Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight
Chapter Six
I took a seat on the Cullen family's living room couch with Edward on one side of me and Renesmee on the other. Emmett sat across from me with Rosalie and Emalie at his sides, while Alice and Jasper shared the nearby lounge chair– Alice perched on his lap. Carlisle and Esme took front and center of the room at a love seat heading the other three seating arrangements.
After our very emotional reunions, it was time for everyone to sit down and discus our tales. Hopefully figure out the missing puzzle pieces we all had and make our stories make sense.
"So, what exactly happened after you went for that bear, Emmett Dale McCarty?" I asked my brother, using his full name like I used to. He winced visibly when he heard me use his full name. I use to use it all the time when I would get really angry with him. Like the one time he thought it was a good idea to use my doll as fire wood. I yelled so loud at him I lost my voice for two days.
"I was attacked by one of those bears outside of our cabin. Carlisle had found me when he was on a hunt. He changed me because I was dying. The bear hurt me pretty bad, Belle," Emmett explained sadly. I sighed as I went to rub my temples at the thought of the painful memory. Even though my memories were fuzzy, the day I lost Emmett was one that lived vividly in my mind...
I smiled to myself as I finished peeling the last of the potatoes for Mama's stew. I couldn't wait to get myself a helping. I probably needed to get a nice big scoop before Emmett got to it. Mama jokes around saying that he has a bottomless pit for a stomach.
Daddy was up at the police station tonight and would be working late. My father, Charlie McCarty, was the Chief of Police here in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We had a nice little cabin up in the the mountains, and our town is located about a couple of miles away from here. We're very lucky that Daddy has a steady job, considering our country is going through a pretty bad depression.
My mother, Renee McCarty, was busy chopping carrots behind me while humming to the tunes of her favorite songs.
"Something smells good!" my twenty-year-old brother, Emmett, boomed behind me. He goes to reach over my shoulder to grab a piece of chopped up potato.
"Yeah, and I swear Emmett Dale McCarty if you try eating anything before dinner, I'll hit you with the spoon," I scolded at him as I waved my spoon towards his direction.
"Aww Belle, you'd do that to your big brother?" he chuckled.
"Yes," I remarked dryly as I went back to tending our dinner.
"Fine then. I won't protect you from Bobby Newton anymore," he commented, grinning widely. I turned bright red. Bobby was a boy around my age that had a huge crush on me. I could take care of myself, but when you have Emmett McCarty as a brother, it's an advantage. My brother is the biggest guy you'll ever meet, so he intimates a lot of people, especially rat-faced Bobby Newton.
"Emmett, come on," I pouted teasingly. "As my big brother, isn't it your job to protect me?"
"I know that." Emmett laughed as he went to kiss the top of my head. I chuckled to myself as I began to add my chopped up vegetables to my mother's stew.
We were almost done with dinner when I heard a loud roar. I shot up from my spot in the kitchen. Everyone in the home was still.
"Be very quiet," Mama said as we slowly approached the front to see two bears fighting over something in our front lawn. Fish maybe? I stood silently as I watched them.
"I got this," Emmett said as he yanked Daddy's rifle from it's resting place beside the fireplace. He had a look of determination on his face, one that showed me he wasn't going to let no bear come near our home.
"Emmett, don't do this," I pleaded with my brother as he headed towards the door. I was nervous. Really nervous. I had a bad feeling about this.
"Belle, I'll be fine," he told me. "I've hunted millions of bears before. It's going to be okay."
"Fine," I sighed, giving in. I bit my lip as I looked up at him. "Just be careful."
"Of course I will Belle. I promise. It's not like you aren't going to see me again," he teased. He kissed my forehead before he ran out. The last image I had of Emmett was him running into the woods after the two bears. That's when I heard a loud roar and I got scared. Mama was terrified as well, and felt guilty for letting Emmett go now. Her guilt would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Mama made me stay inside the home while she rode into town to get Daddy. When our father came home with men for a search party, I rushed into those woods, ignoring my parents' desperate yells.
I didn't find a trace of Emmett until I came up to a piece of his clothing, which was bloody and all ripped up. Then I saw Daddy's old hunting rifle on the ground. The same rifle that had been passed down from my great-grandfather, to my grandfather, to my father, and since he was fourteen, Emmett. It was the same rifle that was suppose to protect him.
"You promised me you'd come home," I muttered as I looked up at my brother. His big topaz eyes looked sad at the mention of his promise.
"I know, Belle. I know. And I'm sorry," Emmett said as reached his hand out towards mine. I took it and went to squeeze it.
"It's okay. We're together now? Right?" I said to him. He nodded, smiling softly at me.
"Now where was I?" he asked, scratching the back of his head. I chuckled. I missed the goofy Emmett I know and love.
"Carlisle found you," Rosalie filled him in.
"Oh right! Carlisle found me. You see I followed the bigger bear, but then I think it noticed me and swatted at me, or he attacked me? I don't really remember because next thing you know I went flying up in the air," Emmett explained animatedly. "Then everything went black. I saw Carlisle when I woke up and honestly I thought I died or something. Soon the fire formed and I was in agonizing pain for two days, until I woke up as a strong newborn. I had asked Carlisle to see you, but I wasn't allowed to go home. It's because of what I became...I was upset because I didn't get to say goodbye."
"It's okay," I reassured him. "I don't blame you."
Emmett nodded back at me and then continued, "Edward and Esme were already apart of the coven when I was changed. Edward did leave about a year after I was changed, and was gone on his own until his return in thirty-eight."
"Which is when I met you," I muttered, looking towards Edward who confirmed this with a sad smile.
"Anyway, back to me, decades later, about two years ago, I met my lovely wife Rosalie over here and we fell in love, even though she was a human. She had just moved from Rochester, New York with her twin brothers to live with their dad." Emmett motioned to Rosalie. I smiled seeing the loving look Emmett had in his eyes as he gazed at Rosalie. I was happy he found someone to love. So far I liked her, she seemed tough with a soft center.
"My mother, Vera, divorced with my dad when I was young," Rosalie said, making her story known. "We decided to move to Forks so she could stay with our step dad Phil since he was a traveling baseball player, and they were both moving to Jacksonville because of his job."
"Well Rosie and I met that same year in high school. We accidentally bumped into one another in the hallway and it was love at first sight. We ended up getting married a year later when she was still human," Emmett recalled. "However, Rosie ended up getting pregnant with Emalie on our honeymoon. The birth and everything was violent so she had to be changed. Then Emalie Isabelle McCarty Cullen came into the family." Emmett smiled proudly at his daughter and wife before turning to me. "Now you baby sis."
"Fine, well I want to know why Edward was alone when I met him?" I questioned looking at my love. He looked a bit ashamed. "Edward, you never told me why you left your coven."
"Love...Look, I met you in my rebellious period," he declared, his tone full of shame as he looked down at his hands. "It was a time in my life where I rejected Carlisle's ways and decided to go on a rampage only drinking human blood– specifically, going after criminals and murders. However, I felt like I was playing God so I stopped and went back to my home in Chicago to get back to my roots before returning home to Carlisle and Esme. I was planning to head back after I regained my will to only drink animal blood, until, well..."
"Until you met me," I summarized. "At that park."
Edward nodded in confirmation. "I kept a close eye on you because you were my singer– your blood called to me. However, the attraction between us grew and I couldn't stay away from you...You were the first thing in a long time that was just so pure and good in my life, after spending all those years acting like a monster, you gave me hope...But then reality struck and you know the rest. I didn't want you to have this life and become monstrous like me. I didn't want to hurt you either. I thought what I was doing at the time was good for you, but I guess not..."
"Edward look at me," I said softly as he turned his head away from me. I reached out to pull his face closer to mine. He slowly turns around so our eyes were meeting.
"I'll never think of you as a monster. I loved you then and I still do to this day," I told him. "I have spent the last couple of decades trying to find you." He smiled lightly at this.
"It's true," Renesmee cut in.
"Yep!" Alice added dreamily from where she'd been snuggled into Jasper's embrace. "It's truly romantic! Oh, I'm surprised I didn't see this coming!"
"Yeah, it'd be nice not to have our little Bells brood over a certain vampire she can't find," Jasper joked, causing his wife to nudge him in the ribs.
"How kind of you, Jazz," I remarked dryly, only earning a bright grin from his direction.
"Truth is, she's spent a long time trying to find you," Alice chirped.
Edward looked towards me and I nodded in confirmation as I go to cup his cheek gently.
"I love you," he murmured against my hand.
"I know. I love you too." I smiled as I let my finger tips brush against his cheek.
"Not to be rude, but Belle, but um your story?" Emmett asked, clearing his throat as his eyes bore at the outward affection Edward and I were displaying.
I could feel myself grow insanely embarrassed as I scooted an inch away from Edward on the couch. "Oh, right. The story...Well, when I found out Emmett went missing, we were all devastated. Em...Mama and Daddy didn't last longer after that. They died right after you went missing, and soon I was all alone."
"I had gone back a few years after I had changed and found Mama and Daddy's graves," Emmett murmured. "I assumed you must've moved elsewhere, started a life with a husband and had some kids. I never wanted to know what happened to you but the happy dream in my head."
"Oh, Em," I whispered. "Even though I lost our mother and father, I followed a path that lead me here. For you see, from Tennessee I ventured up to Chicago right after I sold our bank to the cabin. I got a job working as an assistant at a newspaper and soon enough, I met Edward. By this time I'd been going by Isabella Swan or Bella since I wanted a new start. I wanted to leave the painful memories I had as a McCarty behind me. From there, Edward and I had a relationship, as you know, and he then left to protect me without realize I was with child. That's when I found out I got pregnant. I tried to find Edward, but then I ran into some vampires." I proceeded to motion to Alice and Jasper who smiled warmly at their introduction.
"Oh, memories," Alice chimed fondly.
"They met me, and I knew they were safe because they had your golden eyes," I continued. "Alice said she had a vision of me-"
"Vision, I'm lost!" Emmett said, looking frantically towards Alice's direction.
"I'm physic!" Alice chirped happily. "And for further discussion, Jasper is an empath, Renesmee can break shields and show you what she's thinking, and Bella is a mental shield."
"Mental shield?" Edward questioned, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"It's why you can't read my mind," I explained. "It protects me from any sort of ability that infiltrates the mind, like Kate's and yours and I'm sure many more."
"Wow, amazing," Edward breathed as he looked at me in awe. If I could blush, I would.
"Belle-"
"Alright! Back to the story!" I chuckled as I notice Emmett getting uncomfortable at Edward and my's romantic notions."So, Alice and Jasper found me. Alice said they'd help me, and they did. Soon Renesmee Carlie Swan was born and I became a vampire since the pregnancy could have killed me. From their Alice, Jasper, Renesmee and I formed a family and have been living in the Amazon with Zafrina and her clan since then. We also met the Irish coven awhile back and they know of Renesmee as well. Mostly we've been living in the Amazon's secluded parts because I was scared of the Volturi. I didn't want to risk them finding out about Renesmee."
"If I may add on," Renesmee announced, making her presence known. "We found out about Emalie the other day from Maggie. She told me about your problem and I wanted to meet Emalie. I only met one other like me, Nahuel, and he might even join us if Kachiri can find him."
"There's another?" Emmett asked hopefully, an eager look cross his eyes and Rosalie's as they searched our expressions for desperate answers.
"Yes. Nahuel. He even has three sisters that we've never met, but Zafrina's sister will try and find Nahuel at least. He's a good guy," I said. "He and his Aunt Huilen will be good allies."
"How did you find out about Edward?" Emmett asked curiously, diverting the subject. "About him being a vampire? Did he tell you or did you find out on accident?"
I stiffened and so did Edward. I never talked about that since it involved James...
James.
I have a feeling he's another reason why Edward left. James is a vampire in my past I don't like to reflect on, even though the event brought Edward and I together, I almost died at his hands.
Alice, Jasper, and Renesmee knew quite well the story of how Edward saved me from the murderous clutches of James and his coven. I had to tell them in case we ever crossed paths with Victoria. While it's been over sixty years and she has yet to find me, I wouldn't be surprised if she's out there...Looking for revenge still.
"Well I guess it started out with this vampire, James," I recalled, a bit nervously. "He found me walking home alone one night after work and tried to kill me. That was until Edward, who I had met early that week, was watching from afar and scared James away before he could hurt me. I was in shock, in fact I fainted from shock. When I woke up I demanded Edward to tell me everything, and he did. You see, when I first met Edward, I actually knew something was off about him, so I wasn't that surprised when he told me he was a vampire. I knew he wasn't a human."
"Then about two or three weeks later James got a hold of her again," Edward added. "James was a tracker. The hunt was his obsession. He wasn't going to let Bella go without a fight, especially when he realized I had feelings for her."
"Edward was able to kill James before he could kill me," I continued. "James' mate, Victoria, ran away and so did his coven member, Laurent...but Laurent was killed by Edward about two weeks later when he tried to kill me again as a favor for Victoria."
"I haven't heard from Victoria since then. I'm worried she might still be out there." Edward went to kiss my temple in reassurance as I leant into his side. Thinking of James and Victoria still made me shiver in fear.
The room was silent for a moment before Emmett decided to speak up.
"Thank you Edward," Emmett murmured to my mate through the silence. "For protecting Bella when I couldn't."
"I love her more than anything in the world, Emmett," Edward proclaimed. "I'll always protect her. Even as a vampire." I chuckled as I playfully hit my long-lost mate's knee.
"Out of curiosity, love," Edward said, reverting the subject as he looked at our daughter. "Where did you come up with Renesmee's name? It's a beautiful and unique name, but it sounds like-"
"Renee and Esme combined?" I filled in, earning a nod from him. "It is. Carlie is Charlie and Carlisle. After all you told me so much about your adopted parents, and how good they were to you, I was playing around with the names and came up with Renesmee's name."
Esme and Carlisle looked at me shocked. Esme looked like she would burst out into tears of joy and Carlisle looked proud."That's why I was spectacle about learning your names. I thought it was a coincidence or something," I added as I turned to face my daughter's adopted grandparents.
"Dear that was very sweet of you, even though you never met us. Thank you," Esme told me. Carlisle nodded in agreement.
"You were Edward's family. I felt like someone from his life should be represented through Renesmee, even though I never met you until today," I said. I felt like I could blush. Renesmee chuckled and went to nudge me playfully.
"Well looks like the family is back together again!" my brother exclaimed happily, rubbing his hands together.
"So can I call you Aunt Bella?" Emalie asked curiously as she got off the couch to approach me. Her big blue eyes studying me with a sharp inquisitiveness.
"If you want dear," I said to her. She smiled and went to hug my legs. Emalie really was a precious little thing. I go to brush her thick curls and smile some more at her innocent loving notions, something I'm pretty sure she inherited from Emmett.
"You know her middle name is Isabelle," Emmett spoke up softly.
I could feel my chest expand in a swarm of loving emotion as I looked down at Emalie with fondness. "I'm so honored that you both did that," I told them sincerely. "You know, if Renesmee was a boy she would have been Emmett Edward Swan..."
"Thanks sis. You know it was actually Rosie's idea...to put your name in there," Emmett confessed to me. "She was all about the naming. I didn't know what to do for the names." I turned to my newly found sister-in-law who smiled brightly.
"Emmett always talked about you and I thought you had a pretty name that would fit into Emalie's name," Rosalie explained. "I combined my name and Emmett's to get Emalie, and for the middle name...Well, I knew how much he talked to you so I put it as her middle name."
"Thank you for doing so," I told her sincerely. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
Rosalie reached out and grasped my hand. "Of course. We're family, after all?"
I grinned as I squeezed her hand back. "Family."
"So, ah, who wants to break news to Tanya that Eddie is taken?" Emmett asked out of the blu, rubbing his big hands together with a playful grin on his face. I heard my husband growl under his breath.
"What the she devil has a crush on you?" I asked my mate dryly, raising my eyebrows.
"I take it that you don't like Tanya?" Edward smirked, his tone rather light. This only caused me to frown and sigh heavily as I leaned against the couch.
"You have no idea," Renesmee, Alice, and Jasper all chorused, probably sick of hearing me fight about Tanya. There hasn't been a visit with the Denali clan that's ended with me and Tanya bickering over something.
"We have our disagreements..." I trailed off. "Although, I wouldn't mind showing us off to annoy her. I take it you're the vampire she's been fond of in recent years?"
"You could say that..." Emmett let out a chortle of a laughter while Edward frowned in annoyance. I smirked at their antics. Even though I couldn't have been with my mate or my brother all this year, the universe managed to bring them together and turn them into brothers. It made me feel even more whole.
"Come on! Let's go annoy Tanya!" Emmett teased, earning a look of disapproval from Esme.
"Emmett McCarty Cullen, those are our guests and you will behave accordingly!"
"Yes, m'am."
"And don't be a fool like your daddy," Rosalie said to Emalie, who nodded in the direction of her father.
As we walked out of the living room and towards the front porch of the Cullen's property, I could see the other covens were watching us with interest. After all, our reunion was kind of big and hard to miss. I think most of the other covens tried to ignore it, although their intrigued looks could not be stopped. After all, I was a mental shield with a psychic sister and a hybrid daughter. It must've been a lot to process.
I couldn't help but smile though as my hand hugged tight to Edward's hand. His hand was finally in mine once again after decades of being apart. I loved having my love back in my life. If we did survive this whole Volturi incident I want to live the rest of forever with Edward. I want to marry him and spend every last aching moment of forever with him.
"Don't tell me it's actually true," Tanya sneered, making her presence known as she stepped forward. This had all eyes on us know as the other covens watched in interest– as if we were a soap opera in the making.
"What? That he's the father of my child and my mate," I said, stepping in before Edward could say anything.
"And let the fireworks begin," Renesmee muttered to herself as she plopped next to Maggie on one of the Cullen's lawn chairs. Maggie chuckled at this while Emalie followed close behind, taking a gentle seat beside her newfound cousin as she watched the event alongside the others.
"You stupid southern belle," Tanya growled at me as she got up and stalked towards my direction.
"Don't call me stupid, you bimbo!"
"I'm not stupid!"
"Sweetie, please!"
My hands were now on my hips as I narrowed my eyes at her. Tanya was now in my face and her teeth were snarling at me. I decided to flash my pearly whites right back at her. I wasn't the most violent person, but when it came to Tanya I could be.
"Alright, let's break it up before we decide to make this ugly!" Emmett called out, getting between us as it started to get heated. "Let's keep the peace! Safe the fighting for later."
"Cool it mom," Renesmee mentioned hesitantly from where she was sitting. "Don't need a blood bath."
"I know baby," I said, sighing a bit. I still eyed Tanya as Edward and I sat in a chair nearby. My hand intertwined with his as he held it up to his lips so he could kiss it.
"So you two are a couple?" Tanya questioned us bluntly, as if this was an interrogation.
"Tahn," Kate warned her sister, grabbing tightly to her arm. However, the leader of the Denali coven shrugged her sister off as she composed herself– ready to fight.
"Yes, we're mates," Edward replied, nodding his head. "We are mates who were separated by unfortunate circumstances. She is also Emmett's long-lost younger sister."
"Are you sure? Do you even know anything about her?" Tanya asked sharply, eyeing me up and down. "She shows up here after what– decades? And you just want to drop everything for one another. She's clearly a liar! She lied to my coven for years about her secret daughter!"
"It was out of fear, Tanya," Carmen spoke up surprisingly. I did feel a twinge of regret in the pit of my stomach for not telling them, but it was for the best not many knew about my daughter. Besides, I saw the Denali's every couple of years or so. I was not close to them like I am with the Amazon coven or even the Irish coven. "I do not blame Bella for not revealing Renesmee. As a mother, she wanted to protect her child. Clearly, something like what we're gathered for today was Bella's biggest fear."
"Besides, Tanya, Bella may have changed, but we've been lost without one another for a long time," Edward insisted, holding on tightly to my hand. "We have a daughter together...This is something we've both missed out on and it's something I don't want to lose. I want to get to know my family."
"Wait, so you never told him you were pregnant?" Tanya questioned curiously, looking towards Edward and then Renesmee. "That's kind of cruel, don't ya think, Bells?"
"I was the one to leave her first and cause this whole mess in the first place," Edward shot back fiercely. "I caused this mess. Do not blame this on Bella."
"Why shouldn't I?" Tanya drawled. "After all, the fact this reunion so conveniently occurring now? During this event with the Volturi? Maybe we should go..."
"Tanya, as a coven, we must take responsibility for Irina's actions," Eleazar spoke. "And besides, the Cullen's are our family and one of the members to our family put them in this dangerous situation. Now, let's act peacefully."
"Sis, you are supposed to be our leader, so start acting like it," Kate warned hotly, glowering at her sister. "Do not cause problems."
"I will once I know everyone here can trust the Southern Witch," Tanya spat, jabbing me in the chest with her thumb.
"You want to go there, because I will," I hissed, standing up and getting into a defensive mode. "I'm not scared to take you down, Tanya. In fact, I know I can."
"Really? You want to go?" Tanya growled, getting into a fighting stance.
"Alright, that's enough!" Alice exclaimed, my tiny sister standing between me and Tanya. Kate had gone to her sister's side while I could feel Jasper's gentle hand grasp my shoulder. He was also sending out waves of calmness to us, which explained my lack of urge to fight. "Let's settle down and act civilized, okay?"
"Yeah, don't need to go all cowgirl on her ass, Belle," Emmett teased under his breath, causing me to roll my eyes.
"This is so dumb," Tanya mumbled as she stomped away, probably off to go hunting and take her aggression out.
"Here, love," Edward whispered to me as he tugged my arm towards him, where he'd been sitting down.
"Alright," I agreed as I proceed to cuddle up to him for the first time in decades. I could feel myself instantly relax as the inhale of his sweet scene and the feeling of his arms around my body.I missed him like crazy and wanted to take as much as I could of him.
"Love, do you want to maybe go up to my room for some privacy?" he whispered in my ear. "I think we've had enough public encounters for today."
"Yeah..." I then take his hand as he leads me away from the others. We tried to be discrete, but were only met with my bear of a brother calling out after the two of us before we could go upstairs.
"No baby making till your married!" Emmett exclaimed from the doorway while Edward and I trotted up the stairs. I rolled my eyes and chuckled at his comment.
"Uncle Emmett, I think it's a little late for that," Renesmee remarked dryly.
Edward and I both laughed as we then hurried to his bedroom. It was very simple and very Edward– a lot of CDs, a TV, and a simple couch. He goes to pull me towards him on the couch and we collapse in a fit of laughter. I go to curl up in his embrace as he buried his face into my moment was just so perfect. I felt like I was whole again.
"It feels so good to have you in my arms again," Edward whispered to me .
"Same...I will never stop loving you," I told him softly. I then lean into him and kiss his soft lips gently. "I never did."
"I never did either, Bella. I am so sorry for just everything," Edward told me sincerely.
"Don't do that to yourself." I sighed as I went to cup his face. "Just know I am happy to be here with you. To have you in my arms...This is something I've wished for a long time. Now, let's not ruin it about things we should've done in the past. I live in the now, my love."
Edward nodded as he leant his forehead against mine, taking in a sharp, unnecessarily inhale as he nuzzled his face into mine.
We proceeded to stay curled up in one another's embraces and began to talk about the past few decades or so. What we've been up to, how we've changed, and everything in between.
I just loved being with the ones I love. I had my brother and the love of my life with me again.
My family was complete and my heart was whole again.
A/N: How did you guys like it? Like Bella's little face down with Tanya? I know Tanya isn't that cruel in cannon, but for this story I'm making her a problem for dramatic purposes lol. Like the family moments? In the meantime, please review, look out for the next update, and thanks for reading!