Hey everyone! So I was going through major writer's block so I want to thank CarlislaCooper for her support and Keeper of the Covenant for her ideas that got my brain back in gear. You girls rock! So the first part of this chapter is a little choppy and I am sorry about that. I am a bit tired of being stuck in January in the story and I am ready to get this show on the road.

So Christmas is in a week and I am very happy. Thank you all for your reviews and support of this story. It really does make my day to see all of your positive feedback. I know that the way some critical information is presented in this chapter is not up to par, but because of my impatience it was the only way I could present it. There has been a lot of sitting and waiting around, mostly on Bella's part as she grows, and that can only be cured and accomplished with time. So enough of my rambling, haha this note is short compared to what I normally write.

Playlist:

Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver

How are things in Glocca Morra? from Finian's Rainbow

So small by Carrie Underwood

Heaven forbid by the Fray

Iris by the Goo Goo dolls

It won't be long by the beatles

The last thing on your mind by lights

Something like that by Tim Mcgraw

Who says by John Mayer

100 years by Five for Fighting

Circle of life from the Lion King

Can you feel the love tonight from the Lion King

Please read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Strutting Through the Jungle

…

Somehow she was dumbfounded by the hustle and bustle that was New York City. Though this was only a temporary stay she wished to look around the city that her bloodline called home. Clarissa was amazed as she walked into the city after leaving the dock. She found herself grasping her father's ring that hung on a ribbon around her neck. Gracefully she brought the cold metal to her lips and whispered a prayer. She missed her father, and her mother, her brother and her sister. She missed the lush fields that she ran in as a child. She missed the library where she spent her days reading. She missed the vineyards where she had learned from a friend of her father the art of making wine. In the summer she would help him gather the grapes. Never again could she return to her homeland. She would never see Italy again.

With a heavy heart Clarissa dragged her trunk to the street flagging down a car. The men around her gawked at her beauty. She wore full-length day dress as proper custom of the time with her boots, never daring to show her ankles. Curiously she looked around the city as the cab took her to her destination. She knew her distant relative would keep her secret.

(Pages torn out)

Clarissa stepped off the train in a better mood the last time her travels had ended. Her clothes were a bit more appropriate for the times and country. Pregnancy could do that to a soul, need for change but joy along with it.

"Welcome to Seattle." A man at the station greeted her.

"Thank you." She said with the nod of her head.

Seattle was the closest the train could get her to Forks. Most of the travel agents looked at her with amusement as they tried to discover why on Earth she would want to go to Forks. The town was small as could be and in the middle of nowhere. But when they asked her if she would like to change her mind she would reply.

"Forks will be just fine, thank you."

And so now from the train she hurried through the station with the man lugging her trunk so that she could take a car to her new home.

"Where to, Miss?"

The cab driver asked.

"Forks, please." Clarissa replied.

The man loaded her things into the trunk of the car and then Clarissa was on her way. Who would have guessed that the mafia princess would have fled to Forks, Washington. It was just too perfect. The Italians would never even think to look there. And her secret would be kept, taken to the grave now that the heirloom was in good hands. She could not bear to carry it with her anymore for the weight was far too heavy. She mourned by carrying her father's ring over her heart, and her princess ring on her hand, but she could not carry the symbol of three.

Now, with a lighter load she arrived in the town that would be her new home. She was dropped off at the town council building where a representative would be awaiting to show her the small town hidden in the forest. Here she would make a home and give birth to her child. She would buy a home and raise her daughter well.

…

Weeks had passed by along with Carlisle's birthday. He was now miraculously thirty-one years old. As of recent, Isabella had begun to sort through the clues that James's left behind and seemed to be making good time. He couldn't help but laugh as he remembered when she had figured it out.

Carlisle had been minding his own business lost in his own theories as to what they were even after. Isabella seemed to know better than him, but that didn't surprise him. She burst into the room with the biggest smile on her face. Her hair was in complete disarray as if she had stressed her fingers through it one thousand times.

"Carlisle!" She yelled. "I have it! I understand!"

"What, Honey?" He jumped up from his seat to meet her.

She shoved James's journal in his face, which now had circled words all over the page. But the words she had highlighted were the answer.

From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"I don't understand." Carlisle felt like he should but he did not understand at all.

She shook her head and laughed.

"He doesn't even remember that he knows the clue, Carlisle. These's are lines from a very famous poem. I know it by heart. It's from the New Colossus by Emma Lazarus."

"I don't see where you are going with this, Doll Face."

She sighed and shook her head. Then she began to recite the poem.

"Not like the brazen giant of Greek frame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A might woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightening, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glow world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

'Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!' cries she

With silent lips. 'Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!'"

He took a moment to contemplate what his love was trying to say.

"Carlisle." She giggled. "The next clue is at the Statue of Liberty."

"OH!" He gaped.

This was going to be harder than they thought.

…

Currently Carlisle sat in his office thinking to himself. It seemed like everyone was trying to solve the next clue. The trip to the Statue of Liberty had been quite eventful and they managed to find the next clue. It was harder than the first one though. The belongings of Clarissa had been sent to them and they had been reading through the journals. It was now confirmed that Isabella was a Cigno, this of course was a happy fact but it was frustrating. He enjoyed seeing Isabella gain confidence in herself. She was such a lovely person and she shouldn't feel that she has to hide her beauty and inner strength. They had discussed it before, she would be his equal in the eyes of the mafia world and she had begun learning all she could about the trade. But now that she was truly a Cigno it could call for either a wedding of clans, not that she had a clan. It was a beautiful thing to know there truly was an heir left.

Growing up Carlisle had heard the legend of Clarissa all the time. He thought it was fascinating that she might have escaped her death and fled somewhere, falling off the face of the earth but still living on. He had asked his father once if the legend was true, but it was a mistake. Leonardo reprimanded him, mocking him by calling him insolent and idiotic. His father told him that of course the legend wasn't true. There was no way in hell that she could of survived and that Carlisle needed to stop wasting his father's time. But in the end it seemed that his father was wrong and Carlisle was right.

He leaned back in his chair quite content with himself. Learning she was truly a Cigno gave Isabella a sudden confidence boost and he was so happy that she was being so bold. She walked stronger than before, and when people looked at her she smiled secretly. Despite how much he loved her being a Cigno, if word got out it could be a problem. Right now with the Romanian conflict clans could go after her just like Maria did to appease Stephen. It only made her a better captive because not only was she a Cigno, one of the two remaining ones in fact, but she was the female heir like Clarissa, and she was Carlisle's fiancé. Having the status of his wife-to-be was motivation enough for someone to kidnap her. Not only would she be at risk but their child as well. He couldn't let them be put in harms way in that manner and so they were doing all that they could to keep it low key.

When searching through the trunk that once belonged to Clarissa not only did they find the journals and the mafia princess ring, but Clarissa's father's Don ring. Carlisle believed it should rest in it's rightful place, in Isabella's possession. Although she rightfully owned it, being her family heirloom, she was timid about wearing it, at least on her hand. In the journal Clarissa mentions having seen her father before he was killed. It was quite a sad scene. Apparently there was a secret room in his office, and he took off his Don ring, gave it to Clarissa, and pushed her behind the bookcase into the secret room. He wanted her to live. She heard the sounds of her father's murder. It was tragic to say the least.

Leaning back in his chair he thought about how things had changed since he met Isabella. He had been alone in the world, never understanding beauty or true brilliance. He never listened to his heart only his mind or instinct. But now, he did not understand how he went on for so long without love. Over the years he had let his walls not only rise but also thicken. He did everything he could to guard himself and keep others out. Relationships were based on sex, only getting physical release and pleasure. But after being intimate with Isabella he realized he never truly experienced sexual pleasure until her. Sex had always been an empty act meant to escape the world for an hour or two. But even then his mind would race with thoughts pertaining to anything but the woman he was with. But when he was with Isabella she was all he could think about. Before he always tried to get the woman to satisfy him, but with Isabella he wanted to pleasure her in every way possible. Her release normally triggered his own. But now he viewed sex in a different way. It wasn't just a thing that everyone did. When he was with Isabella in that way they made love or they fucked. He liked to take him time worshiping her body, caressing each curve, kissing every inch of skin, and whispering his love. Yes, sometimes they were raunchy and kinky but they still loved each other even then. Their relationship was not about sex; it was only a bonus. Carlisle loved Isabella with all of his heart. He had been so lost in the world without her.

Now the threat that someone could take her from his scared the living shit out of him. She had turned his cold heart of stone into a beating source of love. He worshiped the woman and thanked God everyday for bringing her into his life. Of all the men in the world that she could have had, she chose him. He could never get over that fact because she had her pick. She was beautiful from the start, and yes they had their issues they had to work out, but with each issue she resolved in her past she became even more beautiful, if that was even possible. The light in her eyes grew brighter with each challenge they overcame.

Out of habit he began twisting his Don ring on his finger back and forth. He thought about Isabella's ring of her great great grandfather that now hung around her neck. The princess ring would belong to their daughter if they had one. There were so many things Carlisle wanted to say to Isabella. He wanted to tell her that he couldn't live without her, but it would be too cheesy. He had been trying to write his wedding vows and the right words just wouldn't flow. He was thinking too much and he knew it. He could tell her how he was a wander before her, thinking he knew everything, but discovered he was dumb until he knew love and through her he knew love. To him she was love. He would go to any length to protect her. He wanted to protect her always. He would love her beyond the grave. To be by her side was equivalent of being in Heaven. They just got each other and knew each other so intimately like they were the oldest of friends. Isabella wasn't just his lover, his fiancé, and soul mate, but she was also his best friend.

Not even really sure of what he was doing he reached into one of his drawers and retrieved one of his sketchbooks. With a smile, now remembering why he had pulled it out, he turned to the most recent addition to the book. He had been thinking about having it done since the beginning of January. He thought about the thoughts they shared the day he was shot and she took care of him, she was his lioness taking care of her lion. The king of the mafia world, the jungle, leaving behind his pride and letting his lovely lioness mate care for him and see him wounded. He had drawn a lion, his face serene expressing love and dependence, resting his forehead against the side of his humble lioness's head. She supported him but seemed to look back at him with an almost smile with love in her eyes. Isabella was on her way of being his equal in the eyes of the mafia world, and it would be official once they were wed. Isabella was more than he could ever name, but together they were the perfect team. With her by his side he could do anything and they would rule the jungle together. They balanced each other out and completed each other. They were the perfect mated pair. He brushed his fingers across the page smiling at the work of beauty. He hoped that Isabella would love it. There were a few surprises he had planned for her. One was on it's way and this one, his appointment was this afternoon. With a smile on his face he shut the book and rose from his seat. Isabella was busy trying to solve the next clue but Riley and Dean made her take a break and so they took her to the spa today. He smiled, tucking the sketchbook under his arm and went to fetch his hat and coat.

Carlisle arrived at the studio a tad early, but he didn't mind having to wait a few minutes. He didn't have any tattoos though he felt like he should have at least his family's crest, but he hadn't even thought of inking his body until Isabella. Edward and Emmett had a few tattoos and Jasper had quite a number of them that he kept hidden. Only Alice had seen them, but she told her family all about them, or well the ones she wasn't embarrassed by. Alice had a small tattoo; Carlisle had accompanied her when she got it. It was a little fairy, or more pixie, that looked very much like Alice. She got it on her side when she was eighteen.

"Carlisle Cullen." The man's voice called out.

He stood from his seat and looked up to see Jane's friend Tyler, a family friend of the mafia.

"You're finally getting inked." Tyler said with a smirk, but mouthed the word, capo.

"It's a special tattoo." Carlisle explained handing the dark haired man with olive skin, the sketchbook already turned to the right page.

Tyler looked it over with a smile on his face.

"Where do you want it?"

"On my back right between my shoulder blades."

"So you want it big then?"

Carlisle nodded.

"She must be quite a woman then."

"She is."

"Let me go transfer this and then we can get started. Have a seat back in the waiting area and I'll be with you in a minute."

Carlisle did as instructed and then felt his phone buzz with a text. He retrieved his Blackberry and read the message from Dean.

We are taking a lunch break so Bella might text you, but after that she has a hot stone massage and a mani-pedi so you have plenty of time to get the tattoo done.

Dean was in on the plan for Carlisle's getting the tattoo. The best explanation for where he was right now without spoiling the surprise would be not having to explain at all because she was too busy to ask. Besides, she should be relaxing and that means no cell phones. The plan was evil but genius at the same time.

A few minutes later Tyler came back with the tattoo on transfer paper. He followed the man into the private back room, he didn't want to be in the general area with the other clients, where he stripped off his hat, coat, gloves, and shirt. He didn't have to wear the shoulder sling anymore but he still had to be careful. He had a simple medical bandage on his bullet wound but at least he didn't have the cloth that wrapped around his shoulder and chest anymore. Tyler put the paper on Carlisle back in between his shoulders in the smooth but muscular valley, and the ink attached to the skin. It spread over his shoulder blades as well but Carlisle wanted that. He wanted it to be large and wonderful.

"Go have a look." Tyler said with a smile as he handed Carlisle a small hand mirror.

He stood in front of the large mirror using the smaller one to look at the reflection. He smiled with pride at his handiwork for the original drawing, but now with Tyler's skill it would be inked onto his skin forever. The eyes of the two loving leaders were open, secretly staring at each other.

"What do you think?" Tyler asked.

"It's perfect. I hope Isabella loves this."

"It's a special symbol isn't it?"

"Very much so."

"So how are we doing this bad boy? Color?"

"I'd like to do it in sepia, but-" He pulled out a close up picture of Isabella and handed it to Tyler. "I would like the eyes of the lioness done in the color of Isabella's eyes. And the lion's eyes my color."

Tyler smiled warmly.

"She's beautiful, Carlisle. You're a lucky man."

"I know." He replied simply.

Tyler started getting the colors sat up and Carlisle laid down on the tattooing bed on his stomach. He rested his head on his good arm, but let the one with the bad healing shoulder hang. A few minutes later Tyler turned on the needle and began his work. Carlisle was prepared for it to hurt a hell lot more.

"So what's the story behind your woman? I've heard a few things, but don't worry it was all good. I've been told she's the sweetest woman you'll ever meet but if you mess with her you get hell."

Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle at the truth of the man's words.

"Well that's true. She's an angel, Tyler. I've never met anyone like her. I never thought I'd fall in love. But Isabella is just magic. We're getting married in June."

"I heard that, too. Who could have guessed that the Capo would finally tie the knot?"

"Like I said before, Isabella is magic. She's my angel and my doll face. I don't mean to be all sappy but she's taught me a lot I could never have learned without her. That's part of the reason behind the tattoo. You know we have a baby on the way, she's due in August, and we're hoping for a little girl. Well shit went down last month and this lion and lioness analogy just appeared. I had to let go of my pride and let her take care of me and see me wounded. Neither one of us is more dependent on the other, and so we balance our dependence. We've both been through a lot of changes since we met, had to face a lot of things we didn't want to or weren't ready to accept, but had to in order to move on and grow together. But I've never been happier."

"Well it sounds like you found the right girl then. You know I'm seeing this girl named Angela, completely not my type, or so I thought. But we started talking and all of a sudden it's like, bam, I'm in love with her. We've been together for a good year and I understand what you mean about women changing you."

"So you've been hearing things about Isabella. Have you been hearing things about the clan?"

Tyler got up for a second to make sure he had locked the door. Then he sat back down and got back to work.

"I've heard truth and lies. The lies can throw off a fool, but I've been tattooing your brothers long enough and know them well enough to know what the crap is. So James is dead for real?"

"I had to. I'm not sorry either. It was for her safety."

"But it's not over, is it?"

"No, it's not. We're playing games with time just waiting for the shit to go down."

"Just be careful."

"Always am." Carlisle said with a smirk.

Tyler had been tattooing for quite some time, but getting them even longer. He was covered, both arms full sleeves, an assortment on his back, one on his neck, and who knows how many everywhere else. Carlisle didn't want to be like that. Not even like his brothers with at least five. This would be Carlisle's first and only. This tattoo was the symbol of so many deep emotions, and moments that nothing else could compare to it. If he had another it would ruin the perfection of the two lions.

Several hours later Tyler silenced the buzzing of his needle and wiped away the blood and excess ink.

"Go have a look." Tyler encouraged, again handing him the small mirror.

Carlisle removed himself from the position he had been laying in for far too long and made his way over to the mirror.

"Perfect." Was all he could say. "Perfect."

When he returned home Isabella was platting dinner. Felix was accompanied by Jane, both of them eager for dinner as well.

"Daddy's home." Isabella chimed.

Da Vinci came running at him, happy to see his master. Emmett had looked after him after Carlisle went to get his tattoo and brought the dog to their home with Isabella got back. Carlisle kissed his fiancé, happy to hold her in his arms. Her lips were eager to play with his and he couldn't help but turn his head slightly to deepen the kiss.

"Where have you been? Emmett had to bring Da Vinci."

Carlisle slipped out of his coat, hanging it on the rack along with his hat. Then he slipped his gloves into his coat pocket.

"Come with me for a minute." He whispered seductively in her ear.

He took her by the hand and led her to one of drawing rooms for entertaining guests. "Daddy has a surprise for you."

She looked at him in confusion as he unbuttoned his shirt and then let it fall to the floor. She saw the clear wrap around his chest and she thought the worst, thinking he was hurt again.

"Carlisle, I don't understand."

He just smirked and turned around.

Through the clear wrapping she could see the shocking but beautiful tattoo. She moved in closer and brushed her fingers across the wrapping. She had never seen something so beautiful.

"You're my lioness, Isabella, my queen of the jungle. Soon you'll be my equal in the eyes of the mafia world. The night I was shot, I couldn't help but think of you as my lioness, the crest of my family as you know is a lion, but I had to leave my pride and let you lick my wounds like lions do. You're growing into your proper place in the mafia and I am so proud of you. Your confidence keeps blooming and I fall in love with you again and again each day. I just wanted to do this for you. We look after one another just like a pair of mated lions. We're a team, we're a pair, and we're mates."

Isabella gawked at the permanent piece of art as tears welled in her eyes. The lioness's eyes were brown and the lion's were piercing crystalline blue. They were perfect, just as she and her love were perfect together.

"And now we have a cub on the way." She breathed.

With love in her heart she walked around him so that she could stare into his eyes. Standing on her tiptoes she snaked her arms around his neck and he rested his forehead against hers.

"You are my king of the jungle, Carlisle, my lion."

He rested his hand on the small of her back and pulled her close.

"As you are my queen of the jungle, Isabella, my lioness. I love you."

"I love you, too." She whispered.

He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her sweetly, just like the king leaning against his queen. Even the most feared beast, king of the jungle, and Don could show affection to his mate, the one person in existence who understood him, his lioness, his doll face, and his queen.

So if anyone wants to see the picture the tattoo is based off of, unfortunately the link doesn't work so if you go to Google images and search "lion with lioness black and white" it should be the sixth imagine of the lion on the right resting his head down against the lioness's head on the left. It's a black and white photo VisualizeUs, and I believe it's a tumblr sight so it doesn't have a www link so it won't worry to post.

So please review!