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When Bella heard the news that Edward was on his way home, she was at first cautiously optimistic. With kids like Jasper, Emmett, Alice, and Rosalie, and with parents like Carlisle and Esme...Edward was most likely a great guy in his own right. Except as the days wore on and his arrival date creeped closer, Bella's optimism turned to worry, and then panic. The rest of the Cullens were...acting really strangely. She couldn't understand the dark looks that would cross over Rosalie's or Emmett's faces when Edward's name came up. And she definitely couldn't understand the apprehensive looks all of them kept giving her as his arrival loomed closer. What was going on?
She knew very little about the boy except for the nuggets of information she had gleaned over the weeks. Edward generally kept to himself, but was very thoughtful and could read people very well. He had been with cousins in Alaska since spring break-had left for Denali right before Bella arrived in Forks in fact. That was all she knew. Oh, and he was very protective of his piano, she thought as she rolled her eyes.
A couple of weeks ago, she was having the time of her life exploring the Cullens' library with Carlisle and Jasper, admiring Carlisle's old paintings and itching to get her hands on some of those extremely rare books that Carlisle had collected. Carlisle was a generous host and, knowing Bella would appreciate it far more than most, granted her complete access to his collection. Much to his and Jasper's delight (and Emmett's and Alice's annoyance) Bella took him up on his offer and started to work her way through the extensive collection.
One day, after taking a necessary bathroom back, she walked past the open door of their music room. Her breath had caught in her chest as she looked longingly at the beautiful piano in the middle of the room. Playing the piano was one of the few luxuries Bella allowed herself during her long exile. Most libraries she visited had one somewhere, and aside from reading she'd often play. She had taken lessons as a child, but after her photographic memory took hold she threw herself into mastering the piano with fervor. In the beginning, when her emotions were much more volatile and she tended to have more accidents, concentrating on playing the notes was the only thing that could calm the tempest inside her. As she got older and learned to control the beast, she'd often use the gentle music she had stored in her mind to pass the time on the many lonely days and nights. She didn't even need a piano anymore-all she had to do was close her eyes and she could perfectly visualize the keys in front of her and the exact pitch and harmony of each measure.
But when she saw the piano in the Cullens' house, it had been nearly four months since she'd actually played, and Bella was suddenly overcome with the urge to do so. She was just about to sit down when Alice appeared beside her and hurriedly explained that Edward forbade anyone from touching the piano, and that it really wasn't a good idea to do so even in his absence...basically forbidding her from entering the room. Bella had no way of knowing that it was her scent Alice was concerned about-that for Edward's sake they didn't want her scent overwhelming the one room in the house that contained Edward's passion. Not knowing any of this, Bella was rather irked. Their high school didn't have music classes, and the local library was a little too small to be able to afford such a luxury. So, Bella gave Edward's piano one final, sad look and left the room.
She thought of that memory, and of all the small things she knew about Edward as Rosalie's car zoomed down the highway from her house to theirs. It was Saturday morning, and Rosalie had picked her up as she sometimes did to hang out with their family for the day. She and Emmett were taking her to Port Angeles, but first they'd make a stop at their house to pick Emmett up and gather a few things...and there, Bella would say hello to Edward.
As they got closer to the house, Bella's nervousness increased. She knew she technically had nothing to fear, but Rosalie's obvious unease was infectious. From what she'd observed the last few weeks, Rosalie only ever acted like this when she was worried for Bella's safety. No matter how many times Bella would prove her superb sense of balance and fitness on the school rooftops, Rosalie would still flip out. She smiled a little when she thought of how protective Rosalie was over her. It didn't irritate Bella at all...not yet anyway. She found it a little endearing actually. If Rosalie only knew, she mused...
Before she knew it, they had arrived.
Rosalie parked the car in front of the house, and before Bella could get her seat belt off she was at Bella's side, opening her door for her. Bella didn't comment-she had gotten used to little things like that that Rosalie often did for Bella, and Bella reciprocated when she could. She still didn't understand how Rosalie had gone from hating her to enjoying her company, but who was she to complain? Rosalie led her to the front door, and with a slight (an eternity to Bella) pause, opened the door.
The first thing Bella noticed when she got a good look inside the main living area, was that all the Cullens were somewhere in the vicinity. Alice sat on one of the steps of the staircase. Jasper was reading a book in the armchair by the fireplace. Esme and Carlisle were talking to one another in front of one of the patio doors. And Emmett was sitting right beside the only person she didn't recognize, Edward.
Like the rest of them, he too had the topaz eyes she'd come to associate with the Cullens. He, too, was paler than the average person. He was tall, but nowhere near as tall as Emmett-probably closer to her own height in fact. His most distinguishable feature, other than the unusual eyes, was the crop of messy, styled bronze hair on his head. The other thing Bella noticed about his appearance was how...stiff he was. It reminded her of the way Jasper used to be when she first met him, actually. Unlike Jasper though, the expression on his face was completely passive...as if everything he looked at was incorporeal and he could see perfectly what was on the other side. Hmm, Lauren had a point there, she thought.
"Bella," Carlisle said. "I'm glad you could be here today. This is our son, Edward."
Bella turned her attention back to the boy, and put on her most polite and friendly face. "Hi, Edward. It's nice to finally meet you."
Should she shake his hand? Sit down and talk for a few minutes? She was completely at a loss. She took a step forward, then stopped. Rosalie had almost mirrored her move exactly beside her. She hesitated and looked up. Was it her imagination, or did the entire family just tense up and move forward slightly? She paused and looked around again. No, she wasn't imagining things. In fact, now that she was thinking about it...the Cullens' positions around the room didn't look accidental. She had to be crazy to think like this...but it looked like...it looked like they had Edward surrounded from every angle, with the strongest member of the household right beside him like a handler. And Rosalie...Rosalie was her bodyguard.
Alright, calm down you crazy person, she told herself. You are literally being insane. Bella was the most dangerous person in this room, not Edward. She took a deep breath and called every method she knew that would calm her down.
"Did you have a good time in Denali, Edward?" She asked, hoping to sound casual.
"Yes, thank you," he finally spoke. His voice was soft, but there was a bite to it. "I rarely get to see our cousins. And I missed the last trip the family took, so I enjoyed the extra time there."
"Oh, that's good," she said.
"How are you enjoying Forks? It's not a usual traveler's destination," he said.
"I love it," she said, smiling, "mostly thanks to your family here."
"That's good," he said.
Now what? As if reading her thoughts, Rosalie touched her arm and led her to the stairs.
"Come on, Bella," she said. "Alice needs your help with something before we go."
And with that, Bella waved to everyone and went up the stairs with Rosalie and Alice-one in front of her, one behind her, she noted.
"Well done, Edward!" Esme exclaimed quietly so only the other vampires could hear.
"You did wonderfully, son," Carlisle smiled at his eldest.
Edward, however was not smiling. He was looking intensely at the top of the stairs.
"What is it?" Jasper asked his brother.
"I can't...read her," Edward said through gritted teeth.
"What?" Carlisle exclaimed.
"I can't read her," repeated Edward. "There's nothing. I'm not getting anything from her mind."
They were all quiet as they took this in. Upstairs, Alice and Rosalie too quieted down.
"No this is not 'awesome!'' Edward suddenly turned to Emmett. "How are we supposed to know when she starts to suspect? And what exactly is she anyway?! No human has ever blocked me!"
"Edward, calm yourself," said Carlisle. "Bella is human. Her scent is obvious. And I can tell from experience, as well."
"And we have Jasper and Alice," Esme added. "They'll be able to tell if something goes wrong."
"Alice's gift doesn't work on her!" Edward yelled, and added, noting Carlisle and Esme's shocked faces, "or didn't she tell you about that?"
"It does work," Jasper said, hearing his wife's growl from upstairs. "She has to concentrate harder than usual, yes. But Alice can see Bella."
"How interesting..." Carlisle contemplated out loud. "To have such a powerful gift as a human..."
"Way to go, Bella Bear," Emmett whispered, much to Edward's annoyance.
Alice and Rosalie looked at each other and both wondered the same thing. Why on earth had it not occurred to them that Bella's blocking was a gift? It made perfect sense as soon as Carlisle said it. Still though...humans don't usually exhibit such powerful abnormalities. Edward certainly couldn't read minds before he was turned. And Jasper could only guess at others' emotions. Alice of course had no idea if she demonstrated any potential as a human, since she had no memory of her human life.
"Ok, Alice," Bella stepped out of the closet. "This is the last one. If you don't like it I'm sticking to my jeans."
Alice smiled. Little by little, she was training Bella to be a little more mindful of what she put on her body. The girl was gorgeous...when she wore something other than the old jeans and incessant t-shirts she liked so much. She cast a quick glance at Rosalie and could see that she liked the gradual changes in Bella as well. Her sister liked a lot of things about Bella, she noted slyly, then quickly covered up her thoughts with practiced non-essentials. Damn. She'd gotten used to a house without a telepath.
"Perfect!" Alice cried, and pretended not to see Bella rolling her eyes.
"Not quite," said Rosalie.
"Oh, come on!" Bella cried out. "That was 6 outfits she made me try!"
"Oh, hush," said Rosalie, as she walked out of the room. "I'll be right back."
Moments later, she returned with her fist closed tightly around an object. She led Bella to Alice's mirror and stood behind her. Then she carefully wrapped a necklace around Bella's neck and clasped it shut. Alice's perfect eyesight saw it clearly from where she stood. It didn't look all that extravagant-the chain was simple enough, light and delicate. The adornment was a long, thin rectangle...or rather several rectangles on top of one another with a thin gap of metal between each shape. It was a simple design, but it's execution was brilliant, literally. It shone with a brightness that rivaled the sparkling of their sun-washed skin. The chain too, had the same white ethereal quality as the adornment. On Bella, it reached to a hair's width of the top of her cleavage.
"Uh, isn't this a little much?" Poor Bella looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole. "I mean its beautiful! But, really it's too much, Rosalie."
"No it's not," said Rosalie with a slight smile. "Come on, you let Alice dress you and I can't give you an old necklace?"
Bella sighed and touched the foreign object on her skin. "Thank you," she said quietly into the mirror.
Alice gave her sister a knowing look but Rosalie ignored her. What Rosalie had just done was no mere act of charitable kindness. That necklace was the only piece of jewelry Rosalie was wearing the night she was...turned. For years Rosalie avoided even looking it. Then she'd wear it religiously for a while. Then she'd avoid it again. On and on. That she would part with her only physical link to her humanity...and without, it seemed, a moment's hesitation...just for Bella...
Alice didn't need any gifts to know what was coming.