Cora had no intention of leaving the warm embrace that Jasper held her in. If all mornings could be like this, that wouldn't be a bad existence. Being with him was so electric, especially last night. What had gotten into him, she didn't know but she did know that she enjoyed it immensely. She had never felt more relaxed than she did in that moment. That is until her phone started vibrating. Cora sat up quickly and looked around the room frantically for the source of the buzzing.
"Shit." She swore, throwing the sheets off her body and fumbling around in her jeans that landed across the room for the device.
"This is what I call a good morning." Cora turned to see a smirking Jasper sitting up, his arms behind his head resting against the headboard. She rolled her eyes and tossed her jeans at him with a laugh.
"Hello?"
"Cora, are you on your way?" Bella asked over the other line. Shit. Cora had completely forgotten about picking Bella up for their trip to La Push.
"You totally forgot. Didn't you?"
"No, no. I didn't forget." Cora covered, scrambling around the room, collecting her clothes. She was almost completely put together minus her jeans which Jasper kept a hold on.
"You did. You forgot."
"Look, Bella, I don't appreciate the tone right now," Cora said, yanking her pants from Jasper and pulling them up her body.
"Alright, alright. Just text me when you're on your way." Cora ignored the rest of Bella's sentence as she pulled on her shirt and a sweatshirt before rushing out the door and leaving a fully naked Jasper alone.
Cora took a deep inhale and took in the smell of the firs and the marsh. She loved being outside.
"It's a beautiful day." She said, hooking her arm with Paul's as Jake and Bella walked ahead of them.
"I was worried you were gonna chicken out." He said, squinting into the sun before looking down at the pale woman who sparkled whenever the sun peeked through the trees.
"Me? Never." She chuckled out with a sigh, trying to find the right words.
"So...my graduation is coming up and-"
"What is this for you? Your seventy-fifth?" Cora scoffed and threw a punch to Paul's shoulder, making him chuckle.
"Haha. But there's going to be a big party at the Cullens place and you're totally invited." Paul smirked and raised an eyebrow at his imprint.
"Don't you think that'll be a little awkward? New boyfriend and old boyfriend in the same room."
"Paul you're important to me, you know that. I can't imagine not having you there. Please? For me?" She begged, pulling around to the front of him to stop their stroll. He avoided her eyes as she pouted out her bottom in an attempt to sway his opinion one way or the other.
"Fine. You play a dirty game, Spencer." He groaned, pulling her under his wing and pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
"Only way I know how to Lahote." she teased pecking his cheek in the friendliest way she could.
"Now hows-"
"AGH, Oh my god!" Cora's head snapped from Paul to Bella, seeing her shake her fist and tears fall from her face.
"Oh for the love of Christ," Cora grumbled, rushing over to the two and taking Bella's hand in her own.
"What the hell, Jacob?!" Cora snapped, her brain scattering through the possible ways to explain this to Edward.
"Come on Bella, let's get you to a hospital." Bella cradled her hand into her chest as the small vampire pushed passed the two neanderthals that had taken to one another.
"It's really not that bad," Bella said through clenched teeth, making Cora roll her eyes as she sped down the road to Bella's home.
"Right, try saying that again but with feeling," Cora growled, glancing at the back seat at Paul and Jake in the backseat. As she parked Cora's eyes took note of the headlights behind her and the Volvo that came to a screeching halt.
"Bella, I-"
"If you ever touch her again I will-"
"Oh, this is so none of my business." Cora groaned, leaning up against the hood of her car and crossing her arms as Edward went for Jacob's throat and Bella tried her best to hold them back from one another as she clung her wrist to her chest.
"I got ten on-"
"Paul, so help me GOD, if you finish that sentence, I will murder you," Cora growled. He knew she was angry but the way she said it lit a fire inside of him. Paul slid up onto the hood and motioned zipping his lips shut.
"Fine! And she will!"
"Jacob just go, okay?!" Bella yelled just as the front door opened up revealing Charlie who rushed down the steps to the scene.
"Hey, hey, hey, easy guys. Let's take it down a notch." Charlie said, pushing the teen boys away from one another.
"What's going on?" He asked as the two of them calmed down and Cora hopped off the hood of the car and landed gracefully on her toes before raising her hand.
"Oh, allow me to take this one," Cora said, butting into the conversation only to be held back by Paul who placed his large hands on her shoulders, pulling her back into his chest.
"Simmer down." He muttered to her as Jacob and Edward continued their staredown.
"I kissed Bella...and she broke her hand...punching my face. Total misunderstanding." Jacob explained, leaving Charlie in a shocked state as he tried to absorb what he just said. Cora brushed Paul off and went for her driver's side.
"I'll take her back to the house. We are discussing this later." Edward growled as he passed with Bella in tow. Cora scoffed and rolled her eyes. If he thinks for one moment that he's going to pin what the horn-dog did on me, he's got another thing coming.
"Cora, wait-"
"Paul, I really don't have the energy right now. I'll see you later." She breathed out, leaning up to kiss his cheek before climbing into her car. She wanted to see Jasper but the impending argument she was going to have with Edward was less than attractive.
"Awh what Bella do this time? Ya try to walk and chew gum at the same time?" Cora caught Emmet's laugh as she plopped herself down on the couch in between Rose and Kiera.
"Yeah, if only." She grumbled, resting her head on the blonde's shoulder.
"Yeah, I uh, punched a werewolf in the face," Bella said as Carlise wrapped her wrist.
"Badass. You're gonna be one tough little newborn." Emmet said and Cora felt Rose tense beside her.
"Tough enough to take you on." Cora frowned as Rose tossed her paper aside and stood up from the couch, quickly making her way out of the room. Cora and Keira shared a disappointed look with one another as the smaller of the two stood.
"Don't worry about her," Emmet said, lightly tapping Bella on the arm.
"Yeah, don't worry about upsetting Rose," Cora said sarcastically, smacking Emmet on the back of his head as she stood, leaning against the doorway to the den.
"Cora, don't even start," Edward said, his face contorted into discomfort and disgust.
"Edward, If you want to take it outside, we can take it outside, I don't mind a little physicality, in fact, I'm pushing for it." She said, propelling herself from the doorway to Edward's face, shoving him backward.
"You're supposed to keep her safe, not let some wolf lay his hands all over her."
"Does my forehead say 'Bella's Keeper'? Are you mental?! I did this as a favor to your sorry ass." She barked, making Edward chuckle ironically.
"Its my fault. I couldn't expect you to keep your head clear while Paul is around now can I." Cora's face fell and her eyes flashed.
"What. Did. You. Say?" She said through clenched teeth, debating on whether or not to toss him through the window or into the ceiling. Suddenly a wave washed over her and her eyes went back to their golden hue. She blinked over and over trying to regain her sense of anger but it never came.
"Jasper, not fair!" She shouted, spinning on her heel to stare down her mate that smirked at her from her former place in the doorway.
"We shouldn't be at one another's throats right now of all times." Carlisle reasoned with his usual calm tone. Cora glanced back at Edward and crossed her arms with a small huff. She knew he was right but she wasn't going to apologize.
"Carlisle's right. We have to focus on the enemy. We are not the enemy." Jasper said, reaching out and hooking one of Cora's belt loops to tug her flush against him.
"That's a dirty trick." She mumbled, resting her cheek on his chest as he embraced her, calming her.
"Any leads?' Edward asked, shoving his hands in his front pockets, visibly calmer than he was moments earlier.
"No signs of the intruder but Victoria continues to make appearances," Jasper said as he ran his fingertips up and down Cora's back. She enjoyed the sensation but her mind was with Rose who had hurried out of the room and up the stairs moments earlier. She glanced to her sister and the two shared a knowing look.
"I'll go check on her."
"No, I will. Go see if Bastian is hungry, he and Alice have been at it all day. They probably need a break." Cora called as she headed for the stairs.
"Take Will with you!" She called just as Keira jumped from the landing down to the treeline. Rose was gazing out the kitchen balcony, gathering her thoughts. Cora knew she couldn't sneak up on her friend and her suspicions were confirmed as Rose turned her head slightly to the landing.
"I'm fine."
"No you're not." Cora chuckled, elbowing the blonde in the side playfully before leaning backward on the railing.
"What does it matter?" Rosalie chuckled ironically. Cora saw the pain in her eyes and her seemingly perpetual scowl. Cora understood though. If things were different, she would have voted no. Jasper, however, needed Bella to be changed more than anyone else and she would do anything for him.
"I know it sucks, alright? I'm right there with you."
"Are you, Cora? Because you seemed pretty happy for her when it came down to a vote." She snapped. Cora sighed and crossed her arms, shuffling through her words before replying.
"Rose, you know how difficult it is for Jas. Granted, if he did end up taking a bite out of her, I can't say I would be necessarily sad..." She trailed off, glancing to Rose to see if she had elicited a response. Rose chuckled a bit and Cora continued.
"But you know I would do anything for him. You think I don't look back like you do and dream of the life I could have had?" Rose became quiet and Cora could feel she was battling with herself.
"You've never...you never told me how you died..." She was right. Rose had told her the night that their family had dinner but she never gave her best friend her side. Cora smiled sadly and took an unneeded deep breath.
"Well, where to start..." Cora exhaled.
"I was a volunteer for the Red Cross during the war. I was supposed to be stationed at an Army hospital after nurse cadet school but the influx of soldiers was too much at the time." She explained, raking through where even to begin the tale.
"I was taking care of this man who was beaten up pretty bad. A bomb went off and he broke so much he was in a full-body cast for a while. I remember helping him up one day and he asked me on a date, it was the silliest thing. I thought 'Now why is this man so hell-bent on going on when he can't even use the bathroom by himself?'" She chuckled as his face flashed through her memory.
"Well, I ended up back in college after the war and he was out of my brain. That is until I came out of class one day and the most handsome man I had ever seen, dressed in his army blues was waiting out front. He asked me out right then and there and I never looked back. James Lockkond was the most charming gentleman I had ever met. You know the type." Cora said reluctantly and Rose nodded. She had her fair share of experience with charming southern men, unfortunately.
"Well he got called up again and I cried and cried for months. Before he left he asked me to marry him and I said yes on the condition he had to come home to me..." She trailed off as more memories flooded her brain.
"I got a knock on my door about a month later saying he was killed in a friendly fire incident. I lost it...I drank away the pain and one night I ran out of bourbon so I got in my car and I drove off a bridge on my way to the store. I was so mad at Daniel and Carina for finding me over that bridge and bringing me back. I was mad at them for years until we found Sebastian and I finally had something that was mine. Something I could take care of since I was now bound to this eternally perfect body with no hope of age or children...I think that's the part that hurts the most." She chuckled ironically. Rose reached out and placed her hand on Cora's shoulder.
"I had no id-"
"Don't apologize. Please. I'm fine, now, obviously. I guess it's taught me, if anything, that people should get to choose. Bella should get to choose like I didn't." She said finally just as Bella's scent hit them both in the face.
"Be nice," Cora muttered.
"I didn't mean to interrupt anything." Bella stammered and Cora waved her off.
NOTE: Ha! Bet ya'll thought I forgot. I didn't. Here's a drabble.
"I was just leaving. Don't mind me." She said, slinking out and leaving Rosalie with the potential newborn.
