Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Melt
Dialogue Prompt: "I can't believe you haven't figured it out yet," he said.

"What are they doing here?" I asked Alice as we pulled to a stop in front of Jane and Demetri.

"They aren't the only ones," Alice said, pointing to the side of the church. As Demetri opened the door for us I opened my eyes to a reality I hadn't considered. I'd seen some of these vampires on campus, and not recognized them for what they are. "They are watchers. Some have been around since the first time Jane was here, but they didn't follow us to Washington."

"Why not?" I asked.

"You're not very observant," Jane said, her tone bored. "It took Demetri some time to track you there, but once we found you we've been watching." She turned to glare at the other limousine pulling up. "The wolves were difficult, but Aro said we must abide by the treaty. Sad, they'd make great sport." A shiver ran through me at the thought of the tribe, people I loved, being attacked by Jane.

"It's unlucky for the groom to see the bride before the wedding," Alice said, gesturing to Marta shivering beside her. "We need to get the humans inside."

Jane looked us up and down and turned to walk into the church. "You're looking well," Demetri said as he fell into step beside me.

"As are you," I added conventionally, wondering at his motivation for speaking to me. He never had before.

He gave a laugh. "Until I'm a pile of ashes, I always will, Bella."

"Can you answer a question?" I asked, keeping an eye on Jane as she took a seat on the right side of the chapel as if a friend of the groom. The irony made me bite my tongue. Demetri tilted his head as if listening. "Why the interest in the Cullens and me?"

"I can't believe you haven't figured it out yet," he said. Pointing out each in turn he explained. "Alice is a psychic, able to see the future. Aro would dearly love to know the consequences of his actions before he makes them. Jasper is an empath, able to make anyone feel wanted or hated just from his own urging. It would give Aro power over people he tries to manipulate. Edward can hear thoughts from afar, so no need for touching someone." He could see my confusion so added, "Aro can read every thought you've ever had by touching your hand."

He gestured to the rest of the coven. "These others aren't talented, per se, but there is great beauty, great strength, great compassion and great love." He stopped and looked down at me. "And then there is you."

"Me? What about me?" I asked, astonished.

"I can't feel you, your presence, find your mind to track you. It makes us curious." With a wink he left me standing, frozen, in the aisle as he took his seat next to Jane. It was only Alice grabbing my arm to pull me forward that broke me from my shock.

"Ignore them," Alice said, but I knew she was hiding something from me.

Despite the specters of doom watching from the back of the chapel causing everyone to be tense the wedding was truly lovely. Marta melted when Jacob recited the vows he had written, promising to love and cherish her until their death. Her parents were confused when he mentioned that she was his true wife, after the ceremony asking if he had been married before. Edward explained that it was a tribal promise that he would never see another woman the way he sees Marta, and they were mollified.

Jane and Demetri were gone when the couple walked back down the aisle, but left a gift from Aro. Alice told them to wait until they were alone to open it, and Marta immediately asked if it were dangerous. Alice laughed and told them that no, it wasn't, but it shouldn't be shared with family.

The reception was fun. Apparently the Spanish really know how to throw a party and have it last all night. I was dead on my feet while Marta's parents were doing a tango, much to the delight of our college friends. I made the mistake of laughingly saying I'd like to try that one day, because Edward figure there was no better time than the present. Charlie wasn't amused when Edward caught my leg up around his hip to pull me across the floor.

Later in the bride's dressing room Marta and I stood staring at the gift from Aro. It was a square box, ornately decorated with white paper and navy ribbons. "Should I open it?" Marta asked.

"How else will you send a thank you note?" I answered, making her laugh. We called Jacob into the room, and together they pulled the ribbon tying the box closed. It fell open, revealing that it was an intricate puzzle. Putting it back together would be very difficult, but that wasn't what was most surprising.

In the box was a necklace. White gold with huge emeralds all along the chain led to a point that was joined to hold a diamond. Below that was a hexagon, diamonds and small emeralds creating a design with the largest emerald I'd ever seen resting in the middle.

"It belonged to the Maharani of Kapurthala," Carlisle said. "She was Spanish and married an Indian prince. I wonder how Aro got hold of it."

"Why couldn't I show my family?" Marta asked.

"Because it's thought to be part of the Crown Jewels," Carlisle answered her. "You can always tell them it's a reproduction."

"You have a plane to catch!" Alice announced, handing them both a suitcase. Because of Marta's immigration status it was decided that they shouldn't leave the country. Alice was quite fond of pointing out that Hawaii was part of the United States and they would like visiting the houses the Cullens owned. Why they had houses in sunny Hawaii was something I didn't understand, despite Edward's innocent claims that it was a good investment.

When it was my turn to hug them both goodbye tears sprang to my eyes. "I'm going to miss you," I cried onto Marta's shoulder.

"Class starts in a month, we have to be back for that," she replied, wiping away her own tears.

We waved them off, tossing bird seed as they ran to their car.

I got the feeling from the books that Bella and Demetri would be friends if not for the whole Cullen vs Volturi thing. Sorry no update yesterday, I was slammed at work and crashed when I got home.