beyond anything I've ever seen. He's a lion, not a wolf, bear, tiger, or eagle…a regal African king of the jungle lion…I've gotta go…" She the phone fell from her hand onto the deck.
"Bella! What the hell did you mean by that? Is Edward a Were now too? Hello? Damn it! What's going on? The hell with it, I'll be there in two hours!" Em hung up.
Jake raced out with Ness still asleep in his arms. The pups cowering behind his legs. "Well, that trumps me completely, a frickin lion, not just any lion…He makes Aslan from the story books look like a kitten."
Yawning hugely, Ness blinked open her eyes. "Wolfe, my dream wasn't crazy after all. Daddy's a lion just like on Momma's medallion."
"I can see that, Sprite. He's just like your drawings." Jake eyed the ginormous lion sitting two feet in front of him with curious eyes. Easy, big brother, we're family not a midnight snack.
Edward sat motionless, his chromatic green eyes wide with shock.
Carlisle, Logan, and Aiden stumbled out of their rooms to see what all the commotion was about.
"Holy hell, that's a lion!" Aiden eyed Edward in alarm.
"Aiden, that's Edward." Logan bent down to pick up the wedding band that was by his feet and there were shredded pieces of clothing everywhere. "What was it that triggered him?"
"Temper usually seems to be the catalyst, but who set him off?" Carlisle gauged his son's mood. He seemed in control of his Were lion form, but in shock from the sudden change.
"He's amazing, darling. Is that really our son?" Esme eyed Edward in wonder.
"We do call him 'The Lion Hunter', so this form makes perfect sense to me." Tanya eyed him thoughtfully.
Angela was capturing everything with her camera. "Wow, Bella, he's gorgeous. That is so Edward."
"Emmett, you're not making any sense. Baby brother is not a Were, he's a Hybrid-vampire. Are you experimenting with recreational drugs? Are the boys with you? How could you be so stupid! Dad's gonna kill you! Mom's going to dismember you and Edward, well, there won't be any pieces left to burn…" Jasper walked outside onto the deck. Alice was sleeping and he didn't want her awakened by Em's delusional early morning phone call. He was sore as hell, but felt a million times better than he had hours before when he could barely move. Fiona's elixir had done wonders.
He found the veranda unusually crowded for this time of the morning and there was a lion sitting in the middle of his family members. "Uh, Em…I'll have to call you back…" He hung up, eyes fixated on the lion with his little brother's eyes. "Dad, Mom, is that Edward?"
"Both Van and Edward are direct descendents to Lady Bethany and Lord Anthony Walker. Lady Bethany was the daughter of Oberon and Titania and as such none of her descendents are ever truly mortal. All are born with special gifts, some more so than others." Carlisle calmly explained, smiling as he watched Bella hug her lion and he was purring his contentment as he lovingly lowered his massive head next to hers.
"So, it's not part of our new selves?" Jazz sulked.
"Jazz, you're married to Alice. Cain and Fiona's daughter. The two of you are soul mates, so anything is possible." Logan shrugged, as usual his baby brother was able to more than control his Were side.
"Jasper, you and my baby sister called to each other, meaning you are her equal, a perfect match. Your hunting skills, ability to influence the mind, brilliance at devising battle plans, and natural fighting abilities are all what father calls fine Pixie traits. Shifting is indeed a possibility, as Pixie are in truth a branch of the Fairy line. Many of the families fled Avalon and settled with the Tellurians in the South. We like hot humid environments. The hotter the better is usually preferred among most of our kind. Though, some prefer more desert climates. Texas was one of those key areas where those families settled." Ian rolled his eyes, his granddaughter was as fearless and headstrong as his father, nothing seemed to phase her. Jazz's question was a welcome distraction.
"Wolfe, put me down. I wish to see Daddy." Ness kissed his cheek.
"Sprite, Em tried to burn the white castle down a few times and your Daddy's been near breakdown for a while now. That just drove him over the edge." Jake kissed her nose before setting her down on her feet.
"Uncle Em is lost without all of us. It's no wonder things went awry back at home. He's spoiled and not used to fending for himself. Hunting is one thing, but cooking a meal was bound to have disastrous results." Nessie danced over to her parents. "Daddy, I want to touch you."
Edward laid down, so she could touch his face.
Nessie kissed his muzzle. I love you, Daddy. That will never change. I needed Jake, just as much as he needed to hold me.
I had a dream that took me for a loop and seeing Jake holding you had me thinking of it again. Then when I was explaining myself to him, Emmett called and that was the final straw. Edward sighed, as Nessie climbed up onto his back and settled herself between his massive shoulders.
"You're like snuggling into a warm velvety soft blanket." She snuggled against his fur.
"Nessie. Daddy's not a plushy that you can snooze on. He's going to have to change back soon, so we can go hunting." Bella smothered a giggle when Edward shot her an insulted glare with an expressive green-gold eye.
Sorry, Lion, but you are soft and cuddly like a giant plush toy and to her you are the ultimate security blanket. I'd love to snuggle down into your fur, but we're hungry and you need to hunt too.
I'm working on it, dearest. It's not as easy as Jake and Logan make it look. Need I add that I'll be flashing our family, as I'll be naked when I revert to normal again. Nessie's sleeping too, but you're right I do need to hunt, and you and the babies need sustenance too. Edward looked over at Jake. Jake, Ness needs her own bed. Please, watch over her for us while we're off hunting.
Jake had Ness back in his arms in a flash. It's easier if you phase in private the first couple of times. Bells can meet you with your clothes. Tell ya the truth a lion ain't gonna fly back home, so I hope this isn't your only form or it's gonna get complicated. Jake carried Ness back to bed.
He's right, little brother, an African lion won't work in North America. Focus on something indigenous to the Pacific Northwest like a wolf, eagle, bear, or even a mountain lion. Logan entered their chat.
Fine. I shall endeavor to change into another form. Edward closed his eyes and changed into something more familiar to everyone, a wolf with dark red-gold fur and green-gold eyes.
"Nice, little brother, as usual you're a natural even at shape-shifting." Logan grinned.
"He's brilliant at whatever he sets his mind to." Esme beamed with pride.
Edward shot his father a pleading look.
"I understand, son. We'll go back to bed so you can have some privacy. I need to call Rose, while Jasper calls Emmett. He meant well in his efforts to feed the boys, but cooking is simply not his forte." Carlisle yawned, it had been a long week and his body was worn out.
"I'll handle the calling, Dad. You and Mom go back to bed. Alice, now that she's carrying our miracles, can sleep through anything it seems. I can just imagine how sulky she'll be that she missed all the excitement." Jazz, having rested all afternoon and evening, was wide-awake.
"It's natural for Alice to sleep so soundly. The babies are taking most of her energy and this is her first pregnancy." Esme reassured him.
"Good night, everyone. Happy hunting, kids. We shall see you in the morning." Carlisle and Esme went back to their room.
"We'll see you in the morning," Aiden and Tanya went back to bed.
"Night, you two." Angela winked at Bella before disappearing back into her room.
"Come along, little ones. We'll go for a stroll." Ian and the babies vanished in a blink.
"Bells, catch." Logan tossed her Edward's wedding band.
She easily caught it. "Thanks, Big brother. I would think after all these millenniums that a way of transfiguring jewelry such as a ring, bracelet, or necklace into a collar or something so the shape-shifter wouldn't have to keep losing their valuables when they phased." She fingered the medallion around her neck.
"This was easy to find compared to that medallion. That little bauble was like finding a needle in a haystack during a tornado." Logan shrugged, glaring at Jazz when he slugged him in the arm. "What it was…"
Bella's eyes widened in alarm, as she focused on Edward's mind getting a firsthand idea of all the trouble and danger that they'd gone through to recover her medallion.
Edward bared his teeth, eyes narrowing to slits, a growl ripped deep from his throat. Bella, it's not a big deal. None of us were ever in danger. We knew what losing it would do to you. It wasn't damaged, the chain slipped over your head. So no blood, no foul. We found it, no one was hurt in the retrieval, it's back with you, that's the end of it. Van has a big mouth and shouldn't have said anything.
"Baby sis, it's all good. All of us were happy to find your treasure. We've experienced worse. Raging rapids are a piece of cake compared to swimming in the ocean." Jazz crooned soothingly, using his influence to calm her turbulent emotions. "Van tends to run his mouth off when he's nervous. Tonight is no exception."
Bella turned on her heel, racing down the deck, and back to her and Edward's room. All of you matter more to me than all the treasure on the planet. Edward Anthony, that was stupid, dangerous, and reckless! I would have seen the loss of my medallion as a willing price to pay for rescuing Lori! If you ever risk your life over something as trivial as a piece of jewelry! I will…Crap! I hate getting sick! I hate you! This is your fault!
"Sorry, baby brother, she'll cool off. Bella isn't one to hold a grudge…" Logan eyed Edward warily.
Edward closed his eyes, in a blink he was human again. "Van, what part of Bella can never know did you not comprehend! She's getting sick again because you opened your blooming mouth! She was fine with everything and now I'm in the shit because of you! She said she hates me! She's never said that to me ever! I have to calm her and the babies, so the two of us can go hunting!" He seethed in fury, oblivious to his nakedness.
"Eddie, I'm…"
"Save it, Logan! Just go to bed and stay the hell away from me! It's bad enough that Bella is beyond steamed at me, but does it stop there…No! Emmett is barreling his way here to the ranch with the boys!" He stalked off to his room, muttering darkly about destroying his favorite pair of vintage jeans and his favorite loafers.
"Mood swing?" Logan arched a red-gold brow at Jazz.
"Sympathetic Pregnancy Syndrome?" His eyes danced with wicked humor. "Hmmm…it was unlike him to roar like that even in a full-blown temper. This is gonna be one hell of an interesting few months."
"There is no way in hell that I'm going hunting with you!" Bella stalked out onto the deck, Edward gave chase clad only in a pair of electric blue silk boxers.
"The hell you aren't! I'm not letting you out of my sight! Hell, with your luck you'll find yourself neck deep in quicksand or worse! Now, you will wait here while I finish getting dressed!" He snarled down at her.
Her faced flushed bright crimson with temper. "There is no way that we are going hunting with you! I can take care of us just fine and my bad luck is not the cause of every disaster that comes up!" She easily jumped gracefully over the deck railing and down to the ground below. Then she was gone.
Edward started to give chase, but his stomach told him otherwise. He had to race back into their room, barely making it to the toilet before he lost what little he had in his stomach.
Jazz and Logan grinned at each other. He was doomed. It was clear that he was indeed suffering from a form of Pregnancy Male Syndrome.
Edward disheveled, pale, but dressed remerged from his room clearly unsettled from his first taste of PMS. "Not one word. Which direction did the brat go?" He glowered at his highly amused big brothers.
"Towards my place, but it's all good not a patch or bog of quicksand to be found. She'll be fine. Fred's harmless and keeps to himself. He's only been on the ranch since February, but because his unusual talent Aiden thought it best to have him stay at my cabin. The kids all adore him. He's brilliant. He figured out how to be a vegan vampire all on his own. The kid's had it rough this past year or so. You knew his creator, as you ripped her head off for trying to kill Bells."
"Victoria? Jazz, we've finally found him! Logan has to be talking about Bree's Freaky Fred." Edward's mood lifted a bit at the news. "At last we can finally grant her last wish…"
"Bree?"
"Jane had her killed thinking that by doing so all of her knowledge about their collaboration with Victoria would die with her. Bree knew all about my ability to read minds. She was happy to tell me everything. You see, Riley and Victoria had grievously tortured then murdered Diego, her mate of only a few days, for clueing in to all of their lies. Her final request was for us to treat Fred nicely if ever we came across him." Edward explained.
"I found him in Alberta and brought him here to the ranch where he could safely live in peace and learn the ins and outs of being an immortal. He's virtually untouchable when he turns on his gift, well, deterrent is what it is…no one would want to touch him, let alone fight the guy. It's like he's invisible because our senses can't take the signals that he emits for his protection, like Bella's shield." Logan grinned.
"Astounding, a sensory deterrent, so pungent that it renders him invisible to our kind. It was fortunate that he chose not to fight or the outcome would have changed dramatically." Edward vaulted over the railing and went after his furious wife.
Next
Chapter Thirty-six
You're where?
Cindra © 2010