Hi Ya'll!

Admit it, you thought I disappeared. Fooled ya! I promised I'd finish it, didn't I?

;)

Lord knows you've waited long enough for this. I hope it's worth the wait. I'm just trying to get my feet wet again. Three more chapters after this one, but I needed some fluff. They are going to be long too, lots of ground to cover.

A FEW THINGS:

We are pretending like the Cullens have never met Renee before, because in my version of the first/second books of twilight, she doesn't come to Forks after the James stuff (Bella's injuries are different, for obvious reasons), and this series goes completely AU and off the rails after New Moon. To be clear: Renee still comes to Forks in New Moon to break Bella out of her depression, but...ya know...the Cullens aren't there, 'cause Edward decided to be an idiot and drag his family off to god knows where so he could avoid Bella.

This chapter is an interlude to show the passage of time and Bella's new closeness with the Cullens before the end. I wanted to shine the light on Renee and emphasize family bonds a little bit.

Events are being edited in the finale, coming together well now that I took a mo to think over it. I can't wait.

Pg-13/R ish? Some not-quite smut: really tame, actually, especially by my standards.

There's also philosophy and lots of monologuing. You have been warned.

The music is MUCH less prominent in this chapter, because it takes place in the mortal world and there is very little magick. I encourage you to listen to the songs anyway.

LINKS:

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Read and Review please!

To my new followers: Hi! Welcome!

To my old ones: So. Much. Love.

Cups (Pitch Perfect)

"You've got to be kidding me. You want me to visit my mother? Now? Oh, this had better be good."

Marcos had piqued her curiosity when he pulled her aside to talk after breakfast, seeming nervous and resigned, and now Bella could see why. There was no way she was leaving Havana unprotected and taking off to placate her momwhen Camp's safety was on a knife's edge.

"Me and Kay drew straws for who would get to tell you. See, your mom decided to move to Mexico with Phil last month."

"Yeah, I know. She was practically hyperventilating on the phone. You know how my mom is, and Phil got signed to manage a team down there."

"That's the Spellman's wheelhouse, and our relationship with them is better since Lizzie and Alex stepped up to take on their rights as heirs, but still on shaky ground. You know that Demetri's corruption caused a lot of tension."

She sighed. She was hardly going to condemn the entire Spellman bloodline for the actions of a few of their kin, but there was no denying that she couldn't be sure of their loyalty. Demetri had been a very prominent and powerful Spellman, with a great deal of influence, and some of his line was hesitant to call him a villain no matter how terrible his crimes.

"If Renee is going to stay there for any length of time, I want to ensure her guards will be welcome. No need to cause trouble or stir up tension by insulting them. Showing them a good time will strengthen our ties with them, and you can hang out with your mom and relax a little. It's a win-win."

Bella's objections were loud in her head, but she found herself nodding along with him. The preparations for the celebration that honored the Cullen bloodline were well underway, and all was forebodingly quiet on the warfront for the moment; honestly speaking, she was in the rare position of being redundant in Camp for once. She didn't want to leave, but there really wouldn't be a better time to visit the Spellman court, and she missed Renee.

"Damn it, Marcos. I hate it when you're right. Fine. I want a telepathic link with you though, and I'm splitting the girls in the Core between the battlegrounds and Camp. I'll need to see through someone's eyes if there is a problem; and you're in command, so I can't use yours. Damn, when did we all get so high and mighty? I sort of miss being invisible."

"Believe me: me too. Enjoy yourself, and please don't find any trouble: well, other than the Renee kind. Carlos' daughters are psychos."

"Do my best." Bella gave Marcos a warm hug and kissed his forehead with a golden glow to establish their mental link. She spent the next hour wrapping up official business, then headed up to the attic to pack.

Carlisle and Esme were relaxing on the futon when she came in, while Emmett and Jasper busied themselves attempting to cast their first spells. Bella laughed as Emmett's excited cries of "Forbearne! Brisnger!" reached her.

"Brother bear, I really wouldn't recommend starting with anything fire related. Be patient! Start a little smaller. Try an earth spell, you seem the type to me."

Since the Cullens had been chosen by the magicks, it seemed that every Fae in Camp wanted to see what they could do, if they would express affinities in the traditional sense. The result had been a training regimen drawn up by a strange coalition of librarians, seers, and military trainers. Each Cullen had eagerly agreed to try, despite Bella's warnings that Fae knew nothing about vampires and they shouldn't get their hopes up.

"Where are the girls and Edward?"

"I think Rosalie and Edward are studying in the library, and Jo and Rockabye dragged Alice away for seer-related business." Jasper complained, pouting at the distance from his wife.

About two weeks had passed since Josephat had apologized for his mistakes trying to keep Rockabye away from Bella, and Bella still couldn't quite bring herself to go longer than a day away from the child. The Cullens all adored her. Rockabye had become a fixture in the attic every evening, and Bella had never seen Josephat as soft as he was around the girl. She would be the most loved child in the world. Even Marcos loved to spend time playing with her, though Kaedra was more interested in Rockabye's amazing sight.

The same day that Josephat had said his apology, Carlisle had pulled her aside to have a frank discussion about his rejection of her and Edward, and Bella's worries about Carlisle's control and self-righteousness. Her father had apologized, and she could tell he meant it. The whole day was surreal for her, before that she could count on one hand the number of people who had said sorry to her in her life. Somehow, her respect for Carlisle had grown even more through the whole disagreement. It was a wise man who could acknowledge his mistakes and vow honestly to never repeat them.

Maybe she wasn't the only one in need of a break.

"Hey, so Marcos is sending me to Mexico with my mom this weekend, if you guys want to come? You could meet Renee, though you may wish you hadn't. Renee is...eccentric."

"Your mother?" Esme perked up suddenly. She had always been desperately curious about Renee.

Carlisle mused thoughtfully, "I have actually been needing to tend to some business outside of Havana. I would certainly like to accompany you, though we shall have to check the weather."

"If you think we're going to let you go find trouble off on your own for two whole days, you're crazy. You'd kickstart the rapture." Emmett snarked.

"Hey!" Bella stuck her tongue out at him and adressed her vampire father. "Magick, Carlisle. I have arranged for Vera Cruz to experience a set of unusually cloudy days."

"Thank you, dear. I will arrange for our airline travel; it is the least I can do."

"Wow, awesome! Family vacation, yay! You guys should pack something fancy to wear, I need to attend a ball at the Spellman compound. I better go tell the others."

Edward had been absolutely thrilled when Bella told him they were taking off for a few days, even with the slight political obligations of the trip; and when she drew him aside to explain that the Spellman villas were small separate cottages with a shared courtyard that would provide lots of opportunity for private encounters, his eyes had darkened with promise that made her shiver. Rosalie and Alice had promptly whisked her off to go shopping before she could do anything about it.

Liability

Now, Bella and the Cullens were boarding an airplane to Mexico City, where they would meet up with Renee and Phil, and Bella felt a spike of excitement at seeing her mom again. Renee was sure to mention how Bella brought home strays every time she visited; inviting a whole family was new, even for her.

Her mother was a gypsy woman with a free spirit, and Bella had once loved to spend time tagging along with her frequent spontaneous adventures. Renee was also a teensy bit psychic, for a mortal; and had an open mind about most things. Bella was already looking forward to the Cullens' impressions of her. Fortunately, her mom was also very good at ignoring things that didn't make logical sense. Her selective blindness about the supernatural was the only flaw in her mother's perceptiveness, and it was wildly convenient. Sometimes, Bella wondered how much her mom actually saw of her secrets. She should probably monitor her mom's aura for anything...suspicious. Not that it wouldn't be a pleasure to do so, her mom's aura was the most beautiful one she had seen on a normal human. It had been a very long time since she had seen her mother under good circumstances, and an adventure was long overdue.

Her musing was interrupted as she took her seat in first class next to Edward, with Carlisle and Esme across the aisle.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Edward inquired, and Bella smiled nostalgically at him.

"Nothing exciting, just looking forward to you all meeting my mom. I wonder what you will think of her."

Esme enquired eagerly around the stream of people waiting to sit down, "You don't talk about Renee much, and when you do, it just makes me more curious. What's she like?"

"Oh, well Renee is really special. She's easygoing and incredibly intuitive. She can read people's character like an open book, but tends to use that skill in the kindest way possible. She's tons of fun, Fiore adored her. I loved my summers with her, but visiting my mom is always kind of like Christmas. It's fun for a while, but not all the time. Before she found Phil, she was really hard to manage. I remember always worrying the bills wouldn't get paid while I was at school. She's a great friend. Sort of an awful mom, but a great friend."

Edward blinked. "You brought Fiore and Adeline to meet your mom?"

"We spent almost every summer at my house in Pheonix, and you would not believe the amount of trouble we could get up to. Renee was always really good about it. Well, except for the time the police brought the three of us home for indecent exposure. That is top spot in my "embarrassing moments" list. She had missed a fair amount about the nature of our relationship, and I thought we'd given her a heart attack. She grounded all three of us. Adeline laughed and laughed about it, she didn't even care about the punishment. Addy's parents died as she was born, she was thrilled Renee had semi-adopted her."

Edward's eyes went wide, he was scandalized. "Indecent Exposure?"

"It wasn't like it sounds; it's a very long story. Even then, Renee got bored with playing stern parent and we ended up with the four of us driving to Santa Fe, two days later."

The drink cart came by, and Bella went quiet, smiling at the stewardess as she requested a cup of coffee. Edward decided not to glare at her, and she rewarded him with a quick kiss before she took a sip, careful not to spill on her lovely long-sleeved white dress.

Edward took the chance to take in his family, tasting for their thoughts.

His father was feeling curious beyond compare and lustful for knowledge of his daughter: he felt strangely possessive. Carlisle wanted to know everything he had missed in Bella's life, every story that took place before they met her, with an almost alarming hunger. Below that, he was also shamefully envious, wondering if his family was second-tier to Bella's first one, the one that had been stolen from her.

Esme was sad and happy all at once. She was glad that Bella had a good influence in her childhood and a break from her duties, but mourned that Bella already had a mother.

Jasper and Alice were wondering what it must have been like, keeping so much of yourself hidden, even so young. Jasper could relate and his trust in Bella grew. He knew secrets could kill you with loneliness and realized that Bella was as affected by her secret-life as he was by his. Alice was wondering whether it was better to have love and loss in her memories, or not to have them at all.

Rosalie was more struck by Bella's easy manner of talking, like a dam had broken and Bella could be open with them. She was thankful that her sister was able to share this piece of her history with them easily, for once, and the child in her relished Bella's storytelling. Emmett surprised him.

Emmett thankfully decided to save that little jewel about the police for later, even though his curiosity was killing him. Instead, he took a moment to guiltily thank God that Bella had found cause to move to Forks, and found himself trying hard not to imagine how boring things would be without her; how distant his family would still be from him, how Edward would never have become whole.

Edward shuddered at his thoughts, tense with expectation when his usually-playful brother asked from the seat behind them: "Why did you move away then?"

"Well, things changed after I came home from the hospital. I couldn't..." Regret crossed Bella's face, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Everything in that damn house reminded me of the good times us three had in Pheonix. I knew the Master would come for me, that Tomas and Demetri still lived, that things were far from over. I was terrified, hypervigilant. I couldn't decide what to do, couldn't see a way out where the people I loved didn't get hurt. I could barely keep it together enough to keep from blowing up the house, and Mom didn't understand, not really. I didn't say anything when I was in the hospital, and then I couldn't say anything, no matter how hard I tried."

"I tried everything. There were whole journals in Pheonix, full of ink lines and gobbledygook. When I tried to type it, the laptop would fritz out. And speaking it was unthinkable: it hurt unbearably, in more ways than one. She didn't know why I wouldn't tell her what happened, begged me to trust her. She was mourning for Addy, and me too. She was busy, too, dealing with all the stupid shit mortals do after a trauma like that. It was like we were suddenly strangers."

"I made it a week home, before she tried to contact the school, to find out where Fiore was. We had a big fight and I left for Miami." She shrugged, like it didn't really matter, face blank. "I'm a liability to Renee. She's mortal, I'm not. I can't ask her to stand by my side when she doesn't even know what she's standing against. Even if she would, I won't ask."

Edward put an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him, her smile returning. "Of course, I guess I get a second chance. You know, Esme, we should really remodel the attic when we get back. We could have so much fun with it, and I'm sure we could arrange to add on a little."

Edward's mother fairly beamed at her, euphoric that Bella had made the connection from Renee to her so easily. "I would love that."

"Remarkable, really." observed Carlisle. "Bella, don't you ever feel embittered about your experiences?"

Edward stiffened slightly next to her, and Bella was suddenly struck with the feeling that her next words held weight. She decided to test the waters before she answered. "Carlisle? What do you mean?"

"I am often struck by how very unfair God has been to you. But you are so easy to forgive the cruelties of your circumstance, to move on and embrace us, even when doing so costs you greatly. And you were so quick to forgive us our nature and accept us, meet us where we are. It's like our family has waited for you for the whole of our existence, and it is rare for you to shy away from us. Your actions in the attic, when you were overwhelmed, were the exception instead of the rule. I wonder why that is, sometimes."

"Damn, you guys really like to ask hard questions." Bella shrugged, relieved that this was a doubt she could address and anxious to assure him that his family was precious. "I dunno, I suppose that's in a large part due to my training at the School. Indecision was one of the first things to fall to my training, and Aphroditus used to say there was no such thing as a personal royal drama. Because of my blood, every move I make is important, and affects a lot of people. I've learned to weigh the cost, to be very intentional about my choices and how I choose to lead, and love. It didn't seem fair to judge you all for your nature, and once I decided to love Edward anyway, it was natural to follow through. I didn't expect you would mean so much, though. I would've run for the hills, if I had known how you guys would change everything."

"After." Bella paused to swallow roughly; but kept going, "I was angry at what I had lost for a long time, in no shape to lead anybody. I blamed God, blamed myself, always looking out for people's dark side. But Marcos was really good about teaching me to let go, to accept people who loved me and look past the darkness in them. He sees the dark in people too, saw the dark in me. He taught me to celebrate that we fight it, instead of condemning us for it. He wanted me to enjoy the blessings in my life, and he was always by my side when I felt like I was drowning, one of the first people to love me no matter how much I pushed him away. Marcos is nothing if not fierce in everything he does, and he pushes for righteousness with himself, expects it from those around him. He is a true warrior, a seeker of justice. He represents the spirit of my people to me, and I couldn't help but count him as precious.

"Kaedra too: even with all our history together, all the parallels in our lives. She taught me to be proud, to be strong. Kay is one of the kindest people I know and gifted with a fierce will all her own. She took me under her wing before she had any concept of who I was: she wanted to help me simply for the fact that I was hurting, and she could. She taught me that a queen must live for her people with all she is, all her heart and in whatever way she can: no matter what. Sometimes, she taught me that best when she was trying to tell me the opposite. "

"They wormed their way into becoming people I cared about without me really noticing, became my people. It's a very possessive feeling. When I came to Forks, I was fully prepared to embrace becoming an echo of a person so I could maintain my defenses. I knew that I would be losing a lot; but I also knew I couldn't take any more goodbyes. The tension was incredible."

"Then, somehow, despite all the secrets that stood between me and your family, every one of you were counted as my people. From the moment I laid eyes on you, you were precious, something unique and amazing to be protected at all costs."

"After Edward saved my life from the van, I was dying of curiosity. The mortal world can be dull, when you're used to Havana. I was intrigued by the mystery of your nature, but soon I was more focused on who you were, over what you were. I think you underestimate the quality of your families' character. It was easy to see that each of you weigh your choices carefully. That's rare."

"That doesn't mean I didn't once dream of things being different, or that I was always so Zen. When I was young, my loneliness killed me. I felt isolated and alone, all the time. I dreamed of a family: that's one of the things that Fiore and Adeline and I shared. Addy was an orphan, and Fio's parents were just awful, very traditional and suffocating. My parents were both mortal. Sure, we were living a life of glamour, but also one of loneliness, duty, and expectation. It helped that Fae have always seen leadership for the burden it is, and sought to equip their leaders properly from a young age. That's one of the reasons a monarchy works for us. We also learned the hard way that burdens are to be shared with one another."

"When us royal three found each other, we knew immediately that we had found acceptance, a place to lay our heads. I felt the same sensation when I met your family, it was like walking in the front door of my own house. You have no idea how freaked out I was, when Edward brought me over. I thought I was going to have a panic attack at any moment. Thank god my magick was bound, or that whole day would have gone very differently.

"You are all my own personal miracle, the realization of a dream that had been shattered with Fio and buried with Addy. This is my second chance at a place to belong. It makes it hard to be bitter when every day is spent surrounded by angels."

"You and Esme are the closest things to real parents I've ever known, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Charlie and Renee missed out on most all my life: between the divorce, the binding, and the magickal stuff, I don't remember a time when our relationships weren't stilted. Aphroditus was a good mentor at first, but he couldn't see anything properly past himself even before he decided we were too much trouble." Bella ducked her head, suddenly shy as a man got up to use the bathroom. "Truly, I am a liability for your family too, but you don't seem to mind much. It's baffling how much you guys have always honored my choices and sought to understand them, how much you and your kin actively choose to love in action and truth. "

"It was a little intimidating having all my barriers crumble so easily, discovering that you guys were the exception to every rule I had made to protect myself. It's one of the reasons I freaked out on you all after Tomas attacked Forks. You got too close; I knew I cared too much."

"And in the attic, it was just...because of the binding, I couldn't love you as you loved me, as you deserve to be loved. It was heartbreaking and lonely; like something wonderful just out of reach, another thing that had been stolen before I even thought to be grateful for it. Still, somewhere along the way I guess I decided just to love you all as best I knew how, no matter how hard or complicated it gets, for as long as I can. I've been waiting for you, too. You're my family."

After her impromptu speech, Carlisle beamed at her and Bella smiled shyly back.

Edward was wonderstruck for a moment at how Bella had addressed his family's fears head-on, even unknowing of their thoughts. Then, he found himself frowning at her, struck by something off about her words. "You aren't a liability, Bella."

"Um, yes, I really am. I come with baggage, not to even mention the crown. I know you guys don't think so, believe me I know. It's still weird if I think about it too long, how much you know about me and still you're here. But it's also really addicting: you all care so damn much. You guys are the first time I've ever really felt like I'm known, accepted. For the longest time, I waited for you to find something you didn't like about me and walk away, permanently. But none of you have. I'm starting to wonder if you ever will. It's an adjustment. Nosy vampires."

Alice smiled softly at her sister. "Trouble-making Fae."

They all laughed softly, and Bella cuddled into Edward's side for a few minutes, flipping through her library book on Fae folklore absently. The flight from Miami to Mexico City was about four hours long, and Bella was very proud of herself for ordering a new gaming console for Emmett before they left, to keep him occupied.

"Bella, what are the Spellman's like?" Jasper asked, taking advantage of Bella's talkative mood, but aware the subject may be sensitive.

"Um. Well, if you think our family is complicated, you have no idea. Their line is by far the largest, lots of cousins and whatnot. I don't see how their head-of-family, Carlos, deals with all the drama. He had three kids: Demetri was the oldest, the only child of his wife. The twins, Mayra and Amalure, are still young. They were born almost twenty years after Demetri, to a mortal mistress. It was a huge scandal, and Demetri was very angry with Carlos about it, even though he tried to love his sisters."

"When Demetri fell to the Master's call, Mayra was quick to follow him. She's dangerous and twisted, addicted to the Dark. But Amalure condemns her brother and sister's depraved lifestyle, seeks to understand both sides. Though she grieves Demetri, she knows he made poor choices and is grateful that he was killed with restored honor: which he earned by showing remorse and accepting my judgement. She fears for her sister's future: for the consequences of the choices she is making, the intentions of Mayra's...um... business associates."

Bella paused for a moment, something dark and angry in her expression. She held up her hand when she saw Jasper's open mouth. "Don't ask."

"Mayra and Amalure are both exceptionally gifted in their affinities, and as twins, they complement each other. Mayra holds affinities in air and earth, and Amalure in fire and water. They can use each other's affinities, read each other's minds. But they're always picking fights and tend to drive each other to new heights of crazy. The twins are skilled enough to escape the constant conflicts, but the soldiers in their charge are not often so lucky, and neither are the mortals they associate with. It's troublesome. I haven't decided how to fix it yet. "

"Carlos' wife is a peace-loving woman, and Demetri's sickness destroyed his family in a lot of ways. Even still, Carlos can't bring himself to forgive me for killing his son, no matter my reasons. No one had the slightest clue what he would do about it until Lizzie married Alex, which forced him to formally name an heir to the line or Lizzie would become heiress by default. He chose Amalure. Mayra ran off after the announcement, and no one has heard from her since."

"I feel for Carlos, he tries to be a good man. He's inherited a lot of mistakes and made a few more of his own, but he learns from them. He doesn't deserve his troubles, and I won't add to them by insulting his line. Besides, the Spellmans throw amazing parties, and are always welcoming and classy. If Mayra stays away, it should be fine."

"We'll check in with them before dinner with my mom and Phil tonight. Tomorrow we can play tourist, and party all night. We'll be back in Camp before you know it."

Rosalie smiled at Bella, and popped off in Spanish, "Well, sounds like a stressful party, at best. Let's go show our girl a good time before she has to endure it. Edward, if Bella pays for a damn thing on this trip, I'll kill you."

"Our girl? I'm flattered. I'll race you to the cash register, Rosalie."

Bella spoke Spanish? Alice laughed excitedly. "Good thing vampires are fast."

Bella just pouted at her sisters and buried her head in Edward's chest. Stupid Vampires.

Just like Fire

When they finally got through the gate in Mexico City, Esme spotted Renee before Bella did. The tan, auburn-haired woman with hazel eyes was in a red sundress covered in sunflowers. She was bouncing excitedly on the other side of baggage claim, looking for all the world like a child presented with a new puppy. A jovial man in a baseball hat stood next to her, looking pleased but long-suffering.

She nudged at Bella and pointed the couple out to her, just as Renee looked their way. When Bella met her mother's eyes across the terminal, she shouted excitedly and threw her duffel on the floor, running to the woman and leaping into her embrace.

"Renee!"

"Hello, starshine! My god, you've grown. And your hair! I love it." Renee laughed and spun Bella in her arms, fairly beaming.

The Cullens approached cautiously, but relaxed when Phil met Carlisle with a strong handshake. "Well, Renee, you did say she brought strays home. I wasn't expecting a whole pack, though. I could make a baseball team out of you guys!" Phil was eying Emmett's muscles, clapping Jasper on the shoulder in welcome.

Edward caught up to the group after swinging Bella's duffel onto his opposite shoulder.

"Ah, and you must be the boyfriend." Renee eyeballed Edward, suddenly serious and assessing.

Edward greeted her warmly, feeling a bit like a cell under a microscope.

After a moment, Renee broke into a wide smile. "I knew it! I knew he was a gentleman! You're simply delicious, darling! Bella tells me you play piano?"

"Mo-om. Chill out for two seconds. I can see your tail wagging."

Esme watched, surprised, as Renee seemed to calm herself slightly, glancing at her daughter apologetically.

"Sorry. It's just...well, it's very good to meet you, that's all." Happy tears were in the exuberant woman's eyes as they met Esme's, and Renee beamed at her and Carlisle, who raised his eyebrows as she met his eyes. She swiped at her cheeks hurriedly before she turned back to Bella.

"So, bright one, you must be starving. Phil made reservations at Coni, but we can eat anywhere you like. Catemaco has amazing beaches on the lakefront, and their roadside seafood is delicious."

"Sounds great! I've been dying to see the lake. Me and the Cullens just need to check in at the villas, then we can head out. How's the team, Phil?"

"I'll whip 'em into shape in no time, if I can remember how to speak their language."

Renee suddenly clapped her hands together, looking back at the Cullens.

"I have an idea! What if we throw a bonfire instead of going to dinner? We could do smores and swim in the moonlight! Well, as long as it doesn't rain. Honestly, it's been so cloudy today, it's never rainy this time of year."

"Now that is a plan. Do any of you guys know how to drive a boat?"

The boys nodded their heads eagerly, and Alice squealed while trying to glare at Rosalie.

"Yes! I still owe Rosalie a good dunking from when we went swimming in the river."

A taxi swung into the baggage claim bay. "Well, we'll see you guys soon! It's so good to meet you all; Bella, behave. I will be very upset if you disappear."

"Not this time, mom. It's been too long since we've had an adventure, and the Cullens keep a good eye on me."

"Uh-huh. I've known them for two seconds, and I can see you've got them wrapped around your finger. No adventures without me, Bella. I mean it. Love you baby, be safe."

Renee got in the taxi with Phil, and Esme was left feeling a little like she had just been set down after flying through a tornado. Bella turned to face them, laughing as she took in their shocked faces.

"Yup, that's Renee. Don't be surprised if she knows your social security number and darkest secrets later, it's just how she is."

"Her thoughts were going a hundred miles an hour. She might be slightly psychic, she picked up on our odd family dynamic the second she saw us. Well, this certainly won't be boring. Doesn't anyone in your family think like a normal human?"

"Or react like one? She was euphoric, almost no instinct to run away. The only thing I felt from her were welcoming and excited emotions. She was almost overwhelmed with joy."

Bella giggled as they headed to the fancy SUV waiting for them. "Trust me, if you're looking for boring, you won't find it with Renee. Get all your relaxing in at the villa, there won't be much calm at the beach tonight. I have a surprise for you, Rosalie. I think you'll like it."

"Me? Cool!" Rosalie flipped her hair as she scooted over to make room for Bella in the car. Alice followed Bella. "Wow, Bella, high-life much? We'll get spoiled, all this decadence. Aren't we supposed to avoid attention?"

"Alice, honey, I am Royalty. Believe me, this is as low-profile as it gets. I had to convince Marcos to let me leave the guards behind. There are some perks to being in charge."

Emmett finally succeeded in talking Bella into playing video games with him in the car, and Edward relished the sound of Bella's laughter all the way to the Spellman compound just outside of Catemaco, a sudden green wildness bursting from flat desert landscape. The group was greeted by the enchanting Amalure, a beautiful young teen with bright flowers braided into her hair and a traditional outfit, who greeted them warmly and bowed low to Bella.

The gated compound was a stunning Spanish-style mansion in cream colored adobe and dramatic lighting; with a vivid courtyard lined with small adobe casitas, large enough for two people. Children and distant relatives filled the courtyard, all of them dressed in traditional Mexican dress for the occasion. The compound was bursting with unnaturally bright colors, and the general vividness of the place lent it a magical air despite the lack of blatant spell work. They soon separated into their base couples and entered the lavish adobe casitas the bloodline maintained for guests, Amalure chatting with Bella about the upcoming party excitedly as she led them to their accommodations.

Edward waited impatiently for Bella's obligations of greeting to end, busying himself unpacking their suitcases and practically vibrating in the beautiful rust-red bedroom that took up half of their little cottage, thanking the Lord above that each couple had their own little house, separated by enough space that privacy was assured. Two weeks was a long time to go without privacy when Bella slept in the same bed as him every night, and he was starting to suspect his family was intentionally interrupting any alone-time he and Bella had managed to find.

The moment Bella closed the door behind her, he swept her up and practically threw her on the large bed.

"Are you tired from travelling? Do you need to eat?"

"Edward, the only thing I need right now is for you to stop asking stupid questions and get over here. I can think of all sorts of uses for your mouth right now, and none of them involve talking. We haven't had vacation sex before, and that's just criminal. I swear to God, I will kill anyone who interrupts us."

Edward thought about snarking at her, but instead just growled as he pounced, relishing the way Bella's surprised laughter made her warm body shudder against his.

The Archer

After Bella was left panting, gasping with laughter through her orgasm and breathless from the exertion of the fairly acrobatic activity, Edward allowed his weight to collapse half on top of her and clutched her close. God, had he ever been this happy? He would never want anything more than this.

His attention shifted back to his lover when she tensed at the echo of his thought, clutching at his shoulders and pulling herself closer.

"Bella?"

"I love you, Edward." Bella had slight tears in her voice, but he could feel her smile against his shoulder, and she lightly bit at him.

He turned on his side and pulled her close, tangling their legs together but leaning back so he could take in her face. The movement did interesting things to where their hips connected, but when Bella rolled her pelvis toward him gently, Edward couldn't help but notice that her face was still turned from him, hidden beneath her hair. He stilled her movement and reached to brush her hair from her eyes. He was surprised when she flinched slightly as her tear-stained face was revealed.

"Bella? Talk to me, love."

He felt her gold flare in his mind, echoes of panic at being discovered fading to a soft acceptance and resolve, love deepening to a bottomless ocean.

"Edward, I don't want anything else, either. Ever. Edward, I... look: when Carlisle asked me if I've ever been embittered by my circumstance, I wasn't entirely honest with him. There is one circumstance in my life that drags me into the darkness every time I think about it too hard. It's the ending."

Edward stiffened slightly. If he thought about the end of Bella's life for too long, he found it very difficult to keep from destroying things.

"Not just the big ending, though that's part of it. It's all the little ones I've endured. I've had to say goodbye so many times, to so many precious people. Edward, I don't want to say goodbye to you. Ever. It would destroy me, no matter what the reason for it. I don't care what's on the other-side. I don't care what happens after we part from each other. I'll never want anything but you. And, well, the thing is: I could become immortal, Edward. There are all sorts of magicks about it, even excluding vampiric ones. The fire's blessing isn't the only path to eternity, though it is certainly the most powerful one. But I can't make a decision like that alone. I can't, I couldn't bear...Edward, love, I can't explain to you how it was when you left, or the moment Alice told me you were going to Italy. You can't go. I don't ever want to exist without you by my side. Sometimes, I hate the fact that we have to interact at all with the outside world. Don't force me to go on without you, okay?" her voice turned whisper soft. "I have fought what seems my entire life to be whole, to maintain my freedom of spirit from the Master's darkness. But losing you would break me, shatter me so thoroughly I could never be whole again. It frightens me."

Everything in Edward demanded he comfort his lover, but he had to be honest with her. Her death, her absence; they frightened him too, but there was something darker, something more sinister holding him back from eternity with his lover: a sacrifice he wanted from her, though he had no right to ask. He flooded her mind with scarlet, begging her to understand his meaning.

"Bella. My Bella. What if Fiore and Adeline are waiting for you, over there? I can't take that from you."

Tears began to pool once more in Bella's eyes, and she kissed him gently, almost sadly. "I love them, Edward. Always." She took a deep and shaky breath, squared her shoulders and met his eyes. "But what we had? It's ruined, Edward. It's been a long time since I said goodbye to them, and to the dream we built together. Too long. It's like...it's like a protective circle. I will never let go of them, never let them fall or be forgotten. But I'm not in love with them anymore. That ended when Addy died, when the Master killed her while wearing Fiore's face. Ceremony or no ceremony, they were my Chosen. But I'm not the same person I was when I was with them."

"Now, I'm the girl who loves you. I pray for them every moment of every day, that they are together and happy. But I'm happy here, with you. I wouldn't change it, not even for them. I can't lose it, can't give it up, even though I should. You can't take it from me, Edward. I'll do anything. No one can take this happiness away, please." Bella was gasping, tears streaming gently down her face as she clutched at him, pulled him closer, ever closer. She was almost begging as she buried her head over his unbeating heart. "Not even you, Edward. I don't think I can give that to you, lover. Please, don't leave. Don't ask me to go away. Promise me."

Edward wished for his own tears, but he tasted Bella's instead; before he bore her gently to the bed, whispering his acceptance and his never-ending love into her ear. He responded to his Bella's plea by making an unbreakable vow- a promise of eternity. His soul found peace in his decision, and he spent the next hour proving that he would never leave her alone, ever again. Bella had been right: afterglow was amazing.

Soon enough, Edward helped Bella zip up her long sleeve- wetsuit, mourning the covered skin even as he appreciated the high cut of the suit and the see-through pink scarf serving to cover Bella's long legs.

Emmett drove the Hummer that had been left in the courtyard for their use, bouncing along on the sand at the mostly-abandoned beach. When Jasper and Alice got out to unload, slightly ahead of the main group, Emmett spun the tires with a huge grin on his face and spoke over Alice and Jasper's sputters.

"You know, this is a really nice car, Carlisle."

"Don't even, Emmett. No more cars. They don't even use them in Havana. Go apologize, please."

A mischievous grin was splitting Bella's face, but before she could speak, Renee was coming across the sand towards them, calling out, "Well, you guys know how to make an entrance! It's like watching supermodels arrive for a photoshoot."

Bella linked arms with Esme and her mother before either could react, pulling them away from where Phil and his brothers and sister were still unloading and towards the boat.

Carlisle, Alice, and Edward hung back a moment, and Carlisle simply looked at his son expectantly.

"She's very perceptive, and she notices more than is necessarily a good thing. But I don't think we have to worry. She's very determined to provide her daughter with a fun childhood and seems nothing but grateful for our presence in Bella's life. She wasn't sure Bella would ever bring home anymore "tag-alongs" after Adeline died. She knows she is an inconsistent presence in Bella's life, and relishes being able to provide an escape for her daughter. She won't do anything to complicate Bella's life, or ours, intentionally."

"Her future is clear as a bell. She's going to be fine, but I'll keep an eye out. There's a spot that's a bit muddy in her near future, but I can see around it. She won't mention anything different about us."

Carlisle nodded at his gifted children and caught Jasper's half-nod in his direction. "Well then, no harm in letting loose a bit, but remember to get tired when they do." He grinned, playfully vampiric, and threw Alice over his shoulder, rushing her towards the water at fast human speed and throwing her in. Alice came up sputtering, and Emmett rushed towards them, already stripping off his shirt, though the sun still shone weakly through evening clouds. "Dad! Let's play superwoman!"

"No!" Alice cried, grinning. "I am not a football, Emmett!"

As Edward approached the bonfire next to the boat at the dock, he overheard Renee snark at Bella. "Well, I'm happy you look so relaxed and chipper, dear. That wouldn't have anything to do with a certain brooding hero, would it? Should I buy a police scanner?"

"Mom! Ohmygod, please no. Esme is sitting right here." Bella blushed all the way to her forehead, but Renee simply reached out and took his mother's hand from where it rested in her lap.

"Bright one, Esme is your mother too. It's written all over her. Now, tell us, do you have any questions? Are you being safe?"

Bella shot him a panicked look, but Edward immediately changed tack, turning to head towards where his father and brothers were wrestling in the water. He could make a good impression on Renee later; it wouldn't do to save Bella from every spot of trouble she found. She was a Queen; she could handle it. "Bright one", indeed.

The evening was carefree and fun, and Renee and Phil were gracious hosts and enjoyable company. Bella wore herself out swimming; and Edward was able to catch Emmett talking with Phil and force him to actually eat a smore as retribution for pushing him off the boat. He wanted to count the evening as a win.

But as Bella fell deeply asleep on the way back to the villa, Edward took in the subdued atmosphere that encompassed his family. He deliberately caught his mother's eye and reached out to stroke her arm above where her hand tangled tightly with his father's on the console.

Renee had pulled his mom and dad aside, stopping them as the group walked to their cars. Edward had been distracted as he manhandled a half-asleep Bella into his lap in the backseat, with Jasper helping so that they didn't appear inhuman.

Renee was suddenly focused, serious, and projected an air of warning. Every vampire held their breath as their instincts pushed at them, their full attention drawn to Bella's human mother as the air around her grew almost supernaturally threatening. She addressed Esme with calm and measured words, holding his mother's gaze with her own.

"You know, the last time I saw my little star, she was nearly comatose. Turns out she had fallen in love with this boy, and really cared for his family. Then they just up and disappeared, leaving her behind. She was so thin that I could twine two fingers around her wrist and count every rib. She didn't even recognize me through the delirium at first: she called me by your name."

"Imagine that for me, Esme: your daughter, the life that you carried inside your belly and brought into this world, is so weak that she can barely move, and she calls you by another woman's name; a woman you've never even met. That very same woman who left her to face her demons alone."

Renee's voice grew softer and began to shake; she suddenly looked old and weak. She looked away from Esme, and Carlisle put a hand on her shoulder. "The time before that? That time, she came home barely alive, traumatized beyond reason or help. The boy-star was gone without a trace, and she shared no clear explanation for what happened, for who did that to my baby girls. She was saying goodbye from the moment she saw me, screaming it with every action, and without even telling me why."

"I can still hear the doctors telling me to come to the hospital on the phone, still remember the nasty accusations of the social worker that I had to speak with before they would let me see her. If I focus, I can hear that strange doctor: the only one Bella would allow to treat her after the surgery. I can still feel the fury that raced through my veins as he demanded to run a rape kit regardless of my opinion on the matter; at the calm in his voice when he threatened to remove Bella from my custody."

"Sometimes, when it's really bad, I can still hear the echoes of my starshine-girl screaming down the tile hallway for hours on end, the way her voice sounded as she begged in the middle of the night for the pain to stop. If I close my eyes, I can see her struggle and fight when the nurses had to sedate her so she wouldn't hurt herself, how helplessly furious it made me, and the strange, sickening pride that my baby was a survivor: that she still fought."

Her shoulders bowed as though under a heavy load, a woman stripped bare by her own confession, and she shrugged off his father's hand. "I will always carry the regret for the way I reacted, the way I spoke to her, that night before she left. It was a miracle when I heard her voice on the phone, when she called me a long time later and told me she was moving to Forks." Steeling herself once more, Renee carried on, her voice stronger now.

She raised her chin proudly and pinned Esme with the force of her charismatic gaze.

"You see, Esme, that's my little girl. I've always known Bella has secrets, things she can't tell me and things she won't. I don't know much about the specifics of her life, but I have a feeling she has trusted you with that. I won't say I'm not jealous, but I won't ask questions when I know the answers will be lies."

"I know this, though: Bella is special, a wild thing and a wise old crone all at once. I have had the privilege of watching her grow into a beautiful young woman, snapshot by snapshot. As much as I treasure my daughter, I am not a mother to her. But I always prayed for her to have a real mom, and I knew I would recognize her true mother when she came along. I accepted that a long time ago, and I always promised myself I would tell my daughter's mother something."

The air thickened as Renee reached into her beach bag and pulled out a slim scrapbook. With the fixed gaze of the entire Cullen family on her, she took a deep breath and handed the book to Esme, before her eyes grew unfocused. Each word was laced with heavy meaning when she launched into a speech that came out dripping with a mother's love. The words were as worn in her thoughts as the cover of the intricate handmade photo album.

"Bella likes Doritos and bologna sandwiches on white bread, but only when she's sick or tired. If you can't get her to eat anything, she'll usually eat that. Watch out for her self-esteem, sometimes she projects more confidence than she feels. She can get in a quiet mood, but it's nothing personal, she gets it from her dad. "

"If she won't shower or get out of the bed, sing doo-op songs to her and cook French toast. The smell will get her down the stairs every time, though it's hit or miss if she'll eat it. "

"She hates yelling, so don't raise your voice at her or she'll cry and hide from you. Never leave her alone during a thunderstorm, even during the day: she hates them, has since she was a baby. She also hates like poison to sleep alone: if she has a nightmare, try curling up in the bed with her and running your fingers along her forearm. Not the scarred one, the other one. It helps, sometimes."

"Never let her eat pineapple, it makes her mouth itch and she always forgets about that until after she eats it. She'll complain constantly about it for days. Try to monitor her caffeine intake, it makes her hyper and she sleeps little enough as it is. Watch her, she'll try to sneak some coffee in. She gets that from me."

Renee's voice broke briefly, and the slim woman curled in on herself a little, a small and fond smile breaking cross her lips. She shifted her focus to Carlisle and began to rush her words, like she was pushing to get it all out.

"When she gets lost in a book, you're out of luck until she finishes it. She hates gifts, unless you make them. She'll accept a bought one easier if you make it sentimental in some way, or if it's something you can do together. Always leave her a note before you leave the house, or she'll freak herself out wondering where you've gone. If she freaks out for some reason, give her a small task to do. She likes to feel useful, and accomplishing something helps with her stress levels. She gets mischievous when she's bored, and if she ever gets arrested, I'm happy to post bail. My phone number is written inside the cover." She tapped the frayed cover of the photo album.

Her gaze shifted back to his mother and grew sharp and commanding, a sudden reminder of the threatening air that had colored the space around her. "Never let her forget I love her, and she can always come home."

Renee nodded decisively at his mother, fading to nothing more than a mortal human woman once more. "I think that's everything. You take care of her, Esme Cullen. Love her well, better than I have. I promise you'll never be bored. Mother to mother, don't you ever hurt my baby, again. You won't like me very much if you do."

Her face melted into a generous and sincere smile as she gave Esme and Carlisle warm hugs, ignoring their shocked faces and the obvious temperature difference determinedly. "You're family now, don't be strangers."

Renee had walked to Edward with singular focus, leaving his parents' still forms behind her. She leaned into the car and kissed Bella's cheek, smiling at her daughter's soft mumbles and as she pulled away from them she stroked Edward's cheek, nodding at him approvingly. She was perfectly aware that every Cullen had heard her conversation with his parents but was unembarrassed, meeting each one of their eyes.

Then, she had silently straightened her shoulders like Bella did when she was facing a challenge. She turned and walked to her car, rejoining Phil and waving goodbye as the Cullens pulled away. Tears were in her eyes, but a smile was on her face.

I've been the archer
I've been the prey
Who could ever leave me, darling?
But who could stay?

You could stay.