BPOV
I had hoped that I might be able to return to Forks one day, although under vastly different circumstances. After much debate, Edward agreed that we would go as a family to fight Victoria. We swore to each other to never leave the other's side, an agreement that made us both feel much better. We also agreed with the family that we would travel in groups of at least four at all times, just in case Victoria was trying to lure Edward & I away as a pair.
Discovering my new superpower, as Charlie called it, was a welcome surprise. I hated that I had to stop experimenting with it as we traveled to Forks. We weren't all able to sit together on the plane, so we agreed to take two separate flights just a couple hours apart and then meet up at the Seattle airport before going into town. Edward & I were the second group, along with Alice and Jasper. We decided the less time I had to spend around humans, the better, no matter how well adjusted I was. Charlie had gone ahead, anxious to return home.
"Are you alright?" Edward asked for probably the thirtieth time of a two-hour flight.
I whispered so quietly that I knew only the vampires could hear. "No, I'm so bored a massacre sounds like fun. Do you know how to fly a plane in case I kill the pilot?" I could hear Jasper snickering quietly behind us. "Don't answer that, of course you do. You know how to do everything."
Edward laughed, his golden eyes sparkling. "I do know how to fly a plane." I rolled my eyes at him. He traced small patterns on the back of my hand with his thumb. I had missed his touch so much during the months without him. I sighed happily and leaned against him. I might have looked asleep to any human walking by.
Jasper was quietly humming happily behind us, obviously enjoying the love and the calm Edward and I were feeling at being reunited and together again, finally confident in our love for each other. Alice was scanning her visions for any potential change in Victoria's plans, but kept coming up blank due to the wolves. The last thing she could see was all of us arriving safely in Forks.
"You might want to use the restroom before we get off the plane, Bella." Alice whispered from behind me.
"Alice, aren't you forgetting something?" I laughed.
"No." She said, and I swear I could hear her sticking her tongue out at me. "Your contacts."
"Oh, right." I hated having to wear contacts, but we had to keep my red eyes hidden from the humans. They were uncomfortable, clouded my vision, and needed replacing every few hours due to the venom dissolving them. I stood up to go replace them, reluctant to let go of Edward's hand.
When I returned, the three Cullen siblings were deep in conversation, way too quiet for the humans to hear. "Taking bets on how many humans I ate on the way to the bathroom?"
"No." Edward smiled, turning back around to face me. He still dazzled me, even as a vampire. I immediately forgot what I was thinking as I sat down beside him, lovingly tracing his cheek with my fingers. He closed his eyes and relaxed under my touch.
"Edward." Jasper whispered from behind us. Edward laughed at something in his thoughts.
"What?" I asked.
"You dazzled him. He forgot we were talking." Jasper answered. Edward laughed again. I smiled at his choice of word.
"Sorry, Jasper." Edward said.
They resumed their conversation about strategy for once we landed in Forks. I was amazed that I was able to listen to them intently, but also to continue to enjoy every minute movement of Edward's hand gently running up and down my arm.
I was also vaguely aware of the time and every noise made on the plane. I could faintly hear the pilot and co-pilot discussing the latest episode of a new TV show they both enjoyed.
Being a vampire brought so many new sensations. It could be overwhelming, but mostly I was awed, especially when those sensations involved Edward. Despite my overwhelming happiness at finally being with Edward again, I also felt intensely guilty that innocent humans may have died because of me.
"It's alright, Bella." Jasper said in response to my emotional shift. "You had no idea that this would happen. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"If it's anyone's fault, Bella, it's mine for insisting that it would be OK for you to come to that baseball game." Alice said.
"Or mine, for not considering the possibility of the nomads hearing us playing." Edward added. "Or not paying much attention to Victoria's thoughts that day."
"Thanks, guys. Point made. I just feel so bad for those poor people and their families. This didn't have to happen."
"I know, sweetheart." Edward said, wrapping his arm around me tightly. "We will see to it that she can't hurt anyone else as soon as we possibly can. And then how about a vacation, just the two of us? Unless you're tired of traveling, that is."
"I would love nothing more than some time alone with you. No offense, family." I said, smiling behind us at Alice and Jasper.
"None taken." Jasper answered. "I'm honestly surprised you haven't drug him off into the woods for some alone time yet, Bella." he added, winking at me. I giggled. Edward groaned at him.
We arrived to meet the rest of the family at the airport in Seattle and then rented cars to continue driving to Forks. Charlie had gone ahead on his own, under the guard of a couple of the Quileutes, to the police station to see what he could find out about the victims and the circumstances of their deaths.
Carlisle and Esme had scanned all of the local newspapers they could find while they waited for us to join them in Seattle. Edward's face turned to one of anger as soon as we arrived, I guessed from something he heard in their thoughts. I put an arm around his waist and slid one of my hands underneath the bottom of his shirt, still covered by his jacket, and gently rubbed his bare skin.
"I was prepared to try to calm him down," Jasper whispered, "But I guess I'm not needed if you're around. You have no idea how much you've changed him."
I smiled at Jasper and I knew that he could feel my gratitude. "What is it?" I asked Edward quietly.
"Newborns." Was his only response.
We got into a sports car with Alice and Jasper. Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Rosalie were behind us in an SUV. Carlisle called Alice on speakerphone as soon as we left so that we could all talk. He wasted no time in starting to brief everyone.
"Esme and I discovered some suspicious deaths in Seattle lately as well. They are close together, sloppy. We suspect newborns."
"Do you think it's related?" Edward asked.
"I'm not sure, son. But regardless, if it isn't dealt with soon, it's going to attract some unwanted attention from the Volturi."
"Why haven't I seen anything?" Alice asked, mostly to herself.
"Alice, you said you barely even realized that it was Victoria. You said the vision was only for a few seconds and then you couldn't see her future anymore, right?" I asked.
"Right."
"And there's been strange vampires sniffing around Forks. What if Victoria knows about your visions and is deliberately trying to hide from them, like having newborns do her bidding?"
"Huh!" Emmett shouted. "Crazy scheming bitch."
"I think you are on to something, Bella." Carlisle said.
"Perhaps." Alice said. "I wish I could see around the damn wolves!" I shuddered, remembering how Charlie and Carlisle described what some of the Quileutes had become.
"I won't let them touch you. I promise." Edward whispered in my ear.
"What's our plan?" asked Jasper, always in the military mind set.
"I was hoping to put you in charge, Jasper." Carlisle stated calmly.
"My pleasure." said Jasper. "You four change course and see what you can find out about the killings in Seattle. The four of us will sniff around Forks and see what we can find out about the ones hanging around the Swan residence, then we'll get our house set up as our home base. Each group should call the other as soon as they find anything."
Everyone agreed and we ended the call. We drove straight to my former home. No one recognized the scents of the vampires, now mostly faded, that had been hanging around the house. The trail was the strongest in my bedroom, which definitely meant that they were looking for me. I wasn't afraid, knowing now that I had newborn strength and senses, as well as my whole family to protect me. I was nervous though, hoping that no one I cared about would get hurt.
Alice helped me pack a few belongings I wanted, mostly a few changes of clothes, and then we all went to the Cullen's home. Charlie joined us shortly after, but he didn't have any new information. The party that had went to Seattle didn't find anything useful either.
I hated sitting around waiting for something to happen. My anxiety was making Jasper uncomfortable, as was Edward's.
"I'd like to take Bella for a hunt." Edward looked pointedly at Alice and Jasper. "Is it safe for us to go alone?"
"Absolutely not!" Alice said. "I can't see anything, and I don't like it! Plus, we don't know how many newborns are out there either."
"I'm alright, Edward." I said. I really didn't feel thirsty, at least no more than normal.
"Newborns need to hunt more often than the rest of us. We told the Quileutes that we would be extra careful with you to see that no humans are harmed." Edward added quietly to me.
"I'm sure they will be fine, especially with that bubble of theirs." Jasper said. "Go on, kids. Stay close to home though. Don't go out of each other's sight. Take your phones. Hurry back. This is the only time I'm going to make an exception to the rule, only because we're all right here close by and neither us nor the wolves have smelled anything odd yet."
Alice pouted, but Edward grabbed my hand and we raced through the woods. It did feel nice to run again. It was especially nice to be alone with Edward. "I'm not thirsty."
"I know, but we were driving Jasper crazy with our emotions. We're both too anxious. Besides, I'd rather have you overfed than underfed this close to humans. Wouldn't you?" he asked. I quietly agreed and started sniffing for prey. It didn't take long for us to find a few deer and we each drank one, unsure of when we might get to hunt again.
I was overwhelmed with a need to be as close as possible to Edward, but also afraid to be away from the family for too long under the circumstance. It was hard to pick whether to act on the instinctual pull towards my mate or to return to safety. All it took was one glimpse of his dark, black eyes to make my decision. We jumped together like magnets, our lips grabbing the other's in a searing kiss.
There were so many more sensations as a vampire, but Edward consumed my every thought. I was aware of the softness and the warmth of his lips brushing against mine now that we were the same temperature. I also felt every caress of his long fingers against my face and neck, everywhere his breath tickled my face. The sparks flew under my fingertips as I traced his strong, muscular back underneath his shirt and his muscles flexed lightly, unintentionally under my touch.
One of his hands slid under the hem of my shirt, gently touching my waist and hips. I purred, a new sound I didn't know I was capable of making, and one that I had no chance of preventing. His quiet answering growl set my body aflame with desire. It took one look into his dark eyes before I too started growling quietly.
His lips moved from my mouth slowly down my neck, kissing every inch of skin he encountered with reverence. I held him closer to me and moved my hands up to his shoulder blades, gently massaging them without the barrier of clothes. His hands were slowly sliding downwards, resting just above the curve of my butt. A loud purr of mine encouraged him and he moved his hands down, kneading my flesh over my jeans as he pulled me closer to him.
His face changed from one of arousal to one of annoyance. I panicked, wondering what I had done wrong. Had I moved too fast for him? Did I hurt him?
"It's alright." He whispered in my ear. "Emmett and Rosalie stepped out into my hearing range. We're needed at home."
I growled again, this time in frustration, as I helped Edward fix his shirt back. "I know, love, me too. I promise we'll continue this later."
"We may not have a chance to be alone later!" I shouted, annoyed at the interruption.
"Then they will just have to hear us, or find something else to do, won't they?" He smiled at me. I couldn't stay upset with Edward around.
"I want you."
"Believe me, I know. I'm so happy just to have you safe and with me, but every cell in my body is calling out to you. I want to be yours in every way possible. And I shall be. Just maybe not with werewolves hanging around?" he smiled my favorite crooked smile, and I shyly smiled back at him. It was clear that this was one newborn emotion I was going to have trouble reigning in.
"I love you." I said.
"As I love you. My mate. My fiancée." he replied, his black eyes slowly changing back to their usual golden hue. "Come on, let's go see what the smelly dogs want."