Chapter 2:
Hey guys! Sorry for the super late update. Little tidbit about me, I actually have two jobs, so it's hard for me to keep up with my writing. But I truly do enjoy writing so I'll try my best to get my chapters posted as soon as I can. It might take a while to get through this, but pleeeease bear with me. I try to make it long because I don't post so often so I hope you guys enjoy!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN Twilight.
Also, I have no beta, so any mistakes are mine alone. If you're interested in being my beta, PM me! :)
Enjoy.
"Because you're our mate."
Confusion flashed through Bella's eyes, and she turned to Alice, still not understanding. Alice gave a confirming nod and a soft smile. "Bella, I know Edward said you were his mate, but he was wrong...you are their mate." The pixie vampire gestured towards the queens.
"No!" Bella said not wanting to look at the queens. "I don't belong to anyone but myself!"
"I-I just got over this, Alice! I-I can't do this again!" She looked back at Alice. "I-I just can't..."
Alice gave a sigh and glanced towards the queens who had pain in their eyes at being rejected. She gently walked closer to the human brunette and hugged the girl. "It's going to be okay, Bella."
Bella's eyes shut as she felt tears fall on her face and hugged the pixie vampire. "Alice, you can't leave me again..."
Simultaneously, three dead heart broke as they saw their mate in pain. Sulpicia stepped forward but not any closer as to not aggravate the crying human. "Alice, I know you need to get back to your family...but can we persuade you to stay for a while?" She asked in a low whisper so that only the vampires in the room could hear her.
Alice sighed and nodded. "Bella, I have to get back to Jasper...but I'll stay here with you for a while, okay?"
Bella sniffed and nodded, still hugging the petite vampire.
Noticing that Bella might need space, the three queens left the room quietly, knowing Bella might want to get some more rest.
Once the crying girl noticed that the queens had left she turned to her friend. "Alice, are they telling the truth?" Bella asked, her insecurities flooding out.
Alice's dead heart broke at her best friend's pained face. She nodded. "I know my word might not mean much to you anymore, but this time, I'm sure."
Bella wasn't sure what she felt about that admission. She knew even if Alice had left her, she still wholeheartedly trusted the pixie vampire. She sniffed and pulled away. "I trust you."
Alice gave a guilty smile. "I'm sorry."
Bella looked up at her friend's face. "For what?"
"For not fighting hard enough to stay." Alice continued.
Bella sadly looked down. "Were you the only one who wanted to stay?"
Alice gently put a hand on her cheek. "Bella, Edward was the only one who wanted to leave. None of the others wanted to leave you."
Bella looked into her best friend's eyes and only saw honesty. "Really?"
Alice gave her an assuring smile. "Really."
"Even Rosalie?" Bella asked smiling at the thought of the feisty blonde arguing for her sake.
"I feel ashamed to say Rosalie probably fought the hardest for us to stay." Alice let out an amused chuckle. "She was secretly fond of you...you should have heard her and Esme on the phone worrying over you."
Bella let out a small chuckle. Although Rosalie was always so outwardly cold to her, she would do things in secret that let Bella knew that she still cared. Like secretly fixing up her truck, making it run as smoothly as if it was new, she only found out because Charlie was looking over it and pointed out some things that were changed. Or when Bella spends the whole day with them, the others forget about Bella's humanity at times and forget to feed her, and Rosalie would make seemingly biting remarks that reminded them the human needed to be fed, honestly if the blonde wasn't around, she'd probably always starve.
Esme took care of her as well. She always made the most delicious meals, and once Rosalie would remind them that Bella needed to eat, Esme was quick to prepare her a meal. Esme acted like a mother to her than her actual birth mother who felt more like the teenager between them.
Rosalie was like the strict older sister she never knew she needed and Esme the mother she's always wanted.
She missed them. All of them.
Maybe all the restless months away from the Cullens was starting to weigh down on her, or maybe it was Bella's whole situation. Whatever it was, Bella didn't realize she was falling asleep, while she leaned into Alice's cold but comforting embrace.
Bella's eyes fluttered open and she sat up, looking to see if her friend had really stayed. She got up and went to open the door, "Alice?" She called out softly.
She closed the door and sighed as she felt the familiar sadness hit her.
She climbed back on the bed and pulled her knees to her chest and cried. Internally berating herself for trusting Alice again. Alice probably lied so that she could lull Bella to sleep. The things she said about Rosalie and Esme were probably lies as well. That made more tears come down, and a quiet sob came from her lips.
"Isabella." A melodic voice said from the doorway.
Bella looked up to find the brunette queen peeking from the door.
Bella sniffed and quickly wiped her tears. "Y-Yes?"
The brunette queen fully entered the bedroom and closed the door behind her. "Why are you crying?"
Bella looked down at the sheets, not sure if she wanted to talk to one of the queens.
The brunette queen slowly moved forward and kneeled next to the bed. She wanted badly to hug her human mate but was scared of scaring the girl. She hesitated but settled on gently taking the human's hand in hers. "Isabella…will you tell me what's wrong?"
Bella looked at the hand holding hers. It was cold. It was also soft and surprisingly comforting. She blinked, still staring at the hand, and deciding if she should tell the queen.
"Has Alice l-left?" Bella finally looked up at the queen.
The queen smiled, understanding the girl's sadness. She shook her head. "Don't worry Isabella…Alice just went out for a hunt, she'll be back afterwards."
Bella felt stupid. Alice wasn't that cruel to lie to her like that, she wasn't Edward. She suddenly felt guilty for accusing Alice of lies. She bit her lip, deep in thought.
The brunette queen's eyebrow raised as she zeroed in on the bitten lip. She unnecessarily swallowed as she felt the sudden surge to claim her mate's lips.
Bella looked up as she finally pulled herself out of her thoughts. "S-Sorry…I zoned out."
The brunette queen smiled and shook her head. "It's alright Isabella."
"Bella…I'm not really used to my first name anymore…please call me Bella." Bella blushed as she said this. It was half the truth. Although she never liked it when people called her by her first name, the way these queens said it made her uncomfortable in a way she didn't understand.
"Bella…that's still as beautiful." The brunette vampire smiled.
"I'm sorry, but I forgot your name." Bella blushed as she admitted, she ignored the same uncomfortable feeling from hearing the brunette queen say the nickname. Maybe it was the accent that was making her uncomfortable.
The brunette queen just gently shook her head in assurance. "That's alright…you were under a lot of stress earlier…My name is Didyme."
"Didyme." Bella repeated in a whisper, liking the unique name. "I remember now…it's a pretty name."
Didyme felt her insides melt at the sound her name from Bella's lips. She smiled. "Thank you."
"Did I disturb you?" Bella worriedly asked.
Didyme shook her head. "Not at all. I actually wanted to check up on you to see how you were."
"Oh okay…thanks." Bella said awkwardly.
Didyme giggled at the adorable human. "My pleasure, Bella."
Bella ignored the way her name was being said and the accompanying effect it had on her. "Can I ask you something?"
Didyme internally rejoice at the chance of conversation. "Yes dear, anything you want to know."
"How do you know for sure that I'm your mate?" Bella asked.
Didyme's eyebrows rose in surprise, she didn't expect that question. But just as fast, her face softened. "Dear Bella, you know about Alice and Edward's gifts, correct?"
Bella nodded hesitantly.
"Well, I have a gift as well." Didyme said with a proud smile.
Bella couldn't help the smile that appeared on her lips when she saw the vampire's proud smile, like a child who was eager to show off. "What kind of gift?"
Didyme felt her heart soar to finally see a smile grace her mate's lips. "For vampires, bonds are very special. And there are different kinds of bonds. Familial bonds, friendship bonds, and mate bonds."
In her curiousness, she didn't know she had scooted closer to the queen. She nodded in response, intrigued with what the brunette vampire was telling her.
"I can see the bonds between people." Didyme said softly.
Bella's eyes widened, forgetting the question she asked that got them on this topic. "Really? What do they look like?"
Didyme's smile softened. "I see invisible strings between people, the colors change depending on what kind of bond is between them. Family bonds are white, friendship bonds are yellow and mate bonds are red."
At that, Bella remembered why they were talking about Didyme's gift in the first place. "So, between us?"
"Starting here…" Didyme pointed to herself, where her undead heart would be behind her chest and then led her finger to Bella's chest where her beating heart was. "…to here, is a red string that only I can see."
Bella looked down at the finger on her chest and tried to imagine what Didyme saw.
Another smile from Bella made another appearance and the brunette vampire loved being able to witness it. Didyme let her hand drop on top of Bella's hands that was resting on her lap and gently took the girl's hand in hers. "That's how I'm sure that you are."
"Wow… that's really cool." Bella's blushed deepened as Didyme held her hand. She slowly pulled her hand away, not wanting to offend the queen, but she was feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"Doesn't it get frustrating to see strings everywhere?" Bella asked trying to change the subject.
"No…" Didyme's smile dropped but immediately shook her head to push away the pain that the small rejection had caused in her. "I can turn it on and off like a light switch."
Bella's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's amazing!"
Didyme nodded, proud to have amazed the human.
A few minutes passed by, because neither of the two knew what else to say. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by Bella.
"I understand that you think that you are my mates…but I'm not sure if I can fully accept that yet." Bella said cautiously.
Didyme let out a sigh and nodded. "I understand…and I'll respect that."
The door opened slightly, and a certain pixie's head popped in.
Bella's entire face lit up and she stood up. "Alice!"
Alice fully came inside the bedroom and looked apologetically to the Queen for interrupting their moment together. She had seen the awkward moment between the two and wanted to intervene before it got anymore awkward.
The queen just stood up and waved her off. She was a bit sullen about the time she got with Bella getting cut short and the mini rejection that she just received but seeing Bella's smile overpowered any of those other feelings, she wasn't going to be the one to make Bella sad again, at least not on purpose.
Alice gave Bella a hug as soon as the human reached her.
"I thought you left." Bella said, sadness tinged in her voice.
Alice looked back guiltily at Bella and held both her hands. "Bella…Again, I'm really sorry."
Bella just shook her head and hugged Alice again. "I know Alice."
Didyme realized it was her time to go and proceeded towards the door.
"Didyme…" Bella noticed the brunette queen walk towards the door.
Didyme froze and turned around to the human. "Yes?"
"Thank you." Bella said with a small soft smile.
"My pleasure." Didyme responded. She wanted Bella to ask her to stay but it was too early for that to happen and from what she observed in the girl's personality, even if she wanted to, she'd be too shy to ask.
"Call your friends and family, I've heard they've been worried about you." Didyme smiled at Bella, who returned the smile.
"Thank you…" Bella said, gratefulness evident in her voice.
Didyme just smiled once more at her human mate before she left.
Once they were alone, Alice guided Bella to the bed, having her sit with her at the edge of the bed.
"What was one of the queens doing here?" Alice asked in a slight teasing tone. Though she knew the queens would want to stay with Bella every second they could, Alice knew that the queens were taking her earlier advice and giving her a bit of time, so she knew something happened while she was out.
Bella blushed and remembered why the brunette queen had come into the room in the first place. "I was crying…"
Alice's shoulders slumped guiltily, "Oh Bella, I'm so sorry!"
Bella shook her head and held the pixie's hands. She smiled gently. "Alice, stop apologizing. You're here now, that's what matters."
Alice nodded and squeezed Bella's hands lightly. "Shall we call Charlie?"
Bella smiled and nodded.
With the Queens:
Didyme was smiling when she entered the private room reserved for the queens. She giggled as she noticed Athenodora was sulking in her favorite seat.
"Dora, Sweetie, there's no need to be bitter." Didyme said as she sat in her own respective seat.
When they heard their human mate call out, they decided it would be better if Didyme went alone, afraid to overwhelm the girl. Sulpicia and Didyme were the ones that made the final decision, Athenodora wanted to be the one to see Bella, but the other two thought that the hasty blonde wouldn't handle the situation as well.
"How was she?" Athenodora had her arms crossed in front her chest and she was scowling at the floor. She was obviously still bitter, but she was curious about their human.
"She's better now, she thought Alice had left for good." Didyme explained. They were able to hear the distress in her voice when she called out for the pixie vampire.
"What is she doing now?" Athenodora asked.
"I gave permission to call her dad, and most probably the Cullens." Didyme said.
"Even the mind reader?" Athenodora asked grimly, flaring up at the thought. Sulpicia frowned as well hearing that.
Didyme shrugged. "She needs to know we're trying to understand her."
"And if she wants to go back to her father?" Sulpicia asked with a raised eyebrow.
Athenodora nodded and looked back at Didyme for her response.
"Would you be able to deny her?" Didyme challenged Sulpicia.
Other vampires knew not to challenge Sulpicia, or even try, but the blonde's weakness was her Queen counterparts and now Bella as well. Sulpicia steeled her expression and gritted her teeth. Will she be able to deny her human mate anything she wanted?
Sulpicia sighed and shook her head. She wouldn't be able to, the thought of making Bella sad or upset incredibly bothered her. "But I can't lose her either…"
Didyme nodded in understanding. "I know what you're feeling, I feel the same way." The brunette shook her head gently at Sulpicia, quickly glancing at Athenodora to make it known she was talking to both. "But if we keep her from what her heart wants…she might end up resenting us, and I can't bear the thought of that."
Athenodora frowned and stared angrily at the wall. Sulpicia closed her eyes in frustration and nodded.
"So, what do you suggest?" Athenodora asked, looking at curiously at the brunette.
Didyme smiled. "We do what we do best."
Sulpicia and Athenodora smiled in response, recognizing the playful glint in their mate's eyes.
Back to Bella:
"What do I say?" Bella asked worriedly. She was feeling guilty because she knew Charlie would be filled with intense fatherly worry.
"Just say that you had a one-time opportunity with a time limit that I gave you, and that you'll be back after a week." Alice said.
Bella furrowed her brows. "But didn't the queens say I can't leave?"
Alice already the queens couldn't deny Bella anything she wanted, but she wanted the queens to make the fact known their selves. "You can't, but it would be to placate him for now."
Bella looked down and felt the wave of sadness pass through her. She's always wanted to be turned after meeting the Cullens but that didn't change the fact that she was guilty about leaving Charlie. "Oh…okay."
Alice bit her lip from saying anything. The sad look on her best friend's face made her want to fess up, but she thought it'd be better for the queens to tell her themselves, for their bond's sake. She just put a comforting hand on Bella's shoulder.
"Shall we call now? It's about morning in Forks right now." Alice suggested with a small smile.
Bella nodded and smiled back gratefully smiled. "Okay."
They only heard two rings before a husky voice answered, sounding terribly distracted. "Officer Swan, how can I help you?"
"Dad…" Bella said softly.
"Bella!" Charlie's voice was a mix of relief and worry. "Where are you? I'll come get you right now!"
"Dad, calm down…I'm in Italy right now."
"Italy?! What in the world are you doing in Italy right now!" Charlie's voice raised and he sounded incredulous.
"Dad, calm down." Bella said softly. "I'm alright."
Bella heard Charlie inhale and exhale a big breath. "Okay I'm calm, please explain why you're in Italy right now."
"Alice came back, and she gave me a one-time opportunity for a college here, but she said the offer would expire soon." Bella lied in a calm voice.
"College in Italy? Is that where you want to go?" Charlie asked worry evident in his voice.
Bella swallowed. The truth was all she wanted was to go home to her own bed and finish her school. "Yes dad, the college here is amazing! They're giving me a full scholarship if I stay here for a week and prove to them my worth."
Alice watched in worry as Bella lied perfectly to her father.
"Are you by yourself?" Charlie asked.
"No dad, Alice is with me right now." Bella said reassuring him.
"Hi, Charlie!" Alice said loudly for him to hear.
"Is he there too?" Charlie asked a little bit of anger in his voice.
"No, he's not here, I didn't come with him…I don't know where he is." Bella immediately knew who he was talking about, and all she was saying to him weren't lies.
Bella heard a loud sigh and a second of silence. "Alright, but please be careful."
"I will, dad. I love you." Bella said, her eyes becoming watery.
"I love you too Bells." Charlie said. "Get some rest now, it must be nighttime there now, right?"
Bella chuckled. "Yes, I will in a bit, bye dad."
"Bye Bells." Charlie said.
Bella ended the call and looked at Alice.
"Are you okay?" The pixie vampire asked.
Bella shook her head. "Not really."
Alice took Bella's hand and held it. "Shall we call our family?"
"Our family?" Bella asked cautiously.
Alice smiled, "One of the things we realized is that you are part of the family, so yes, our family."
Bella smiled a genuine smile, that little tid bit making her feel better. "Shall we call Rosalie first?"
"Of course, or else she'll throw a fit." Alice said with a giggle.
Alice dialed Rosalie's number and handed the phone to Bella, who only heard one ring before she heard the familiar voice that belonged to a certain ice queen.
"Alice?"
"Rose…" Bella said softly.
"Bella!" Bella chuckled as she heard the relief in the supposed ice queen's voice.
"Bella, are you alright?! Did the Edward hurt you?! Did the queens hurt you?! Have you eaten?!" Rosalie blasted a few questions that only she would ask. The last question making her stomach growl, she didn't even notice how hungry she was.
Bella smiled, "I'm okay Rose. Edward didn't really hurt me, and the queens say that they won't hurt me."
"Have you eaten?" Rosalie asked again, noticing how the girl didn't answer the last question.
"Not yet, but I wanted to call you guys first." Bella said stubbornly like a child.
Rosalie laughed. "Fine, I'll let it slide."
Bella's smile widened. "Thanks Rose."
"Bella…" Rosalie started, Bella thought she sounded cautious.
"Yeah?" Bella replied.
"I'm sorry." Rosalie said softly, sadness evident in her voice.
Bella looked up into Alice's eyes. "It'll be okay." She replied with a small smile.
"Okay." Rosalie said. "Oh! Esme wants to talk to you too."
"Of course, please." Bella said.
"Bella?" Esme asked, worry evident in her voice.
"Hi Esme." Bella smiled softly.
"Bella! Oh dear, I've missed you so much! Please forgive us. Have you been eating well? Are they treating you well?"
Bella giggled along with Alice, who was amused by her adoptive mom's rambling. "Yes Esme, they've been treating me well so far. I was planning to eat after this call. And forgiving you…I don't think I could ever stay mad at you Esme."
Bella jumped as Emmett's booming voice sounded on the phone.
"Hey Bella! I'm taking over the phone since Esme's getting choked up over here. I've missed you kid!" Emmett said, his voice full of excitement.
Bella laughed at Emmett's antics, it was nice to hear the voice after voice that had been missing in her life for a while.
"Hi Bella."
Bella smiled when a southern accent came onto the phone.
"Hi Jasper, did you miss me too?" Bella asked amusedly.
"Of course, how could I not when Alice would ramble on about you?" Jasper said with a light chuckle, which made me giggle as well.
"I think I really needed this phone call. I missed you all." Bella said softly, and she knew all the Cullens heard her.
"Time's up Bella, time to eat." Rosalie's scolding voice came thru, and it made Bella laugh. She was used to the phrase as the blonde always used it to make Bella stop playing with the boys and make her eat.
"Yes ma'am." Bella said with an amused grin, Alice smiling along with her. Bella heard Emmett's booming laughter through the phone.
"We love you." Rosalie's scolding tone was replaced with the most serious voice she's ever heard her.
Unshed tears caused Bella's eyes to blur, and then a tear finally fell from her right eye as she answered back. "I love you all too."
If Alice could cry, she would have sobbed for her family. Her dead heart feeling lighter at hearing Bella's response.
Alice and Bella heard Rosalie clear her throat after a few minutes of silence. "Alright, that's enough of that. Go eat, human."
Bella smiled, "Okay, bye guys."
Different voices sounded through the phone, and she finally hung up. Bella was handing the phone back to Alice, but the pixie shook her head. "Keep it…call them if you miss them."
Bella smiled and nodded. "Thanks."
"Let's get you food?" Alice asked.
Bella's stomach growled in response, which made the owner blush. "Yes, please."
Alice led her to a large dining room with a long, elegant table that was fit to be in a castle, though she knew most of the castle's residents wouldn't be caught in here.
"Wow." Bella said in wonder.
Then the door opposite from where they came in opened to reveal three beautiful faces.
"Isabella, welcome! We knew you would need some sustenance soon." The elegant blonde, she remembered to be Sulpicia, spoke with a charming smile.
"B-Bella…" Bella swallowed nervously as she felt uncomfortable that all three queens were here, looking at her as if they wanted to eat her. "Please call me Bella, I'm more used to my nickname."
"Oh yes, she prefers Bella." Didyme smirked as she glanced at the other queens. "I forgot to mention that."
"Suuure you did." Athenodora said, her voice full of sarcasm.
Bella's stomach growled and interrupted whatever Didyme was going to retort with.
"Ladies, let's put your petty argument for later…it seems Bella is hungry." Sulpicia smirked as she turned back to Bella with a smirk. The other two queens had a smirk as well as they turned their attention back to the human brunette.
"What would you like to eat, Bella?" Athenodora asked.
Bella looked away and glanced at Alice, who shrugged at her. She turned back to the waiting queens. "I'm not sure, I'll eat anything."
"Anything Bella?" Sulpicia raised an eyebrow and smirked at her.
"U-Um...I mean, as long as it's not blood." Bella responded nervously.
"Let's not antagonize the hungry girl any further." Didyme commented, though there was amusement in her voice.
Bella looked her way and gave her a grateful smile, which Didyme returned with a grin.
"Alright my Queens, who's cooking?" Alice asked, entirely too amused.
The queens exchanged looks and then turned to Bella.
"Well Bella, we were talking. Whoever gets to satisfy your taste buds gets to spend a day with you first?" Sulpicia asked kindly.
Bella gulped. "A day with me first?"
Didyme nodded. "Yes, we all want to get to know you."
"Will you allow us to get to know you?" Bella was surprised that it was Athenodora that asked permission, the haughty blonde didn't seem like the type to ask for permission.
It caught Bella so off guard that she nodded, accepting their suggestion.
The three queens smiled, and excitement fluttered through them at the thought of spending a day with their human mate.
"Splendid!" Sulpicia exclaimed. "I guess we should get to cooking."