Author's Note: I have to thank everyone for all the comments and love given to this story, it truly means the world!

Chapter 16 – Lackluster Retribution

Once I got home after my night at Bella's, I went straight to Carlisle who seemed to already know I was planning to speak with him. When I walked into the house, Esme was there, she nodded and looked up towards Carlisle office.

Alice, I wonder what she had seen exactly? We'd talk later.

The house was surprisingly silent, besides my parents quiet noises and warm thoughts. The others were out, probably for my benefit.

I swiftly entered Carlisle's office and to my surprise, he was not at his desk, but perched near the window.

Hello, Son, He thought as he continued to stare out the window, what happened? He had other fleeting thoughts, ones about Bella, wondering what we talked about and how that went for me specifically.

"Her and Angela Weber, they were nearly attacked, kidnapped... Can we-Carlisle, I want to go find them." I growled out.

He nodded, Yes, I know you do. "But, Son, Surely there is something else we can do?"

"What exactly?" I asked, uncertain.

"I don't want you to do anything you'd regret later-"

"I wont regret this!" I ground out.

"Yes, you will." He said softly, "Maybe we can do something, your brothers and I, we will go find them and dispense them somewhere for the police to find."

"But-"

"No." He sighed, "I want you to go speak to your mother and let us help, please?"

I ground my teeth but nodded solemnly, "What will you do?"

"Some careful drugging," his smile grim, "And I'll have Jasper search for their crimes, which I'm sure are abundant, they will be prosecuted."

"Not in the way they should be."

"No, but that isn't our job."

I nodded once again, sighing.

What else happened? He thought, with apprehension.

I looked up, judging his expression, he didn't seem angry. "She guessed, what we are." I glanced up again and he nodded, "And we discussed her secret, as well."

So, it's true? he thought with wonder.

I nodded.

He paced a bit, lost in thought, "Well, it was unavoidable. She would have found out, since she seems to be aware of even more than we are of what this world has to offer. You did fine, Son." He smiled softly, nodding.

I grimace, I didn't think everyone in the family would feel that way.

"I will deal with Rose and Jasper, they will have to accept what has happened and will see sense." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "There was no way we could have avoided this, how could we? When we didn't even know they existed..." he trailed off, Magic, he thought with amazement.

I turned to leave but Carlisle stopped me with a hand on my shoulder, "I'm happy for you, Edward, your mother and I both are. So happy you've found your mate." His smile stretched all the way to his eyes. "Now go talk with your mother about her undying excitement and happiness for you."

I laughed. I was happy too, but I couldn't help but feel I didn't deserve this... that I wasn't good for her.

"Everything will work out." He added, seeing the shift of my face.

I nodded and exited his office, heading back down to the kitchen where I knew Esme was waiting.

.

My talk with Esme had been beneficial. My parents were optimistic, sometimes unbearably so, but I couldn't ignore the momentary ease it gave me. Their confidence in me and assurance that telling Bella how I felt was the right thing to do, on that, I wasn't so sure. But how long would I have been able to stay away? I'd have always been there, lurking in the shadows, if that was what it took. I didn't care... because her safety and happiness was the most important thing to me now.

But somehow Bella was receptive, unafraid, welcoming. It was bizarre. I'd avoided using the words "mate" or "soulmate" when explaining how vampire's loved, afraid it would be too intense... because it was intense. The most overpowering feeling I'd ever felt, even more so than the bloodlust for my singer. We'd have to have that talk one day, if she continued to enjoy my company, that is.

My siblings had gone hunting, mostly to give me time before they berated me with their opinions. Thankfully, when I heard their quiet footfalls and thoughts it wasn't Jasper or Rose who'd arrived at my door.

"Alice?" I called, before she reached up to knock.

She flung it open and plopped down on the floor in front of me, "Edward!" She beamed, head in her hands and legs crossed like a child about to have a story read to them. "So?" She quirked an eyebrow.

"Don't act like you don't know already." I said, smiling.

"I don't!" She shook her head, "I've only seen that you will be at school, holding hands and smiling!" She giggle, "Oh, Edward! Is it official?"

"I suppose so," I said slowly, "we didn't really talk about the details."

"Ugh," She groaned, "men!"

I laughed, "I left right after, I-I needed to get out of there." I faltered, looking away.

She reached out and grasped my hand, "Hey, you did great and you'll only get better. You wont hurt her." She declared with certainty.

I hummed, not as confident in my restraint.

We spent the night talking about everything I'd learned about Bella and what we thought a witch could do exactly. I had many questions for Bella, but it wasn't the time tonight. I would have, hopefully, a long time to get to know her and all about magic. At some point, we heard Rose huffing out of Carlisle's office, thoughts still wildly erratic and enraged but surprisingly accepting of his words. Jasper's thoughts were far more subdued and curious, he arrived in front of my doorway with a small smile on his face.

"Jazz!" Alice chirped, jumping up to engulf him in a hug.

He accepted her hug and nodded towards me before they left me to my thoughts.

.

The next day, Jasper came looking for me and informed me that the men who had tried to attack Bella and Angela had been arrested. It had been reported in the news of the miraculous discovery of a gang of criminals who were wanted all up the West Coast; called in by an anonymous tip. I was grateful they were off the street, but not pleased. I hoped they would get their retribution, but I didn't have as much faith in the justice system as my father did.

I hoped Bella did not see the story. I suppose, though, it was better than me murdering them. Angela, I hoped, if she saw, she'd just think it was some sort of twisted fate they had been caught the same night.

I visited the Weber home that afternoon, in the canopy of the trees surrounding their house and listened to see how Angela was doing. All seemed normal, just as she'd said the night before, she was babysitting her brothers. I could hear the TV whirring, the clatter of a keyboard and three steady, healthy heart beats.

Next I went to Bella's, where I planned to spend the rest of my day until nightfall, when I'd go hunting. Charlie was not home yet and from what I could hear, Bella was in her room. Reading, perhaps? I could hear the flutter of paper, fingers moving on the rough texture and again, a steady heart beat. I ached to walked up to her door and knock, surprise her, maybe we could spend the afternoon reading together? That sounded like heaven... but I knew it would be dangerous. It had been nearly a week since I'd last hunted and such a hasty decision could, no, would mean disaster.

Around sundown, just as I was about to resign my post for the night, I heard the hum of a truck in the distance. Three sets of thoughts swirled in it's cab, one fleeting and muddle and the other two clear as day. Charlie and his fishing group, it seemed, had returned and they planned to surprise Bella with dinner company.

I stayed in the trees, curious as to who these guests would be. Who did Bella know that would be pleasing to have them over for dinner?

The truck parked and Charlie exited, along with another man and a boy, maybe fourteen or fifteen, both unmistakably Quileute. The boy helped the man, his father, I'd pulled from his mind, into a wheelchair that he'd pulled from the truck bed and wheeled him up the path to the front door.

"Hopefully Bella is up to making some trout." Charlie called, voice light and happy, "And to having company."

"After a whole weekend alone? I'm not so sure, old man." The man chuckled, shaking his head.

"Who are you calling old man, you're older than me, Billy." Charlie laughed.

"Yeah but I'm down with the kids, right, Jacob?"

"Sure, Dad."

Charlie laughed as he opened the door and called out to Bella, who I could hear scrambling around in her room and opening her door in haste. "Bells! Billy and Jacob are here for dinner, come on down and say hello." He called up to her from the kitchen.

I heard Bella's quiet footfalls on the stairs as she made her way down, then I saw her stopping on the lower landing as she came into view of the boy.

"Hey, Billy... Jacob." She smiled, "Have fun fishing?"

Billy hummed, "How was your weekend, Bells?" He asked smiling broadly at her, I could tell he loved her as much as his own children. His thoughts were paternal and warm. I smiled at this, she knew them well, then?

"Uh, good. I went to Port Angeles with some friends," She glanced towards the kitchen where her father was, continuing quickly, "but other than that, I've been home enjoying the quiet."

Wow, she's adorable. Jacob thought, even in pajamas and bedhead.

I forced myself not to break the branch I was currently perched on. This boy was not a threat, if anything, his thoughts were soothing... gentle... pure. And he was right, she was adorable. It was the first time I'd been able to see her since last night. I guessed by her appearance that I was correct in my assumption earlier, she had been reading in bed most of, if not, all day.

Billy nodded, "Bella, you need to come visit us down at the rez more. Everybody misses you." He gave her a playful stern look, narrowing his eyes, but unable to stop himself form smiling.

She smiled again, nodding, "I know, Billy, I will. I promise."

Maybe her and her friends will come back for another party on the beach? Jacob thought hopefully.

What was this? She'd gone to a party, at First Beach, I saw from Jacob's thoughts. This must had been when we were not talking. When I was not talking, really. I wonder what happened to make Jacob hopeful for her to return? He was clearly smitten, following her to the kitchen like an obedient puppy as she began to cook some of the trout Charlie had brought home.

If he wasn't so innocent in his infatuation, he'd remind me of Mike, whose behavior often resembled one of an excitable and eager golden retriever. Thankfully, he was not yet so hormonal and vulgar. I hoped he would never be, such kind minds were nice to be around.

As much as I wanted to stay, to hear what sort of relationship Jacob and Bella had, I forced myself to turn and head home to start my hunt. It would not due for me to avoid it any longer, if I hoped to be close to Bella from now on. I had to keep myself under complete control and with that meant regular hunts. I resigned to asking Bella about them one day in the future. How much did she know of them? The treaty? Their legends? How much more of this world did she know about? I was indisputably curious of everything to do with Bella and I couldn't control the happiness I felt that I would be able to learn these things now. With this soothing thought, I pushed myself to hunt quickly and effectively, arriving home just before dawn, where I headed to my room and prepared for the day ahead with Bella.