/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Bella's shower was a quick one, followed by an even quicker bowl of spaghetti and clothing herself in one of Jasper's shirts and her borrowed jeans.
"You look absolutely ravishing," Jasper murmured seductively. "I'd even go so far as to call you 'delectable', darlin'."
Bella blushed, realizing she had been called out. "Damn that hearing," she muttered darkly then winked.
"Actually, it was a boost to my self-confidence to know I'd garnered your attention," he admitted.
"Ah, yes, again, you must have been so unused to the attention of women, Major Whitlock," Bella joked sarcastically.
"Well, no, darlin'," Jasper answered honestly. "I just really wanted yours, specifically."
Despite the whirlwind of emotions from the day a smile managed to grace the shifter's face.
How does he always manage to make me feel like no one else on the planet exists?
"I will never tire of seeing you smile," he whispered solemnly. "I'll do everything I can to keep it there."
"Thank you," Bella responded with a grin. "And obviously the same goes for you."
"Obviously," Jasper replied with a quirk of his lips.
"You know what I mean."
"I do," Jasper concluded. "Now, I know it's a huge topic jump, but it's really important that we follow Tala's advice," he advised his mate, switching gears quickly. "It's important to make sure you get some protein when we get back to the house. I'm sure you're wiped with all of the action today."
Bella struggled to keep a straight face despite his serious demeanor. "Definitely," she drawled slowly. "So much action," she finished with a wink.
One side of Jasper's lips quirked up into a grin. "You would."
"You said it, not me," Bella countered and blew him a kiss.
Jasper looked at her now empty plate. "You all set?"
"I don't know, are we?" Bella asked with mischievous smile. "I mean, I know we should go, but I just–."
"I know, darlin'," Jasper whispered with the hint a growl; his arousal easily rekindled.
"I mean, I don't have any marker to compare to but that was–," she trailed off, struggling to describe what they had experienced.
"Absolutely incredible," Jasper confirmed. "I've never felt anything like it."
"Well, I'm happy to have had a hand in that," Bella answered with a lopsided grin.
Jasper stepped closer to the barstool Bella was seated on, and slowly wrapped his arms around her, inhaling the scent of her arousal mixed with his own that lingered just under her skin. It was intoxicating to have his venom flowing through her veins, somehow not changing her, and not being obliterated by her healing abilities.
"How do you feel," he murmured quietly into the crook of her neck, ghosting his lips along her skin.
Bella shivered at the near contact, her need steadily building.
"I feel amazing," she answered easily. "If you're referring to the bite."
Jasper pulled away so Bella could rotate her arm, allowing them to examine the mark.
The venom appeared to have inhibited her flesh from repairing the tissues fully, creating a beautiful silver scar. Blessedly, no trace of the previous mark remained.
A broad smile bloomed on his mate's face, and she looked excitedly to Jasper's neck to find that her mark, similarly, had remained, despite that she had no venom of her own to give. Bella leaned in to inspect the raised skin and caught her scent on him, more strongly than would be normal for their contact.
"We appear to have scented each other in a much more permanent capacity," she whispered quietly into Jasper's ear and traced the scar with her tongue.
Jasper's body trembled and his hands shot out to touch her, aching to feel her once more. He slowly trailed them up and down her sides, until with an urgency, he slid them around Bella's back, pulling her off the stool to his body.
Happiness exploded under her skin, as though every cell in her body was charged with electrical energy; elated. It was as if the venom that had been integrated into her body craved to be near its donor. Bella giggled at the sensation, unable to contain the excitement she was feeling.
Jasper gasped in surprised. "I feel it, Bella."
She pulled her face from his neck and studied his. "You can feel what I feel, or you feel me inside of you?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but I know it feels amazing."
Bella smiled at her mate and pushed him backwards, directing them back to the bedroom.
Jasper's lips were suddenly on hers and his hands gripped her tightly to his cold, chiseled body. A frantic intensity pulled them to join again, creating a pooling of warmth that spread quickly between her legs. They most certainly weren't going to make it to the bedroom.
Despite his perfect vampire balance, Jasper stumbled backwards, his senses utterly consumed by the woman before him. They managed to topple gently to the floor, cushioned by a plush rug situated in front of the fireplace.
Bella almost giggled as the mental image of wine glasses and a roaring fire in a winter chalet, complete with a bear-skin rug crossed her thoughts. The notion was almost immediately replaced, however as Jasper reached up and into her pants to stroke his cold fingers against her heated clit.
"Oh, fuck," Bella whispered, lost to the sensations. She burned for her mate; she needed to feel him moving inside of her.
Her body instinctively sought Jasper's; there was something inside that needed to blend, to merge over and over. Bella didn't know if the feeling would ever leave, now that they had cemented their connection but couldn't bring herself to worry about or fear it.
It's right; we're right.
They somehow managed to not shred the only pair of pants that Bella could feasibly wear back to the house and sighed in unison as their skin made contact.
Legs on either side of his hips, Bella slid her mate into her quivering core in one swift motion. Jasper fit her like sword to sheath; pieces that were created to fit together. Feelings of relief coursed through them both and the shifter began to tease him, raising and lowering her hips at a torturous pace.
She wasn't able to keep it up for long, however, as Jasper's hands reached for her hips to quicken the movement.
"Now, now, don't get greedy," Bella murmured playfully.
Not one to underperform, Jasper grinned wickedly, and Bella suddenly found herself lying on her back, her mate's strong arms separating her legs to suck and nip at her inner thighs. His tongue swirled roughly around her clit, winding Bella quickly towards her climax before he stilled the movement.
Bella whined in protest and reached for his head, grasping his wavy hair tightly in response. She pushed him back against her center where he happily resumed his ministrations, her legs wrapped tightly around him.
As Bella approached her climax, Jasper broke free to slide up her body and ground his pelvis against her nub, before entering her swiftly. He wrapped his hands tightly, lovingly around her face before sliding them gently to her neck. The dominance shift was obvious, and Bella held his warm, loving gaze, expressing the trust she had for her mate as she began to shatter around his cold, thick length.
Bella's choked cries of pleasure filled the room. The sight of his mate's flushed face, the throbbing pulse in her neck against his palms, and the heaving of her creamy chest shoved him over the edge. Jasper erupted into her silken heat, reveling in the knowledge that it was his venom that filled her.
Bella's galloping pulse and gasping breath were the only sounds that could be heard, and were, quite possibly, the most beautiful lullaby that Jasper ever had the pleasure of hearing.
"I love you so fucking much, darlin'," Jasper whispered softly and kissed her tenderly, an arousing contrast to the hands still wrapped around Bella's neck.
"I love you too," Bella answered her mate, her eyes glowing softly with the brilliance of the cold sun streaming through the window. She reached one hand to his face and gripped the back of his neck to pull him to her swollen lips.
Understanding that this might never end if they didn't leave soon, however, she was the first to break the kiss. Grinning as his hands left her neck simultaneously, Jasper pulled away feeling that it was finally time to return to their family.
Bella headed to the bathroom to relieve herself and returned to change back into the borrowed clothes.
Without another word, Jasper took her hand and led the girl to the cabin door. She climbed onto his hard body, trying and failing to contain her arousal. A rumbling chuckle filled Jasper's chest, vibrating pleasantly against her body.
"Later, darlin', I promise."
Bella nodded, hoping it was true. Jasper momentarily disabled the alarm so they could leave and locked up behind him. Seconds later they were flitting through the woods to the Cullen house, casting their senses out around them, ready for any threats.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Dragon was furious with her underlings.
"How dare they hurt her," she snarled at the vampire bowed deeply at her feet. "They deserved every second of their end and more."
She paused her speech and walked slowly back and forth in front of her nest.
"Do not fail me, Laurent. You will bring the shifter-girl to me, unharmed."
"Why is she so important to you," he dared to ask and immediately regretted opening his mouth.
The female roared in response, smoke plumbing out of her mouth.
"She must be contained," the woman growled from the effort of attempting to get a grip on her gift.
"And she must remain alive? Surely a threat should be elim–."
Cold, blue flames broke through the woman's teeth, cutting the word short.
"You will pay dearly if she is not brought to me in one piece. My flames will end you, surely as any other."
Just must more slowly and with no home of putting it out.
"I will shield you, and you will go," she declared firmly. "Isabella must be fully intact; she is the key."
The male nodded slowly, trying desperately not to set her off.
"Yes, Dragon."
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Bella and Jasper arrived home to find Emmett waiting at the patio doors to allow them entry.
"Peter told me to get ready," he explained with an eyeroll.
"How's Jess," Bella asked quickly, unable to hold back the question that had burned in her brain during the run back.
"She's different, Bells," Emmett tried to explain.
"Different how?" Jasper asked, slipping quickly into Major mode.
"She's changing so quickly," her brother answered quietly. "It's unlike anything Carlisle has ever seen. "She'll be done within a few hours."
"That's impossible," Jasper said without a hint of doubt in his voice. Things just are the way they are.
"Apparently not," Emmett countered. "Go see for yourselves."
Bella was running before he could finish, and managed to beat Jasper to the study, even with his vampire speed.
Esme stood ready at the sensor to allow them entry.
Bella and Jasper flitted in and the door closed quickly behind them.
Cleaned entirely of blood and clothed in a pair of jeans and a band tee, Jessica lay on the table. Her teeth were gritted to contain her screams, and her eyes remained closed, as though she needed to block at least one source of stimulus to maintain her grip.
Jasper doubled over before adequately blocking the agony from slamming into him. Bella reached for his hand automatically, strengthening his resolve.
Peter and Char exchanged a knowing look and turned their focus back to Jessica.
"Garrett?" Jasper exclaimed when he righted himself, startling the mystery vampire from his focus on the changing girl.
"Salutations, Major," the man said with a sad smile. "I read your email only a few days ago, or I would have come sooner, my friend."
"You're here, and that's what matters," Jasper reassured him.
"It would be great if you could learn how to check and respond to emails, though," Peter cut in with a grin.
"Don't you pressure me, pup," Garrett jokingly admonished the apparently younger vampire.
"Yeah, yeah," Peter muttered in a manner similar to that of his niece.
"So," Bella redirected the conversation, the need to know taking priority over manners and introductions. "She's changing very quickly?"
"Yes," Jasper confirmed in a grave tone after a brief visual inspection.
"There has never been anything like her. She is a truly remarkable creature," Garrett whispered tenderly.
Jessica's eyes flew open in annoyance. "Listen, Paul Fucking Revere," she ground out, shaking as the flames burned her from the inside out. "I'm going to need you to keep your mouth shut."
Peter burst out in peel of laughter, earning him a glare from the soon-to-be vampire.
"And you, get the fuck out," Jessica ordered with a snarl. On second thought, she added, "take this one with you," and flicked her eyes to Garrett.
Bella approached her friend slowly to not startle the girl. "Is it okay if I stay?"
Jessica met her friend's eyes and could only manage a nod before closing hers once more, facing the battle inside. She rolled out her hand for Bella to take and sighed with relief as Peter left the room sulking, an anxious looking Garrett in tow.
Char and Jasper met each other's eyes. "We have much to discuss," Char spoke quietly as the two moved to leave.
"I'll be right outside, Bella," Jasper promised his mate.
Only Rosalie, Bella, and Jessica remained.
"Thank you for not leaving me, Rose," Jessica managed to whisper.
"You're our family, Jess, I'd never leave you."
The girl made a sound as if to cry but choked it off quickly. "Jesus fucking Christ," she whispered.
"Yeah," Rosalie whispered sadly, "I know."
"I heard you talking; why so fast?" Jessica asked, as though the information might somehow ease her pain. "Please, it'll distract me."
Rosalie didn't know how to answer but Bella began working on the problem immediately.
It took her only moments to come to a very likely conclusion. "Long version of my theory or short?"
Jessica considered, battling the pain for brain space. "Short, then long."
"That's what she said," Bella retorted automatically, earning the briefest of grins. "You're autistic," she concluded simply.
"And the long?"
"Let's backtrack: the night of the sleepover when you smelled Jasper," Bella began slowly. "He used his gift to make everyone sleep more deeply so we could leave. It was harder for him to do so when it came to you, however."
"Because my brain is different?" Jessica asked, following Bella's train of thought quickly.
"Yes. He said that it took longer for him to find a way in, like it was a maze that he couldn't even fit into."
"Something was trying to get in before we were attacked," Jessica murmured with a furrowed brow. "Much more violently than Jasper had."
"That's right," Bella whispered. "We'll have to talk to Jasper about that."
Jessica couldn't keep the hold on her control and began shaking, groaning with the effort to keep from screaming.
"Continue?" she asked when the wave had subsided somewhat.
"Your brain is very complex, but once your brain 'took' the sleep from him, you sorted it away and processed it quite easily."
Jessica paused, thinking of her friend's words then clenched her jaw. Fighting and failing to keep a scream from working free of her lips. Minutes passed as her anguished screams continued.
"How much longer?" she finally begged to know.
"Not very," Rosalie confirmed, glad that Jessica wouldn't suffer for long. "A few hours."
"Thank fuck," Jessica choked out. "So, you think that once my brain has something, it's quick from there?" she directed at Bella.
"Exactly," Bella answered her.
Rosalie considered the possibility for a moment. "That would explain why you're able to rationalize right now, Jess," she spoke quietly. "During my change, I could only scream until I was close to the end. It went on for days," the vampire shuddered.
"It's mostly just my body, now," Jessica realized.
"I think so," Rosalie confirmed. "And there isn't much left from what I can see. Your skin is firming, and your eyes are changing already."
"That's a relief, I guess," the girl amended. "Stay with me for a while?" she asked, turning her face to Bella.
"Absolutely," the shifter answered and took a seat at the table near Jessica's head.
"Can you tell me your story now?"
Bella obliged her friend, happy to do what she could to take the girl's mind off her pain. She talked about Renee, and what their first shift together had been like. She told the story of how she and Jasper met, of the pain Edward had caused. At Bella's admission that when she threatened Lauren with a cat-fight, that she meant something much more violent than the surface understanding of the words, Jessica managed to choke out a laugh.
With Rosalie's assistance to fill in the blanks on the Cullen side, Jessica was able to create a very clear mental account of the events leading up this moment.
"I'm supposed to be here," Jessica said quietly. "I belong."
"You do," Bella and Rosalie answered together, and waited for their friend-turn-sister's pain to end.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Penelope was tracking the rapid progress of her groupings, noting the changes in threads that indicated their forward movement.
It's coming. It's finally coming.
After centuries of waiting, biding her time, the fate correcting enchantment would be complete and she would be reunited with her children.
We can't get back the time lost, but we can make new memories.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Alice had been laying in the snow for over a week, feeling neither the cold, nor hunger in her dream-like hibernation when her first vision of Edward broke through the endless barrage of universes being born and collapsing with each decision made by almost every sentient being in existence.
And people wonder why I'm so fucking tired.
She reached for her cellphone, grateful it had signal from inside her frozen tomb.
Carlisle answered on the first ring. "Alice?" he breathed, shocked to hear from her.
"We have a huge problem," the tiny vampire spoke with fear in her voice.
The silence on the other end grew until Carlisle said one word, his pain evident. "Edward."
"Yes," she confirmed devastated that her brother would have betrayed them so deeply. "The Volturi. He's shielded now, and I can't see anything else."
The sound of Esme sobbing tearlessly gutted Alice more than she would have thought possible. "I'm so sorry. I tried."
"We knew you did, Honey," Esme breathed into the phone having taken it from her husband.
"Can I–," Alice stammered, struggling to ask what she saw as longshot.
"Come home, Alice," her mother begged. "You never have to ask."
Alice hung up the phone without saying anything and broke down into sobs of her own, unable to believe the love that her family still had for her.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Peter and Charlotte were tasked with returning to the scene of the attack to collect any of Bella's clothing and water bottle to remove any potential correlation of her involvement. They took with them the slashed and bloodied jacket that Jessica had been wearing to leave for police or search parties to find.
The task was an emotionally painful one, as they knew it meant the girl would never see her own family again, and the heartbreak that accompanied that loss would be immense.
They took care to remove every fluff, every fiber, every hair that didn't belong to Jessica and raked their own nails across the tree Jessica had spilled large amounts of blood around. Char lay in the bracken and allowed her mate to drag her from the tree for a few miles, dropping strands of Jessica's hair as they went.
Peter took care to cover his own tracks until they intersected another trail. Thankfully, it would rain soon, helping to blend the disturbed earth and create a more natural-looking scene. The final pieces of planted evidence were placed strategically among chunks of bark on fallen logs leading away from the bloody scene; bear fur.
They arrived back at the Cullen home, laden with Bella's ruined leggings, top, shoes, and the shredded remains of the borrowed jacket. Peter dug in his pocket and tossed a cellphone to the Major who was busy grilling Garrett for details.
The story did not vary in the slightest from Bella's once he came across the girls, outside from point of view. Between the two of them, it was clear that nothing had been overlocked.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair before staring at his red-eyed friend. "And naturally, she's your mate?"
"I didn't plan on it, Major," Garrett growled defensively. "You know how I feel about the matter."
Jasper did and didn't press him further.
"For something that is supposedly rare," Char remarked quietly, "we sure to be pairing off at an alarming rate."
Peter nodded in agreement. "Seems to me like we all needed to come together."
"Is that an opinion or a fact?" Jasper asked his second in command.
Peter paused a moment in thought. "Both."
Jasper sighed and began again. "Now, about the Volturi." At that, Carlisle Esme, and Emmett joined the rest of the group. "What exactly did Alice say?" he continued quietly.
"All Alice said is that Edward is with the Volturi and shielded, meaning she can't see," Carlisle summed quickly.
"Which means that either Edward didn't want Alice to see, or the Volturi has some form of shielding," Peter reasoned out loud.
Jasper nodded in agreement, his rage slowly building. "But what on Earth could he be going to them for? Does he wish to join them?"
"He may be seeking out some sort of replacement companionship," Carlisle mused quietly.
Esme frowned, not quite sure she could hold her husband's optimism.
"But you don't think that's it," Peter asked her with a raised brow.
Carlisle looked to his mate, pain clear on his face. Esme reached out to touch his arm to remind him she loved him.
"I don't," she spoke calmly. "I think he is motivated by revenge."
Carlisle's eyes shuddered closed at her words and his shoulders dropped significantly, the weight of the truth too much to hold up against his seemingly eternal optimism.
"Revenge for what?" Emmett asked, truly oblivious. At his family's blank looks, he said, "I mean, I know he was mad, but revenge requires specific motivation."
The question caught everyone off-guard.
"Well, for starters," Peter began as he lifted a hand, preparing to tick off the reasons on his fingers. "He didn't get the girl."
Jasper growled, the mere reminder of Edward's actions causing a wave of rage to crash over his family before he reigned it in.
"He was embarrassed by getting his ass handed to him," Char offered.
"And he lost his family," Esme chimed in what her husband couldn't bear to admit.
"So, what then," Emmett began, "one or all these reasons were deemed serious enough to merit involving the Volturi?"
Jasper agreed with his brother's logic. "You're right Em, we're missing something."
"We still don't know that he went to the Volturi to bring them down upon us," Carlisle interjected.
"Please stop," Esme whispered quietly. "It has completely devastated me that we lost a son, but I refuse to lose the rest of my family simply because we aren't willing to see what is so abundantly clear: we aren't his family anymore."
"I should get to the hospital," Carlisle said quietly, clearly needing space to process.
"Be careful," Esme called after him, her pain evident.
The discussion was interrupted by the arrival of Rosalie. "Esme, can you come upstairs? Bella needs to know what the plan is regarding how to handle the topic of Jess with Charlie."
Emmett handed Bella's phone off to his mother wordlessly and the two females took their leave.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
"So, I'm just another missing person," Jessica asked, her voice strained, either by emotion of the burning in her chest.
Or both.
"I'm so sorry, Sweetheart," Esme murmured quietly, running a hand across the girl's forehead comfortingly.
"I understand why," Jessica allowed before clenching her jaw. What could be the girl's final tears streamed from her tightly shut eyes and slid down the sides of her face.
Esme wiped them gently away, her mothering nature already extending to the newcomer.
"It's okay that it hurts, Honey," the mother to all assured her. "It's very natural to grieve."
"I'll just miss my mom," the girl finally spoke, confirming their assumptions. "My dad left us, you know."
That, they didn't, and a silence followed.
"He went with the cliché, and honestly, that's what hurts the most," the stream of Jessica's tears thickened with her explanation. "Went out for some milk. And because of how I am, I didn't catch it. I thought nothing of it. I heard the words, and I believed them."
Bella's heart shattered for the girl and couldn't stop her own tears from flowing. "I'm so sorry, Jess. I'm sorry you've lost so much."
"And it's just going to keep on coming," the girl answered, already realizing the enormity of the changes happening in her life.
Jessica's body twitched as the fire raged on, ravaging anything and everything in its path.
"Do we have a plan, then?" Jessica finally asked, prepared to move on from at least one form of pain she was experiencing.
"Well, I called Charlie earlier," Esme explained. "I asked if he minded Rose picking her up to spend the afternoon with us. He was relieved, actually," she directed at Bella. "He doesn't like the thought of you being home alone anymore, and this is without even knowing Jessica is missing."
Bella heaved a deep sigh, fearing how this development would change not only Charlie, but the entire town of Forks.
"Things are going to get a little intense around here, huh?" the shifter asked Esme and Rosalie.
"That they will," Esme confirmed with a deep frown. "With federal involvement, however, we can't possibly leave."
"We must continue the human charade," Rosalie piped up. "And you, Bella," she continued with a sympathetic frown, "need to reveal nothing. Charlie is going to grill you about Jess."
"Especially since I dropped by the other night," Jessica tacked on.
"Fuck," Bella whispered then shot a glance at Esme. "Sorry."
"How dare you, Isabella Marie Swan!" Esme looked sternly at her adopted daughter. "There will be no fucking swearing in this god damn house," she finished with a wink.
Despite the unabating pain, Jessica snorted in a very Jessica-like fashion, easing some of the tension Bella had been feeling.
"I don't love doing it myself, but I certainly wouldn't criticize you, Dear," Esme clarified with a smile. "And I do try not to influence people's free-will too strongly. I've learned the importance of this over time."
It was the first time Esme had openly spoken of her gift, showing just how much she trusted her family, both new and old.
"Others have gifts?" Jessica asked with confusion.
Latching on to the potential of another distraction for the girl, Esme jumped in. "Well, there's Alice," she started the list. "She has visions of the future."
"Jasper has the ability to influence emotions," Rosalie explained.
"I thought he just made people sleep," Jessica interjected. "Oh, but emotions are the results of biological shifts, so he can push people into different directions."
"Shove is more like it," Rosalie muttered with a smirk. "He's really quite powerful, but typically shows immense restraint.
"He can feel emotions as well," Esme added.
"Which is why I hurt him," Jessica realized quickly.
"Yep. Then there's Edward," Bella finished, earning a snarl from Jessica.
"Fucking prick," the girl grunted before a stabbing pain shot through her chest.
"You'll be done soon, I promise," Esme whispered. "I'll go get the Jasper, Peter, and Charlotte."
"What can the asshole do, then?" Jessica tried to redirect her mind.
"He can read minds," Rosalie answered her with an edge of anger.
"That's really, really bad."
"Yes, it is," the vampire confirmed. "No matter what we do, he'll know within seconds of being near us."
"And that's why the potential interference from the vampy government is so scary. There's no way we can prepare without our plans being revealed," Jessica whispered.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Alice's mind flickered and went black as it always did before she was gripped with visions she had been searching for:
Aro and Caius arguing in a study. "Why not use the opportunity, Aro?"
.
Marcus sitting a chair, flicking a lighter in a seemingly bored manner. Letting loose a deep sigh and whispering "I am far too old to be without you. I'll do it so we might be together again, that is all."
.
Aro, Caius, and Marcus, stepping off their private plane, the windows of Seattle-Tacoma international airport in the distance.
.
The Volturi slowly approached her family and friends, trampling the soft grasses, wild poppies, white daisies, and a sprinkling of bluebells that comprised the otherwise picturesque meadow. Edward stood between Aro and Caius, looking on, dark crimson eyes burning with rage.
.
The decision was cementing, and the quickly.
One month, tops. I must go; I must be there.
She frantically searched for possible dangers and delays along her journey home and was met with a deep, black abyss.
Ah. I have made my choice, and I won't survive it.
/ * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \ / * \
Bella's foot tapped nervously against the floor mat of Rosalie's car. She knew it was annoying, especially with enhanced hearing. In fact, the sound annoyed Bella as well, but she couldn't keep herself from the rhythmic shaking to soothe herself. The vampire didn't ask her to stop, which was a blessing.
Rosalie pulled into Bella's driveway behind the police cruiser and put her car into park.
"You've got this, Bella," she reminded the shifter.
"I know I do," the girl admitted. "I just don't feel good pretending everything is fine."
"I know," Rosalie whispered quietly. "It'll be hard, but I feel like it'll be okay. I know it's a big leap to make, but I don't think this pain is going to haunt you."
Bella nodded silently, trying to trust that life would work out the way it's meant to.
"You'll let us know when you hear something?"
"I will," the vampire promised with a smile. "If things go well with Jess, you'll be able to visit soon."
"But for now, that means no Jasper."
"I know it sucks, but he really is the best one to have there," Rosalie reassured her. "Char is up in your room and Emmett did a sweep of your house before Charlie got home. He's in your backyard right now. I texted Carlisle and he'll join Emmett shortly. I'm going to go stay with Jess."
"Thanks, Rose, I do appreciate it and I'm not trying to sound ungrateful. It's just a lot."
"I know it is," Rosalie whispered back before Bella stepped into the cool evening air and made her way inside the oddly welcoming house.
"Hey dad," she called out, wanting to let him know she was home.
"Hey, Bells. Have fun at the Cullen's?" Charlie asked from the dining room table.
"I did!" Bella exclaimed brightly, hoping she didn't come off as too chipper. "Kicked Emmett's a–, butt on Call of Duty."
Charlie chuckled for his daughter's joy. "I hope you didn't spend all of your time playing video games, though."
"Nah," Bella answered easily as she headed for the kitchen. "Before that I spent time with Esme and Rose."
Not technically lie.
"I'm glad to hear it. How's Jasper doing?"
"He's doing good," Bella responded with a genuine smile and set a casserole dish Esme had sent home with her on the counter. "That reminds me, he loaned me a book a few weeks ago that he thought you'd enjoy. You know, if you ever have time to read again."
Charlie sighed and leaned back, setting his newspaper down. "With the FBI around I'm supposed to be more hands off, but until they're entirely caught up and done building the timeline, my days will continue like this."
Bella studied her father: his frown lines had deepened, his under-eyes dark and sunken. When he opened them, she could see that there was little light left in them.
"It's been a while since you've had a real weekend, dad."
"I know," he answered, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Soon. Maybe this weekend."
"Maybe," Bella offered hopefully, though she knew it wasn't going to happen; not this weekend anyway. "You want some bacon mac and cheese?"
"I was about to make myself a sandwich, so that would be wonderful upgrade," Charlie sighed with gratitude.
They ate quietly before Charlie retreated to the living room. After washing and putting away the dishes, Bella joined him.
Realizing his daughter had joined him to settle in for the evening, he switched the television from sports to a comedy sketch show. Once or twice, there was a joke that pulled at their faces, which was all either could hope for.
Their brief calm ended when Charlie's cell phone rang at eight thirty-seven.
Jess is officially missing.
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