A/N: SM wrote Twilight and I wrote this little story.
My goal with my fanfiction writing is to challenge myself to write something new each time – either a different style, a different point of view or in this case putting a different Bella and a different Edward together in a very different setting. I am HEA always.
I hope you like it.
Chap 1 - Welcome to SPAM Ms Swan
Bella was having a terrible, no good, very bad day... and she had no idea what was ahead.
This was the day she had been working towards, the day she and her fellow candidates in the United States Secret Service (USSS) training program would finally graduate and be given their first placement with Departments and assignments.
As the top recruit in her graduating class, she was up for selection for some of the most elite teams in the USSS.
She was hoping for the Presidential or the Vice-Presidential security team. However, there were a couple of obstacles and Bella knew it. She was small and although she'd aced her self-defense class, her size didn't exactly inspire confidence.
The POTUS protection squad members were all six foot at least and she was just five two. In training when she was out running beside the car you could barely see her above the roof. It was a problem. She knew it, her colleagues knew it, and her bosses knew it.
Bella was not only small she also looked young; she looked very young. She looked more like a teenager, even though she was twenty-four.
She would've been an ideal agent for the previous President who had teenage daughters needing a protection squad but just her luck that this President, was older than dirt, so no teenage daughters needing protection there.
This situation caused the Selection Committee who managed graduate placement with a real problem. The rules of equity in the Department stated that recruits for elite teams had to be selected according to their qualifications and performance, with no other bias.
Isabella Swan was the best of the best. No argument. She excelled at it all. So, where would they place her; what to do with the best candidate they'd had for years from the Academy.
The Committee's problem was short-lived, however, when the choice was taken from them as the Director of a Division so secret the rest of the Secret Service didn't know who they were or what they did, walked into the Selection Committee room. She walked confidently into the room, perused the graduate files laid out in front of the Committee members. She picked up Isabella Swan's file, but no other, gave a nod to the Committee Chair and then turned on her very high heels and left the room, leaving the committee wondering what had just happened.
Meanwhile Bella Swan's day had gotten off to a fairly rocky start; that morning she received a call from the property manager to inform her the apartment she had been renting was being sold and she had two weeks to vacate. Her shower ran cold, so she couldn't wash her hair, her coffee machine broke so no coffee, and her iron burned her only clean uniform shirt, so she had to grab a dirty one from the hamper.
So there she was on the day she'd worked towards for the past six years, the day she'd find out what Department she'd be assigned to, sitting in the large hall amongst all the other candidates in the program waiting to be called to the stage.
Something was off and it wasn't just the smell of her hair or her dirty uniform, although neither were good.
She grew increasingly uneasy as she watched her colleagues be called to the stage one by one to receive their assignments.
Finally, her name was called.
"Candidate Isabella Swan," the Training Director called.
She rose from her chair and marched to him, saluted and was presented with her graduation scroll. As she made her way to the podium the Director listed off her many impressive achievements including the fact that she placed in first position in her graduating class. Though she had no family there with her, there was generous applause in appreciation of her outstanding record.
The audience quieted and Bella continued to stand at attention like her colleagues had before her, waiting to hear where she was to be assigned.
She was waiting for him to announce she was in USSS POTUS Protection, that was the top squad and she knew her ranking warranted the placement.
The Director hesitated and gave her an odd look.
What the hell? Just say it, she willed him.
He sighed: "Congratulations Agent Swan. You have been assigned to USSS..."
She smiled and gave herself an internal fist pump, she knew it.
He repeated: "You have been assigned to USSS SPAM Division."
The room was quiet for a moment before breaking into quiet, polite applause.
What. The. Hell! Bella couldn't stop the look of shock that crossed her face for a fleeting moment but then she regrouped. Took the file, saluted the Director, turned and marched off the stage.
She sadly looked at her graduation scroll. What the fu..dge kind of Division is SPAM. She'd never heard of it - how could she, the best in her graduating class, be assigned to a division no-one ever heard of?
She felt a hand on her shoulder, turned to see a tall elegant woman in a dress suit.
"Come with me, Swan."
Bella looked the woman over: "... and you are?"
"Your new boss, SPAM Director Dwyer," she said holding her hand out to shake.
Bella shook the unknown Director's hand. Looking at the Director's fancy dress suit and very high heels, all she could think was 'Who the hell was this woman?'
Director Dwyer turned and started walking down the hall: "Follow me, Swan."
Bella watched her colleagues congratulate each other and group together with other graduates who were assigned together. She blew out a breath and decided to shake off her bad attitude; she followed her new boss, noting she was on her own as no other candidate was recruited to SPAM Division.
When she caught up, she asked: "Director Dwyer, what is SPAM? I've never heard of it."
The Director didn't pause or look at Bella, she just stated coolly: "Not in the hallways, Swan. Let's keep this trip in silent mode shall we, recruit."
Bella blushed slightly at the dressing down. She was going to have to keep her curiosity on lock down for now. The walked side by side and in silence, the Director acknowledged no one in the halls even though several high ranked personnel passed them and gave her a small nod.
They passed through a sequence of security gates, travelling down to subterranean levels and then walking through a maze of hallways. Finally, they arrived at an office type door, Director Dwyer swiped her card and then pressed her thumb to the screen before leading Bella into the internal reception area. "Take a seat Swan," she stated.
Bella sat in one of the large comfortable chairs lined against the wall.
Director Dwyer stopped and spoke quietly to a man sitting at a desk next to another set of doors at the other end of the room. The man looked around the Director to get a good look at Bella and then went back to their whispering.
Bella shuffled in her seat uncomfortably. She didn't like being the subject of their conversation and she didn't like being assigned to a team she had no idea about. This day was nothing like she had imagined it would be.
Director Dwyer went into her office and the man who Bella assumed to be the Director's assistant sat behind his desk just watching Bella. His stare became more uncomfortable to her. He tilted his head from side to side until eventually Bella had to challenge him: "Is there something I can do for you?"
"Apparently, yes," he cryptically replied before getting up from the desk taking a large file with him and heading into the Director's office. After about 10 minutes, he opened the door: "Agent Swan, the Director will see you now."
Bella was quick to head in, she had questions and she was hoping for answers.
The Director was sitting at her desk and gestured for Bella to take a seat. Her assistant placed the heavy file on her desk and then took a seat off to the side of the Director.
Director Dwyer rested her hands on the file: "Bella, first of all I would like to congratulate you on your graduation and for taking first position in your graduating class. As you know your performance entitles you to a placement with the most elite Secret Service squad."
Bella looked down to her the scroll in her lap, even more confused.
The Director continued: "That placement and that elite squad is here at SPAM, Ms Swan."
"You were the only candidate selected for our squad for a number of reasons, Ms Swan.
"One, is that you are extremely bright, resourceful and well trained. Two, is that you are highly motivated to succeed. Three, is because you scored highly with an acceptance for the unusual and acceptance of diversity, which is extremely important attribute here at SPAM. We have no room for bigots or the narrow-minded. The fourth reason you were selected is your physical profile is suitable for an immediate case I will get to soon. The fifth reason is that you passed our talent scout, Eleazar's, test. If Eleazar's report is right, then you have a gift which will make you invaluable to this team."
Director Dwyer stood and walked around her desk to stand in front of Bella.
"Ms Swan, SPAM stands for Supernatural Protection and Assimilation Management."
Bella tried very hard to clear her head. What did she just say? Super... what?
"Ms Swan, you will learn that here at SPAM, things are usually not what they seem," the Director said as she removed her jacket, giving her shoulders a small shrug. The most beautiful array of feathers spread from her shoulders in two incredible wings.
"I am an angel and please understand that by 'angel' I don't mean that I have a sweet disposition. I mean that I am in fact an angel."
The feathers were a light brown with a hint of forest green sheen. Bella looked at the Director's wings in awestruck wonder; she thought they were the most beautiful things she'd ever seen.
Director Dwyer smiled at the young woman's reaction: "Yes, number three was certainly correct. You are good with weird."
Bella stood to get a closer look and without thinking she reached out to stroke the feathers gently. As she did Director Dwyer moaned lightly and closed her eyes.
Demetri, Director Dwyer's assistant, chuckled: "Careful Ms Swan, her feathers are sensitive, in a sensual way, if you get my meaning."
Bella pulled her hand back quickly and resumed her seat.
"Apologies Director Dwyer," she whispered, blushing a deep red and noticing that Director Dwyer blushed a little too.
The Director cleared her throat, withdrew her wings and resumed her seat.
"Ms Swan, soon after the formation of the first division of the Secret Service in 1865, the first SPAM division was formed." She gestured to her assistant: "Demetri here is actually my co-Director of the Division and one of the original agents for SPAM."
Bella looked over at Demetri: "But that makes you over 150 years old, how is that possible?"
"You need to leave your preconceptions behind you about … well... everything, Ms Swan," Director Dwyer reminded her. "Demetri is in fact a Vampire. He was turned in the 1700s, so he is in fact over 300 years old."
Bella breathed out and took a moment to consider what she'd just learned. She turned back to the Director: "So you mentioned the fifth reason was that I had some sort of gift? What is it, because I am pretty sure I am no angel and certainly no vampire, I don't even eat meat no mind drink blood."
Demetri laughed and she turned to him wondering what it was she said that was so funny.
"Sorry Ms Swan," he chuckled. "It is just that I consider myself to be a 'vegetarian' too… in that I drink from animals instead of humans."
She was a little shocked by his remark but chose to ignore it, wanting an answer to her question from the Director who smiled at her and said: "Your gift is that you are a mental shield, Ms Swan. With this gift you are capable of blocking most of the more... invasive gifts of some of our supernatural members. This means you will be safer, more effective, and better able to keep our secrets.
"You see, this Department was established to protect, identified supernaturals who choose to be assimilated into mainstream society. These supernaturals offer their unique skills to us on occasion and we offer them ... a protected place in the world."
Bella thought about this for a moment and then asked another question: "You said the fourth reason was that my physical profile suited a case ... what case?"
"Ah yes... Edward," the Director said as she lifted a hefty file from her desk and passed it to Bella.
"Edward Masen is a supernatural who is gifted in mind reading. Like Demetri, Edward is also a vegetarian vampire. He was born in 1901 and turned in 1918. He has worked here at SPAM for many decades, helping to solve multiple crimes – with locating kidnap victims being his specialty.
"After many years of service, Edward has expressed a desire to assimilate into society, and so we've found him an ideal foster situation and we'd like you to be his guide, assisting him to transition into modern society. Edward has in many ways remained true to his time and will need some guidance in dealing with the modern world."
Bella looked at the picture on the cover of the file which showed a devastatingly, gorgeous young man with a riot of bronze hair, deep golden eyes and a jawline that reminded her of classical statues she'd seen once on a visit to the National Gallery. She crossed her legs and tried to focus. Demetri sniffed the air and chuckled: "I see you have noticed Edward is quite easy on the eye, Ms Swan."
Bella blushed again and ignored his remark.
Demetri came to stand next to Director Dwyer: "Edward wants to experience High School as he was turned when he was only 17 and did not complete his high school education. Personally, I think he is wasting his time as he is quite a learned and serious fellow; well beyond high school education."
Director Dwyer then added: "Ms Swan, we need you to go undercover with Edward as his girlfriend as a Senior in high school."
Bella nodded slowly: "Ah, so my physical profile which suits this case so well, is that I could pass as a 17-year-old, is that what you are saying?"
The Director nodded ignored the attitude in Bella's voice: "Ms Swan, Edward is going to enter mainstream society for the first time since a year or two after he was turned. He has been a loyal and active agent for almost 90 years. We are very happy to support his decision and to help him to integrate into society.
"You and Edward are both going to fostered by the Cullens, a family of vampire living in Forks, Washington. To the rest of the world Carlisle and his wife Esme already have four foster children – Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper and Alice.
"They moved to Forks as a family a year ago and the local law enforcement believe the Cullens are part of sheltering young people as part of a Witness Protection Program."
"The children are already attending Forks High and they will assist you with Edward's ... naturalisation. The folder I have given you includes all the information we have on the Cullens, as well as containing everything we have about Edward.
"Do you have all that, Ms Swan?"
Bella nodded. She wanted more information about this assignment and her analytical mind wanted to dive into the detail stored in the folder she held tightly on her lap. She was growing impatient.
The Director noticed Isabella's agitation and decided it was time to end the meeting: "By the way Ms Swan your apartment is being packed up as we speak. Your personal things will be on a private plane which will take you and Edward to Forks tomorrow and the rest of your belongings will be placed in storage."
Bella thought about the mayhem her apartment was left in when she raced out that morning and her blush started to pink her face.
The Director chuckled to herself and then pressed a buzzer on her desk. A door on the far side of the office opened and a mass of twinkling lights flew in and buzzed around the room.
Director Dwyer stood and spoke to the lights: "Please take Ms Swan to see Edward. Be nice and take her the shortest way possible since she is only just getting to know us."
The dazzling lights flew around Bella and she looked at them with her head tilted to one side.
"Eleazar was right," said Demetri. "She must be a powerful shield; the Will o'Wisps have no power over her at all." He turned to Bella: "They can compel most people to follow them wherever they want them to go, but clearly your shield protects you from their mischief. Just follow them and they'll take you directly to Edward, now that they know they cannot mislead you."
The Director walked Bella to the door with the Will o'Wisps leading the way: "You will be spending the evening and staying overnight in Edward's apartment; take the opportunity to read this file and get to know him. He is ... well, I'll leave it to you to decide about Edward. Welcome to SPAM, Ms Swan."
Bella followed the Will o'Wisps through the door and barely had the chance to say goodbye to her two new bosses when the door closed, and she found herself in the dark. Only the twinkling of the Will o'Wisps gave her any light at all to find her way and they were moving fast away from her, so she rushed forward to keep up with them.
Back in the office, Demetri walked over to Renee: "You didn't tell her the sixth reason you chose her for Edward."
Renee sighed as let her angel wings spread and then circled them around Demetri: "Well my love, that is because, if Alice was correct, there's no need to tell her. She'll discover the truth by herself."
A/N: thank your reading. I'd love to hear your thoughts.