CH5

Val POV

"Jesus fucking Christ" I mumbled as I once again emptied my entire stomach of its contents. I managed to clean myself up by the time I heard Bella's car roll up. From the silence of her arrival I'm assuming Aidan had fallen asleep. She had gone straight to put him to bed in his room before joining me in our own. "Fine, it was nice to see Jake."

"you see him all the time dear."

"well yah, but still." her face showed embarrassment, but it never reddened. I let out a chuckle, "well did you get any answers?"

"Yes, Derek, and well most of the pack are upset, and just plain mad at Leah."

"why?" That was weird, she was by far one of Jake's most loyal wolves with her brother, and maybe even more loyal to Kira. "She imprinted."

"I don't understand? that's great news though, she has been alone for so long." And it was, some wolves once explained it to me as making it all worth everything they give up. Its one of their most sacred abilities. My wife stared down at the ground, a contemplative look on her face before she met my eyes. "She imprinted during the meeting with the Cullen's."

"oh?"…oh…oh shit. "…well fuck."

"yah."

"which one?"

"were not sure yet."

"lovely." I ran a hand through my hair, "what are they going to do?"

"As of right now Jake is just going to try and settle the unrest, and assure Leah that she is still pack."

"good place to start as any I suppose."

"Mmm, how was your day love?" Bypassing the I spent most of it in the bathroom hurling my guts out, I mump straight to business. "Hayden called."

"…for?"

"for what else? People are dying." She rolled her eyes "well yes dear I figured that, people dye all the time, what's different?" I let my eyes roam her body as she removed her coat, licking my lips "…they aren't going up my love, or down, they aren't going anywhere." She froze in her movements, "what? how is that possible?"

"well vampires babe." She nodded her head, "so a coven, I assume he didn't just call to inform us of a vampire turning people."

"he did. It isn't just a person here and there. Were talking 15 cases already."

"15 people were turned? In what time span?"

"the last two weeks. It gets worse."

"ugh, of course it does."

"Seattle, all are from Seattle."

"people will notice."

"exactly."

"what does he want us to do?"

"…free their souls." She looked down at her hands before speaking quietly, "you mean kill them babe."

"essentially…yes. They were forced Bella, not one chose it. not one knew." I walk up and take her hands knowing how she felt about our work, "I know, it doesn't make it any easier, can't we just take out the ones making them? let the others live their lives?" I hesitated "Bella…honey our orders are clear. I can handle it on my own if you would prefer-"

"no, no I won't have you pay my life's price."

"I would pay it a million time over."

"I know you would, and I love you for it, go tell Kira she needs to stick around and watch Aidan for us while I get ready."

"…of course my love."

I left her to it and knocked on Kira's door, "hon you awake?"

"yah mom." Opening her door I see her laid out on her bed with one headphone in her ear and her homework in front of her. "Aidan is asleep but me and your mother need to head out for a while, can you just check on him in a while?"

"sure ma, everything ok?"

"yah everything is fine." I said my goodnight and joined Bella who was now downstairs. "all good?"

"yup you ready?"

"yes, I just wana grab my gear."

"Already did, here." She handed me my bag and I dug through it for my favorite weapons, as if I would actually really need any of them. once armed to the teeth we stepped outside into the night air, thankfully our house was buried deep into the forest behind trees. "do you want to drive there or?"

"let's fly, it's ben to long, I need to stretch out." As soon as I nodded her wings unfurled, a pure white just like her hair they reached out about 7 feet on each side. She shook out the feathers with a moan, it really had been quite awhile since we have flown. With a little laugh I unfurl my own wings, such a contrast her white ones, mine were pitch black with white scattered throughout them. I shake them out with my own little moan before looking back at her, she takes me in appreciatively and I send her a smirk, "shall we?"

"after you my love." I rose my wings up and flapped down hard shooting myself into the air, I vaguely hear Bella following suit behind me. once high enough I change direction and head towards Seattle, with a look over I make sure Bella is doing the same about 5 yards to my right, she is nothing more then a blur and I have to catch up. I know she wants to just get this over with and this won't be just a leisurely flight.

At the pace she sets we get to Seattle in under an hour. I send her a message through our bond "we split up?"

Yes I will take the coast, you take this end and we meet in the middle?

"Ok, be careful."

Always, you to.

With that I circled around until I hit the water, still high enough up that even a vampire would have trouble seeing me. Hovering above a couple of buildings I take a deep breath and shift my eyes until the red takes over and I can scan everything.

I had scanned almost half of the city and could feel the headache coming along from keeping my vision changed for so long, imagine looking in a heat detector for long periods of time. And everything was warm, bright red and yellow surrounding my vision until it blurred. Until I hit the city center. "Babe?"

I see it, I'm on my way. Blue. Cold blue bodies milling around in this one building. A few here and there had lingering warmth, they were feeding on them. I catch Bella's eye as she joins me zeroing on the humans inside. "it's too late, there isn't anything we can do." I murmured. I know. With a nod and deep breath "seal the exits."She shoots off sealing each exit and hole with a solid chunk of ice even a vampire would have trouble breaking. She made it to the last one before they started to notice, and panic followed I watched the colors scatter to the walls looking for a way out as she joined me again. "do you want to meet me back home?"

No. I nodded at her before I folded my wings and dropped towards the building at blinding speeds. I kept my vision up incase anyone made a run for it as I pulled at the heat under my skin, fire erupted on my arms as my feet slammed into the roof. Placing my hands on the roof the fire spread immediately until every inch of the outside was covered. Then I pushed it inside, and then I had to close my eyes as the screams started to fill the air. A tear rolled down my face and I know they were rolling down hers, these people didn't ask for this, they hardly ever did. And yet they now paid a price for the action of another. I could only hope their creator was among them, but I had my doubts.

Eventually the sounds of sirens replaced the screams and I opened my eyes in time to see soul after soul floating up in a blinding light, knowing a few were also going in the opposite direction. I cleared my vision back to normal and took off into the sky once the ground started to shake below me and the roof caved in. Joining Bella we took off for home without a word flying silently through the cold night air.

We landed silently on the deck that led to our room. Making a quick stop to check on Kira and Aidan I notice he was curled up in her bed with her sound asleep. We get to our room and go through the motions of getting ready for bed, once under the cover I let out the breath I had been holding in as she climbs in curling up to me. The tears start coming in full force and it kills me that all I can do it hold her until she cries herself to sleep. There isn't anything I can say to make her feel better about this, nothing I can do to take back what we just had to do, nothing. So I lay there holding her until her breathing evens out and she falls into a hopefully dreamless sleep, and then join her.

When I woke up she was no longer in bed with me, but I could hear noise downstairs. I take a quick shower to at least get the smell of smoke off of me, the fire and brimstone scent will never truly disappear though. Once dried and dressed I head downstairs to see my entire family in the kitchen waiting on breakfast, including Jake. Bella stood in front of the stove while Lauren set the table. Jake sat at the table with Aidan on his lap as he talked to Wyett. Kira was sitting on the counter next to the stove talking to Bella before she noticed me. "perfect time ma, Mom almost has breakfast done."

"I see that." I walked up behind her and put my hands on her waist, "why didn't you wake me? I would have helped."

"you needed to rest more than me. You were tossing and turning all night." I frowned "was I?"

"mhm. Here." She handed me a coffee cup. "Thank you." I murmured as I helped her pass out the food. She seemed ok, but I know better than anyone looks can be very deceiving. But there were no dark circles under her eyes so at least she appeared to have gotten some sleep.

Throughout breakfast we all talked and caught u, especially me since I have been sick, and unpleasant to be around. I'm aware I can be quite the bitch. But Jake was able to explain to Kira what had happened and why Derek was being the way he was. Which just pissed her off more. And then Lauren had pointed out that it had snowed last night so we should all go to the ice rank like we did a while back. No one had the heart to say no when they saw how excited Aidan got. Jake and Wyett cleaned up the kitchen while I went to get Aidan dressed, Kira doing the same. "honey?" I motioned for Bella to follow me upstairs. "Are you alright?"

"yes. Well no, but I mean yes." I nodded and waited for her to continue. "It sucks, all those people because of one vampire who couldn't just-I don't know I don't get it. I don't like it. But we made a decision, we need to live with the consequences of it. I will be fine, soon. I just don't like doing their dirty work."

"I understand, I do. But you wouldn't be here if-I made the decision Bella. I will pay the price, over and over again if I have to. I know it sucks and it shouldn't happen, but this is how it works. To many things could go wrong had they not been…dealt with."

"I know Val. But im not letting you do it alone. I will get over it. No that's a lie I won't, but I will learn to live with it."

"that's all you can do, The day you get over it, is the day you aren't you. We should get going."

"yah, lets."

We all piled into Bella's Lexus with a few people sitting on laps. She drove us down the winding road until we entered the actual town of Forks and pulled into the parking lot, thankfully there wasn't really anyone here yet, I'm sure that would change soon.

Everyone but Jake, Bella and myself had got skates and were already out on the ice with Aidan hanging onto a laughing Kira for dear life. I could keep the smile off my face as I watched them twirl around the ice and shoving snow in each other's faces. Neither could Bella. "we needed this." she finally spoke as she looked over at me, scooting over on the bench and wrapping my arm around her waist, "we all needed this. With everything going on, we need to just…be a family once in a while." Jake took a seat next to us, "is everything ok? Something happen besides the whole Cullen's returning shit?"

"mmm as if that wouldn't be enough?" I murmured only to be elbowed in the stomach, "ok ok. It's just work."

"the hospital?"

"…no."

"oh….oh. anything I can-uh help with?" chuckling at how uncomfortable he got, "no thank you Jake, we have it under control."

"ahh good, that's good. Well if there is, you know I got you."

"I know pup, I know, thanks." He nodded his head as he tried to hide his blush, Bella ducked her head trying to hide her smirk.

We spent the next 30 minutes watching them take turns sliding a giggling Aidan around the ice before Bella shifted, "I'm going to go get hot chocolate, want any?" I pulled her back down

"I got it babe. Jake?"

"no thanks."

"I can-"

"I know you can, but I got it."

"ok ok." I took off to the little concession stand to order. There were more people in line here than out on the ice.

Rosalie POV

"Why are we doing this again?"

"Because we need to at least pretend to be a normal family once in a while my dear sister." I rolled my eyes at my sister as she came down the stairs, Jasper right behind her with a small smile on his face. "and you think ice skating is the way to do that? Jasper come on at least tell me you agree with me?"

"Sorry Rose, besides it was Esme's idea. And she is already in the car waiting."

"great." It was near impossible to say no to Esme. I followed my favorite sibling into the cars that already held Esme, Irina and Kate, thankfully Edward and Carlisle were missing this family time. I'm not sure I had the patience to deal with them after the crap with Kira.

Esme took off as soon as the door closed rambling about how great it's going to be to have a family night out. "where's Tanya?" I asked when she stopped for a split second. "Shopping. She's been feeling kind of weird lately."

"yes, her emotions have been quite strange lately, but I haven't been able to place it."

"I feel that, both me and Irina have been tripping out lately to. But maybe some time out will be good for all of us. And you know Tanya, sometimes she needs to be alone."

As soon as we pulled into the parking lot I knew this was going to be a disaster. I shared a look with Alice before my eyes went back to the Lexus we parked next to. "well this is a nice car isn't it Rose?" Esme asked oblivious. "mhm." I answered as I tried to scan the ice rink and silently thanked whatever god would listen that Edward wasn't here. I didn't get very far in searching for Bella though, my eyes landed on her and stopped. There on the ice Kira was skirting around the other few people expertly as a little boy tried to keep up furiously giggling the whole way. She threw her head back and laughed, the sound more musical than any vampire could make to my ears. She spun around and stopped as the little boy flew into her. "Rose you coming?"

"yes" I replied to Esme without taking my eyes off of her, my legs moved automatically to follow. We entered the gate and I finally took my eyes off of her when I got a whiff of that stench, off to the side on one of the benches sat Bella watching the ice, and next to her sat one of the dogs. No not just one of the dogs, the alpha of the dogs. His head whipped towards us when I let slip a hiss, a snarl lifted his lips and brought Bella's attention to us. Her eyes widened before a blank mask took over. "I wonder what he is doing here?" Esme asked quietly. I could stop the snort that left me, "probably the same thing as us? Pretending." I could hear his own little snort as I brought my eyes back to the ice, only to narrow them at the girl Kira now had her arms around. And then I recognized her face, though I don't remember her smiling that much before, Lauren Mallory. She hasn't aged a day, her hair was slightly darker, her skin paler, but that was it, she looked exactly as she did back then. And she had her arms around my Mate. I froze as the word registered in my mind, is this what I was feeling? Was this girl my, my mate? "Alice where are you going?" I snapped my head at Esme's question in time to see Alice skip by me right towards Bella and the wolf. "hey Bella, Jake." Esme let out a gasp and Jacobs eyes widened at the fact she even acknowledged him. "Cullen."

"Hello Alice." Esme rushed past me "Bella is that really you?" she tilted her head as she regarded her impassively, "Esme." That was all it took, she covered her mouth and tried to stop the sobs. "it is you. How? What happened? Your alive."

"slow down Esme, preferably before you're the first Vampire to have an anxiety attack." I walked up to them with the rest of my family just as Kira came skidding out of the rink with the little boy in her arms, Lauren right behind her. I watched as Lauren mouthed a sorry to Bella. "mom? Everything ok?"

"everything is fine, don't worry."

"Mom? Bella wats going on? The newspaper, what happened." She rose a brow as Esme took another step towards her, shifting slightly in her seat. "Can you be more specific? What happened when? When Edward dumped me on the forest floor? When you all left without so much as a goodbye? When the depression you guys left me in took my life? When my dad was murdered? Or when you came back to MY town. Please explain just what you mean Esme." Her tone had gotten icier and icier by the time she finished, her face hard as stone. Esme, well all of us actually flinched at her tone. Kira set a hand on her shoulder to which her face softened. Before Esme could respond Jasper stepped forward. "Bella, I know it doesn't really matter after everything, but I would still like to apologize. It is my fault, I lost control and-"

"Stop." She interrupted him with a raised hand. "let me ask you something Jasper, Bloodlust, a…feeling yes? Do you feel it from others?" he looked puzzled but still answered, "yes."

"so, there was blood, and not only did you have to deal with your own, you had to deal with it from 6 others. I didn't care, I still don't. You are a vampire, there was blood, nothing happened. I don't blame you, at least not for that night. Just as I don't blame Alice for throwing the party anymore. I blame you all for acting like I was family to you and then proving I wasn't."

"but Bella that wasn't-"

"yes Esme it was. You left without even considering the fact that the golden boy, oh so wonderful Edward could possibly lying. Not one of you thought to come see me, not one thought of me at all I bet."

"Bella that isn't true."

"then why Alice?!" she stood up and looked her in the eyes demanding an answer, something the old Bella never would have done. Alice looked close to tears so I interrupted, "we fought Bella." Her eyes shot to me as she crossed her arms waiting for me to continue, though I could tell she was confused it came from me. "we fought to stay, no one more than Alice, but there was a vote, we had to go if we wanted to stay a family."

"and who voted to go Rosalie?"

"…Edward, Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper."

"you must understand Bella, I thought I had scared you, that I was to blame for you wanting us to leave." She barely shot him a glance before her eyes were back on me, "you voted to stay?"

"yes."

"why?"

"Alice mainly. She is my sister, and she thought of you as a sister as well, so I voted with her. I knew what it was going to do to her if we left, exactly what it did do. But we were outvoted."

"and you left. Your vote means nothing, something tells me even had you won you would still leave, Edward does not seem the type to take no for an answer." My eyes went to Kira who now leaned into Lauren, "your probably right. He doesn't, and Carlisle denies him nothing." She was going to speak again when her eyes shot behind us and she closed her mouth as another voice spoke up, it was quiet but had a dangerous edge to it. "Is there a problem?" I turned in time to watch this woman walk between my family like it was nothing until she stood next to Bella facing us, her emerald eyes glinted as she took us in, and I swear I saw red swimming in their depths.

"momma!" the little boy squealed and she spared him a soft look before turning back to us, and I couldn't place it, but she looked so damn familiar. "Miss Hunt?"

"Mrs. Cullen." She replied. Jasper spoke up to Bella "your sister?" I could see Alice flinch out of the corner of my eyes but the smirk on Kira's face is what held my attention. The rest of them showed some form of amusement, but Bella's answer was anything but amused "My wife."

"oh, I apologize."

"no need."

"your married!" Everyone jumped at the high squeal from my sister, "oh my god this is so exciting, congratulations."