CH3

I climbed into my car and let out a sigh before starting it up and heading for the school. I was not looking forward to the bombardment if Alice told them about me. I also had to find a way to reassure my wife that everything is ok, without pissing her off any more than I already had. I pulled into the lot just in time to see Kira off at the end of it arguing with her boyfriend Derek, a wolf from La Push. At the other end Wyett was climbing out of Lauren's car, thankfully the windows were so tinted even Vampire eyes couldn't see through them, they would definitely have recognized her, she hasn't changed much minus being a little older. In the middle of the lot, and not far from me stood the "family" of Vampires. Every pair of their eyes were focused on the shifter. Rosalie wore a glare that rivaled the ones I had gotten used to in the past. The others had scowls on their faces varying from pissed to confused. It didn't take long for Edward to speak up, and thankfully I was close enough to hear without them suspecting. "That wolf shouldn't be anywhere near that girl." Derek had no problem hearing him as annoyed eyes shot to him before focusing back on my daughter. He then proceeded to roll his eyes at whatever she had to say. "they seem pretty close though, I wonder if she knows?" one of the new blondes asked, seemed to just get more and more annoyed, "Edward?" his attention went to Kira and I pulled a shield up as fast as I could in my panic mentally apologizing as she winced at the intrusion. I took great pleasure in watching his eyes widen, "nothing."

"what do you mean nothing?"

"I mean I heard her, I know I heard her earlier, now I hear nothing. Like she just kicked me out." I couldn't stop the smirk that lifted my lips until I noticed Derek had taken off and Kira was stomping my way. "Everything alright dear?"

"just peachy mama. Guys are stupid."

"that they are my dear, that they are."

"did you?"

"I did, forgive me for the-you know, I panicked."

"it's ok." She leaned her head against my shoulder as Wyett walked up to us. "Everything ok Kira? I saw Derek take off."

"He's a dick."

"Kira."

"Sorry ma but it's true."

"you need me to-"

"No, Thanks Wyett but it's fine, Promise. We should get to class though, I'll see you later ma." I placed a kiss to her cheek and whispered in her ear "be careful." The Cullen's still had their eyes on us so we headed our separate ways to class doing our best to ignore them.

It wasn't to bad cause as of now it doesn't look like Alice told them anything, except maybe Jasper, he kept his eyes on me until the door closed behind me. Not surprising they are mates after all, but why didn't she tell the others yet. And again where the hell was Emmett, not that I care but I don't want any more surprises.

Classes went by as usual and I was actually in a decent mood until it came time for class with Rosalie and Kate, once again she couldn't keep her eyes off of Kira. It took everything in me to just grit my teeth and continue to lecture. I may have let my temper slip slightly when I demanded an answer from her on my lecture, she turned now wary eyes to me and answered without hesitation. "very good miss Ha-Denali, but please eyes up front." Kira and Wyett's eyes widened at my slip up as Rosalie's narrowed. I quickly finished my lecture and gave out the homework assignment before dismissing the class. When she finally took her eyes off me and towards Kira, she was already halfway out the door with Wyett. She sent one more suspicious look my way before exiting with the rest of the students.

I pulled out my own lunch and cherished the quiet for a little while, at least I did before there was a soft knock on the door as it opened. "what can I do for you miss Cullen."

"I-I just wanted a couple minutes with you before class." I gesture to one of the seats up front. "about?"

"you?"

"what about me Alice?"

"your alive?"

"So it would seem."

"how? If what the paper say how-"

"why didn't you tell the others?" I interrupted quickly startling her. "Well, you did say at first that you didn't want them to know."

"and then I told you I didn't care."

"well yea but, we had a meeting with the wolves, I just didn't want to add anything more to the problem."

"problem? Did the meeting not go well?"

"it went fine as could be. Were, were you there?" I tilted my head with a smile, something I picked up from Val, "at your meeting with the wolves? No." she dropped in defeat, "you don't want to tell me anything about you?"

"Not particularly."

"can you at least answer on question?"

"…perhaps." I admit she got my attention, though I was still surprised by her question, as well as the emotion in her voice when she asked, "are you happy?"

"…very." I whispered out. She nodded her head with a small smile before getting up and heading to her table in the back. "good, that's all I wanted." Before I could come up with a reply the door opened and students poured in. I stood up and began my lecture as the clock ticked by. of all day this class dragged on far more than any of the others. When it was finally over I let them out with a sigh, Alice walked out with a small wave followed by Irina. Thankfully the rest of my classes flew by without any vampires.

By the time the last bell rang I was about ready to just head home to my wife and relax, I however knew that wasn't possible, I still needed to talk to Wyett and call Jake about the meeting. We climbed into the car silently and didn't speak until we were down the road a couple miles away from the Cullen's, "how did the meeting go?"

"Derek said it was a disaster."

"Derek has a high imagination and hatred for anything not human or wolf."

"was it not a disaster Wyett?"

"it was, not as bad as I expected to be honest. Jake handled it well enough. There was a total of 9 of them."

"Emmett?"

"No it was another woman. I sensed quite a bit of power in her to, I'm guessing she's older than the Cullen's."

"yah, I got the same from the other two."

"they never mentioned any other vampires to you back-then mom?"

"No, well the Volturi, but I doubt they are Volturi. Not with those eyes."

"hmm well, they agreed to abide by the treaty as usual and that was pretty much, well almost it."

"what happened?"

"I'm not quite sure, but Leah kinda panicked or something during it. Jake is dealing with though apparently, whatever it was, the other wolves nor Jake are happy."

"Hmm I will call him later than." I pull up to our house thankful to see Val only to frown when I notice her car is gone. I make it to the kitchen where she leaves most notes to be told she took Aidan to the grocery store.

VAL POV

I really should have thought twice before taking a 3 year old just getting over being sick to the store, but we needed something for dinner. So not only did I have a squirming 3 year old, my wife's vampire ex, a pack of temperamental wolves, I once again feel like shit, and I just got off the phone with the higher ups who just found us another problem to deal with.

I was so lost in thought as I threw things into our cart that I didn't even hear the woman come around the corner and plowed right into her. "oh I'm so sorry-" the words froze in my throat as I looked up into dark golden eyes. Great a hungry vampire. "that alright dear, I didn't even hear you around the corner." She spoke as if she should have heard my near silent footsteps. "right, well have a nice day."

"wait!" I turned surprised at the outburst, "sorry, you just, you look so familiar."

"yah, I get that a lot."

"right, I'm sorry. oh where are my manners, I'm Esme Cullen, I just moved here with my family." "Valentina Hunt, welcome. But I really must get going before my family gets home."

"Of course have a nice day dear."

"you as well." With that I walked away gritting my teeth and pushing the cart that held Aidan towards the line as fast as I could. I paid for the groceries wondering why she also looked kind of familiar to me. shaking my head, Probably because Bells described her to me once. Loading the now sleeping boy into the car with the tonight's dinner. I start the car just as she exits the store in my rear view mirror with another vampire woman.

As soon as the car stopped Wyett, Lauren and Kira were all grabbing the bags for me as I wrestled with getting a tired Aidan out of the car. They put the groceries away while I put Aidan down for his nap before starting dinner. I ran upstairs to tell Isabella it was her turn and she wasn't getting out of it only to stop dead in my tracks at the bathroom door wide open and my very naked wife in the shower. "…fucking hell woman." I whispered as I leaned against the door and cleared my throat. Her blue eyes shot open, "Jesus Val, you scared the hell out of me."

"Don't worry love, I have enough to make up for it." her eyes rolled, "are you just going to stand there staring?"

"is that an invitation? I'm fine either way, I do so enjoy the view." My eyes roamed her body, pleased she started to squirm under my gaze. "As if you need one? Get in here."

Doing as she said I spent the rest of her shower making sure she knew there was no way in hell I was losing her to these vampires. Especially after everything she went through after they left. I can still remember how dead her eyes looked when she first arrived.

They wheeled her in strapped down, what I could only assume was her father pleading with her the whole way. Another boy walked with her as well, her brother? Her boyfriend? Cousin? No not a relative, she was pale as can be, as pale as the dead, while he was naturally tan. it took everything in me to wait the mandatory 2 weeks before approaching he. But that didn't stop me from watching her, and it clearly didn't stop her from watching me. I watched as her visitors got smaller and smaller until it was only her dad and some other girl visiting her. She spent most her days staring at her hands or people watching, she didn't really have much to say to the doctors. She didn't bother lying to them, she just didn't bother at all. I finally got up the nerve to ask her doctor about her, "what's her story doc?"

"I was wondering when you were going to ask about her."

"huh, why?"

"besides the fact you haven't taken your eyes off of her since she arrived?" I could feel my face heat up, "just answer old man." He let out a gravely chuckle, "Right. Isabella Marie Swan of Forks. Daughter to Chief Swan himself. She-she jumped." My breath left me at his quiet admission. "the coast of La Push to be exact."

"the water? She tried to drown herself?" I can't say I understand that. Of all the ways to do-it, that wasn't a very effective one. Reflexes kick in to often. "there was a storm at the time, she wouldn't have resurfaced had she not been pulled out."

"do you know why?" I quietly asked. "No, but I know it wasn't the first attempt."

"Jesus."

"her father spoke of an overdose. There are cuts on her wrists, bruises everywhere else. And frankly, she just doesn't seem to care. Your two weeks are up. Go save that girls life."

"yes sir" I smirked at his tone while wondering what had broken this girl so much she thought she was beyond repair. I slowly made my way to her room before knocking and peaking my head in. "Mind some company?" I asked with what I hope was a reassuring smile, but she only stared with wide eyes, dear god what happened to you. "I can come back later?"

"No!" I nearly jumped out of my skin at the yell. "No sorry your fine, I was-I was zoned out is all."

"ahh I see. Not the place you want them to see you zoning out love." And it wasn't, don't need to give these people anything more than you just tried to off yourself to end up strapped down for good. "right. I'm Bella." Bella, Beautiful indeed. "Valentina."

For the next weeks I would visit her at least an hour every day, she was the one in the hospital that needed it the most. And apparently I needed it to, I would look forward to our visits every day, I needed to know what had happened to this beautiful, amazingly smart, funny woman. And I had started to genuinely enjoy her company. It wasn't until her 4th week of being a patient, that I finally decided to ask her the one question that she simply refused to answer when the therapists asked. "why'd you do it?" she froze staring down at the cards in her hand. I could tell she wasn't just going to give it up because I asked, so I continued on "I did it because of depression." Her head shot up, eyes wide, "you-you tried to kill yourself?"

"I did."

"how?" I looked up into her tear filled eyes before answering "I jumped."

I was brought back to the present by the hand cupping my cheek, "where'd you go?" I wrapped my arms around her waist, "not far my love." We climbed out and dried off throwing on some sweats before heading down to start dinner. I made it half way down the stairs with my eyes glued to her ass before I heard Aidan waking up. "you want me to get him?"

"No I want you to start dinner, I'm starving." Ignoring her chuckle I turned around and went to grab him. "there's my little buddy." Nothing makes me happier than seeing his big smile as he peaks over his crib. "did you have a good nap baby?"

"Cha momma."

"good let's go see what mommas making for dinner." His only reply was a high-pitched squeal as I took him down the stairs and into the kitchen preparing for his squirming when he saw her. And squirm he did "Moooommmmaaa!" he squealed and had had I not had a grip on him I would have dropped him.

Sorry I know its short but didn't want to leave you guys hanging for long, working on the next.