Bella McLeod
Healer
This is my first Twilight fic, and it is a femlash, featuring Bella and Rosalie as a couple. So, if you don't like, please head somewhere else.
As an introduction, you may want to read "Snape McLeod" since the Bella that trained Tobias there is the same one here, only a decade later. It's not a requirement for you to read it, especially since I try to untangle things as the story progresses. I altered the timeline to fit my needs, so… she met Snape in 1997, they parted ways in 2000 and it is now 2011, when she moves to Forks with Charlie.
Bare in mind that I do not own Twilight, nor its characters, so if you recognize any of them, THEY'RE NOT MINE. I only own the idea of making Bella Swan part of Clan McLeod.
I also not own the Highlander series, characters and concepts.
Remember to leave your reviews…
Bella McLeod
Chapter 29
Healer
Having Bella asleep against my body was the best thing ever until that moment. Knowing that my mate felt so safe with me at her side that she completely let go counting on me to keep her that way, filled me not only with pride but joy. I knew my family still had many questions about Bella's unique situation, but they all (minus Edward of course), agreed that it did not matter what she was, because she was family. Even Jasper was at odds with his mate because of what he had done by letting Patrick follow them back.
"There are going to be consequences for that Edward" said Carlisle while Edward still played the piano
"Your father is right" started Esme "You not only put your sister's mate at risk, but all of us, including your own mate" at that, Edward lost a semblance of composure and missed a few notes but he kept on playing nevertheless.
"I know you are afraid" I told them all, though looking straight at Edward "I am too" I confessed. But then I looked at Bella's face and the fear I felt was replaced only by the fear of losing her, so I tugged her closer to me, content when she sighed against my neck.
"We'll keep her safe" said Emmet
"We'll keep you both safe" added Alice "I won't let anyone slip through my visions. Now that I know what to look for"
"We have to respect her wish of you only keeping an eye on those humans in the Brotherhood and Raoul" I told them sadly
"Why? She won't know" said Carlisle.
"But we would. And I love her too much to break a promise to her" I told them in a soft whisper when I felt her stirring.
"Back at the creepy staring" she said yawning.
"At least now I was holding you as you asked" I told her smiling
"Yeah… not so fond of being stared at by your whole family while I am in your arms though" she said cheekily pointing out at the others in the room. Earning a chuckle from everyone, including my brooding brother.
"You are a weird creature Isabella" he said before standing next to Jasper.
"We should get going if we want to take the most advantage of the weather" said Alice.
"Ready for a run?" asked Emmet grinning at Bella
"We going to get there running?" She asked clearly appalled by the idea
"You're not going to run" I told her softly as we headed out, where rain was already falling.
"Yeah, I don't think I could keep up with your speed" she said chuckling
"We'll see you there" said Esme heading out first, followed by Carslile and the rest of my family
"Or we could take advantage of the house now devoid of prying ears" I told her leaning in to capture her lips.
"I would not complain" she said smiling into our kiss making me groan at the prospect.
"You smell amazingly under the rain" I told her nuzzling her neck
"I love you Rose. Whenever you're ready, I am too" she said hugging me tightly
"I love you too" I said finally scooping her into my arms bridal style. "This okay or you rather a piggy back ride to the field?" She just smiled at me and placed her arms around my neck. "Close your eyes if you get too dizzy" I told her as I sprinted away. I noticed that all the way, she kept her eyes trained on me, and I smiled at that.
I put her down as soon as I stopped, and though she had to take a moment to keep her balance, she seemed way better than the last time we did this.
"I guess it's the same then… the more we do this, the more I'll get used to this transportation method" she said mostly to herself before taking my hand in hers and heading towards the others when she saw them.
Esme, Emmet and Alice were sitting on a rock and were the closest to us, probably the only ones Bella had noticed so far, a few yards away from where we stood. Much farther out, way farther than human eyes could reach, I could see Jasper and Edward, who as usual looked like he was brooding. Carlslile though, was marking the bases and I could see Bella looking strangely at the distance between them in the makeshift diamond.
"We need a challenge. Hence the unusual distance" I offered when she cocked her head trying to figure that out. She looked at me and smiled before shaking her head.
Esme started towards us while Emmet and Alice got up and started to throw a ball back and forth.
"You girls ok?" she asked us. Concern evident in her voice
"We good." Said Bella placing a kiss on my knuckles before letting go of my hand
"It's time" said Alice as Bella ushered me to head into the diamond the moment a loud thunder shook the forest.
"Let's go" said Emmet grinning as we all took positions.
"Go Rose!" She cheered on me making me chuckle
"Shall we?" I heard Esme asked her matching Bella's stride
"You don't play?" asked Bella amused
"No, I prefer to referee" said Esme "Keeping them honest" she added
"Do they like to cheat then?"
"Oh yes! You should hear the arguments they get into!" said Esme fondly "Actually, I hope you don't" she added as an afterthought "You would think they were raised by a pack of wolves"
"That sounds interesting" said Bella chuckling "A coven of vampires raised by a pack of wolves"
"You do have the weirdest train of thought" said Esme smiling softly at her
"What can I say?" added Bella looking at us while we were just throwing the ball back and forth as way of warm up "You love them. I can tell" said Bella then "You sound like Duncan. My dad"
"Well, I do think of them as my children in most ways" said then Esme "I never could get over my mothering instincts. Did Rosalie tell you I had lost a child?"
"No" answered Bella turning back her attention to Esme
"Yes. My first and only baby" started Esme "He died a few days after he was born, the poor thing" she sighed "It broke my heart, that's why I jumped off the cliff" she added matter of factly
"Cliff?" I realized then that apparently my family had expected me to have told Bella about how we all were changed.
"I never told her any other story than mine and how I found Emmet. Not my place to tell" I said softly, knowing all the vampires here, including Esme, would hear me out.
Esme sighed. "I'll tell you my story some other time. Over dinner"
"Only if you want to share. Do not feel obligated to tell me your past just because I am in love with your daughter. Your past, is yours, not mine or hers." Said Bella firmly
"Rosalie is lucky to have found you." Said Esme stopping the edge of the field
"I'm the lucky one" said Bella without pause
"All right" Esme called in a clear voice "Batter up"
Alice was going to pitch while Emmet was ready to swing the aluminum bat in his arms, Jasper behind Emmet ready to catch. Alice's right hand flicked out and the ball smacked into Jasper's hand.
"Was that a strike?" I heard Bella ask Esme
"Usually, if they don't hit it, it's a strike" she answered cheeckily
Next time Alice swing the ball, Emmet managed to hit it and as the result crack of the impact happened, I could see my mate understanding the need of the thunderstorm for us to play.
"Home run?" I heard Bella ask hesitantly while Emmet ran through the bases, Carslile shadowing him. But, I was going to impress my mate so I ran to catch the ball, knowing that only Edward was faster than me.
"Out!" Esme cried as I came out from the trees, walking towards Bella with the ball safely in my hand
"Wha-?" I heard my mate stutter. "Is there anything you can't do?" she asked me when I was finally at her side
"According to Alice and her visions, I can't cook" I told her smirking before heading back to the game.
We kept playing for a while, the score constantly changing while we had our fun. Bella cheering for whoever was swinging the bat at the time, regardless of who it was. Eventually, Carlisle was up to bat when Alice suddenly gasped, she had a vision and by the look on her face and Edward's scowl, nothing good was seen. I was at Bella's side before any of us could ask Alice about it
"Alice?" Esme broke the tense silence
"I didn't see… I couldn't tell" she whispered. As everyone gathered around Bella and me
"What is it Alice?" Carlisle asked with the calm voice of authority that characterized him
"They were travelling much quicker than I thought" she said before looking at me "I can see I had the perspective wrong before" That is when it hit me, nomads
Emmet leaned over her, in a protective manner "What changed?"
"They heard us playing and it changed their path" she said, possibly feeling responsible for them coming this way now
"How soon?" Carlisle asked Alice, a look of concentration crossed her face
"Five minutes, maybe less. They're running" she added "They want to play"
"Can you make it?" I asked Edward knowing he was the fastest, and my best bet to keep my mate safe from the nomads.
He scowled before answering "No, not carrying her along"
"And the last thing we need is for them to catch her scent and start hunting" added Jasper
"How many?" I asked Alice
"Three" she answered tersely
"Let them come!" said Emmet scoffing impatiently while he flexed his arms
For a second, Carlisle deliberated on this. Only Emmet and Bella were unperturbed
"What's going on?" finally asked my mate
"Three nomad vampires heard us playing and now they are coming. They will be here soon. We don't want you to be in danger, but we can't take you to a safe distance in the time we have left" answered Esme
"Let's just continue the game" Carlisle finally decided "They were simply curious, right?" he asked Alice who in turn nodded
"You catch Esme. I'll call it now." I told her holding Bella closer to me "Take your hair down" I instructed my mate, who luckily complied without arguments "Now, stay very still, keep quiet and don't move from my side, please" she nodded and leaned into me
"That won't help" said Edward mockingly "I can smell her across the field"
"I know" I growled out
"Hey" said Bella making me focus on her "We'll be okay" she said poking my side
The seconds ticked by as the game progressed again, with apathy now. No one dared to hit with the same enthusiasm as before, I tried to keep tabs on the game but my eyes kept wandering towards the forest, waiting for the inevitable now
"I'm sorry Bella" I muttered looking at her "We should have stayed and taken advantage of the empty house. Instead I put you in danger. I am sorry" I told her truthfully placing myself in front of her. Less than a minute later, the three nomads had arrived at the field
A/N: Yes still short, still just getting back into the groove of writing and the mood of this story…
No words are enough to apologize for the long delay, nor to express my gratitude to everyone who is still reading this…
