Bella was very happy to see Garrett at the airport; she found his new persona quite alluring. The short hair and glasses in his hand did nothing at present to disguise what he was, but once he was under her shield he'd looked much more normal, well human. The suit too was a surprise; she loved it and the open-necked shirt. More formal than his usual attire and something she might like to revisit. She laughed as she realised he just couldn't let go of the beard and Bella guessed he would have fought with Peter about that.
"I've got a tie in my pocket for later. Now how much time do I have to ravish my wife before we enter the fray?" was his opening remark and Bella laughed,
As she took his hand and led him out to the jeep.
"I booked a room, I had a feeling we might need to reconnect. You look very sexy in that suit, by the way, Gar" she purred at him and he responded by growling deep in his chest,
They barely made it into the hotel room before he had her naked and laid out on the bed. Bella had immediately dropped her shield as she knew he always wanted to see her as she really was his wife, his vampire wife. Not many words were passed between them, but for the moans and grunts of our two separated lovers enjoying each other once again. It was hard and fast and both reapplied their mating marks, being apart just for a few hours had made them a little desperate and unnerved!
"Now that, that's out of the way, let me show you how much I love, little bird" he murmured in her ear,
She flipped him over onto his back and smiled as she straddled his hips.
"Or maybe I could show you how much I missed you" Bella huskily suggested,
Garrett started to purr and lifted her into the air only to lower her down onto his once again erect penis. Bella started to rise and fall slowly adding a little swivel of her hips on the downward motion. Slowly, lovingly, but slightly torturously she ground down, watching her mate's face all the time. It was only a few minutes before he couldn't stand the slowness of the pace and he started to thrust upwards as she descended, this made her only too happy to speed up and before they knew it they were moving at vampire speed and the bed below them creaked under the strain. This time they came with euphoric growls and screams, thankful they were on the far side of the hotel and nobody was around. Explaining that away might have been harder than expected.
She had a feeling privacy would be in short supply at her father's house, so they might have to employ this technique a few times. It wasn't her father who would be the problem she was convinced, it would be Edward, Jake and maybe even Alice she just knew it! Bella explained everything that happened since she arrived as they lay naked in each other's arms.
"Well, at least Seth seems nice. Always look for the silver lining, little bird" Garrett murmured in her ear,
"You're my silver lining; you're what makes me want to be all I can be. I was just marking time until you came into my life my soldier" she tells him snuggling in close and immersing herself in their bond,
"So what is it my husband does for a living? Accountant, banker, lawyer? Oh, that would be fun and make them nervous if they thought you were a real-life lawyer!"Bella said laughing as they got dressed,
"Sounds good to me, we'll get Peter to set up a fake website and business number in case they check," he said taking out his cell, as it vibrated in his hand,
'On it, smart thinkin' Bell' PW x
"He likes you more than me, that was my idea!" Garrett pouted sexily and Bella kissed his cheek,
"But I like you more than him!" she said soothingly squeezing his butt,
"Good, because I'm your mate and you should like me best," he told her trying not to laugh,
DMML
"What were you thinking Edward? You cannot just storm into a public facility and start throwing your weight around! Alice is right you looked and sounded like a very pompous and childish idiot!
You will be the talk of Forks by the end of the day, mark my words. But it won't be in praise of your wit and intelligence; it'll be as the snotty-nosed schoolboy who got mouthy with the Chief of Police's daughter! I can't believe you actually thought she would pay you, a mere child any mind" Carlisle Cullen ranted, beyond incensed by Edward's behaviour,
"But I'm not a child am I? You know that!" Edward says stupidly,
"Yes, I know that Edward, but only the family know that! To the rest of Forks, you're a schoolboy! One who just made a fool of himself once again. It's becoming the normal thing for you to do wherever we live!" Carlisle practically sneered, which got the two teens' attention,
It was rare for them to see him angry and he never lost his temper. But today they were seeing an irate and at the end of his tether, Carlisle Cullen.
"I, well I might have been a little heavy-handed, but she threw me when Alice couldn't see her and I couldn't read her mind!" the fool prevaricated,
"Excuses Edward, are for the weak! Is this to be your 'modus operandi'* now? Excuses and lies!
You'll fit right in when Aro sends for you! Because you are on your last warning with the Volturi; I can't protect you from your own stupidity anymore!" Carlisle almost growled and just walked away leaving the two agog,
For the first time in his immortal life, Edward was worried, not terrified as he should be and if he could see what his sister was hiding he might have been!
DMML
In all the kerfuffle, Seth was left alone with the unconscious Charlie Swan. While the boy gave him his blood he started to tell the Chief all his own ails, his family's worries and finally the tribe's troubles. With every pump of Seth's hand, the Chief received a little dose of healing that brought him closer to the surface. Until he was lucid enough to start listening closely to the boy. Of course, he'd heard the stories; he'd sneaked to the bonfires with Billy and Harry as children. Charlie was totally enthralled and also appalled by all he was hearing. About his mother's worries, she wasn't fully accepted as an elder by some of the others, because she was a woman! To now find it was all true and the boys on the Rez, including Jake, were shape-shifting wolves.
Just like the one who attacked him was amazing and of course that the Cullens were vampires, cold ones! That's when he paused to think, that Bella's husband Garrett, he was like them too. Not as pasty, definitely more manly and grown up, but was he a vampire too! Was Bella one now? Charlie had lost track of what Seth was saying until he realised he was talking about Billy and it was not pleasant. Not that Seth was being nasty or cruel, but that he was telling him things Billy has been trying to do to Bella, to get her with Jake. No matter what it could have cost her later when he imprinted, Seth thanked the spirits she got out of Forks when she did! They, Billy and Jake just wanted her to warm his bed until his real life-partner made her appearance! Wow, Charlie now knew who was against Sue being an elder, what a piece of work!
"He what? That son of a bitch!" were the first words he spoke, scaring the crap out of Seth,
"Chief, your okay, oh thank the spirits! Dr Cullen come quick, he's awake!" Seth called loud enough for Charlie to hear but he wasn't shouting,
Seconds later the door opened and in came Carlisle Cullen. He unhooked Seth from Charlie and looked confused at how agitated Seth was. The boy looked like he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar!
"So it's true then, they do have magic in their blood right enough, eh doctor?" Charlie spoke again, clearing up the questions for Carlisle,
"Well, yes I suppose you could call it that. How do you feel? Any pain, discomfort or queasiness? Also how much do you know Chief? Your life depends on your answer!" Carlisle asked sadly,
"Tingly, better than I have in a while and no pain as yet. Well, I know enough to know it's time to get my finger out and propose to Joy Ateara. We've been dancing around each other long enough and I do really love that woman. Hopefully, that way I'll be under the auspices of the tribe!" he replied and Carlisle looked relieved,
"I'll make sure mom knows and Old Quill, you'll have their votes if Chief Black tries anything funny!" Seth said grabbing food off of the tray Carlisle had brought in with him, on his way out,
"Thanks, Seth and you said nothing wrong, the truth is never wrong son," Charlie told the young boy,
"He's your strongest ally, well him and Shaman Ateara" Carlisle mused as he checked the Chief over,
"Quil's my uncle by marriage, married my aunt Molly before I was born. My parents were surprised when I came along, surprised and older than I am now!" Charlie explained to the doctor,
DMML
Bella and Garrett arrived back to find the Chief sitting up eating toast. Bella was so glad it had worked and hugged him.
"Don't scare me like that again dad! I've had to battle with that idiot of a deputy you have and some of the tribe. So don't you dare get hurt again!" Bella ranted at him and he just patted her back gently,
"We have a lot to talk about young lady, you to son!" he murmured,
"Ah, yes well just go with whatever we say, when Carlisle gets back, okay?" Bella whispered in her father's ear,
Within a minute or two he appeared and only saw Bella at first, but as she introduced him to her husband he gasped out,
"Garrett!"
"No, it's Gary actually. But there was once a Garrett in our family, way back. He died during the revolution I believe. Fighting against the British, seems he was very passionate about it!" Garrett explained but he was watching Charlie's reaction,
"Every family has a history son, even the Swans. We came from a small city in Tuscany, Italy. The original Swan or Cigno he'd be back then, to eventually come to the New World was a gardener in a walled priory. He was supposedly very gifted and had created a hybrid rose of amazing beauty.
It had taken many years and when it finally bloomed, he had cut one stem to take home to his wife. That's when he came across a beautiful woman who seemed beyond sad, so the story goes. She admired his single rose and asked where he got it. He told her he had created it and she gave him a warning along with some jewels and coin.
She told him that much death was coming to his little city and to get his family and run. She promised to look after his rose garden for him, as long as she could!" Charlie said to the three stunned vampires in the room,
"Where, where in Tuscany, do you know?" Carlisle barely whispered,
"The walled city of Volterra, it's still there I believe!" Charlie replied unaware of the irony at that moment,
"Oh wow, how come you never told me that before dad? It's a beautiful story, what was the name of the rose, do you know?" Bella asked with wonder,
"Yes, it was named after his wife 'Isabella' and I'd forgotten all about it until now, sorry" he muttered embarrassed by the attention,
DMML
"Carlisle is of course, over exaggerating everything! Nobody would ever think that about me, I'm the perfect example of a gentleman. Plus why would the Volturi take me, I have never caused any harm or gotten into any trouble. Invite me to join their ranks maybe, Elite Guard assuredly, but I'd never be conscripted! No, Carlisle is overwrought with this business to do with Chief Swan!" Edward waffled on and on and Alice was literally getting a headache,
"Oh be quiet! You are the most obnoxious asshole ever turned.
Nobody likes you Edward, not even the family.
Nobody thinks you're perfect, except you!
Only Carlisle ever cared for you and you once again bit the hand that fed you. They know, they know about every little indiscretion you've ever made!" Alice partly yelled at him,
She stunned him with a myriad of visions, most, okay all but one ending in his death. But every single one was by a different person, vampire or shifter that he knew! Even Tanya and she professed to love him, well she desired him. Then finally one of him all alone on a deserted island, tortured, mutilated and beaten. That one did scare him more than the others. Edward didn't know how to cope alone, he'd never had to and with no thoughts to listen in to he'd go insane! That's when he made the worst decision of his vampire life. He decided he needed protection and obviously Bella Williams, soon-to-be Isabella Cullen would be the answer. She can block him as a human so imagine what she could do as a vampire! He just needed to get rid of the husband and be there for the grieving widow.
He would have to make sure the mutt wasn't sniffing around her, but obviously given the choice he was by far the better option. Maybe he could convince Jacob Black to get rid of the husband for him! Yes, he would commiserate with the fool and sow the seed in his puny little mind. In his ridiculous bid to win Bella, Edward forgot one thing, Alice. She saw every thought he had and every decision he made, even for someone as greedy as her this was a step too far. But who to tell, that was the question?
DMML
Once Carlisle's shift had ended and the Williams had pretended to go to Charlie's house to eat they returned to speak to him. He understood why she had never told him about the badgering Billy and Jake had done to her. But he was a little disappointed she hadn't confided in him. He wanted to know why Garrett looked different now and what was the Gary business all about. He laughed that it was to dupe Carlisle for now and then came the harder questions.
"Are you like him now Bells? Are you happy and what about school?" he asked concerned for his daughter,
"Yes dad, I changed about six months after the wedding. I'm deliriously happy, no worries there and I may or may not go back. But time is now something I have to spare!" Bella told him honestly,
"Can I see you, what you look like now?" he quizzed her and Bella lifted her shield,
"Wow, you are so beautiful, not that you weren't before. But it makes everything more somehow!" Charlie says amazed at how she looks,
Now it's Garrett's turn to amaze Charlie when he explained about Volterra and how it had to have been Didyme Volturi herself who saved his ancestor. She tended that rose garden religiously until she was murdered! Now her mate, one of their rulers looks after it in her honour.
"Damn, it really is a small world and now we've come full circle" Charlie mused,
"Okay dad, what do you want to do with Jake and Edward? I have a feeling both might be about to cause me some trouble, they think I'm human still! Oh and Billy never told Jake I was married, that's what started this crap.
Edward decided he would take me away from Jake even though he didn't know me. Neither is interested in what I want just their silly childish games!" Bella asked, but she wondered if anything would stop those two,
She knew Jake would be licking his wounds for now and feeling hard done by. But he would be back and she imagined Edward wouldn't be able to pass up an opportunity to try to dazzle the human and steal her away from both Jake and her husband. That left Alice, where did she fit into all this? She seemed less than amused she couldn't see Bella's future and was on Edward's side until he made a fool of himself and she got in trouble with Carlisle. No wonder Jasper wasn't interested in her back then, she's acting like a child. They both are why has Carlisle let this happen. As far as Bella could see those two were damn near immortal children and wasn't that illegal?
DMML
"Alice, I'm an adult, a married woman who doesn't live here permanently and five years your senior. What on earth made you think I'd want to have a sleepover with you and your sister? I stopped doing that in high school and have no wish to relive it with two teenage girls, thank you!" Bella stated loudly and un-categorically,
They were in the supermarket, shopping for her dad since he was coming home soon. Garrett was trying hard not to laugh, but it was all too funny. Alice had bounced up saying she and Bella were going to be best friends, she'd seen it. Considering they were not meant to know she had visions she wasn't hiding it very well! Why did she suddenly want to be best buddies with Bella now? But his smile faded when Alice waited for Bella to turn away and she turned her attention to him. She batted her eyelids dementedly and pushed out her non-existent chest. Garrett felt sick and vampires can't be sick! But the worst was when she supposedly whispered, more like stage whispered,
"I'd be happy to have a special one-on-one sleepover with you, Gary if Bella doesn't want to!"
There were gasps from staff, customers and Garrett himself. Bella just stared at the obviously insane vampire!
"Alice dear, are you off your meds? No, well maybe you should ask your father for some!" Bella snapped and hauled out her cell,
"Dr Cullen, your teenage daughter Alice has just propositioned my husband. We are in the middle of the Forks supermarket and she did it right in front of me and all the other customers! I asked her if she was on any medication because she obviously isn't taking it!" Bella said loudly enough for everyone to hear,
Alice must have had a vision, seen something and fled the scene! Bella was at a loss to understand what she had been thinking. No, what she had been trying to accomplish! Trying to be Bella's friend was one thing, but trying to seduce her husband was another. Was Alice trying to get them to leave, oh does she know something? Has she seen something?
"Bella, I feel sick! Can we go home now" Garrett all but whined and the ladies in the store all looked like they wanted to give him a hug.
Even looking like a human he was a really good-looking man and had no trouble drawing the eyes of the opposite sex. Tall, dark and handsome right enough and he was all Bella's and that made her smile. Once in the jeep Garrett took out his cell and typed a message but instead of sending it he showed Bella,
'We're being monitored! Let's give them something to listen in on when we get to the house'
Jake had already tried to follow Garrett today; he had gone to the Gas Station for Bella and had sensed he was being tailed. He changed his scent completely to smell like someone from the hospital who was filling up and lost him easily. Since Jake was in wolf form he had to stay hidden and he didn't realise he had lost him for several minutes as his original scent was so generic. By the time he noticed, Garrett was almost back at Charlie's place.
DMML
Meanwhile, Edward had just picked up on Jake's thoughts; he was following Bella and her husband. Oh, he wasn't what Edward expected at all, he had much more of a presence than he thought he would. But no matter he was human and expendable! Edward was angry now because he couldn't hear Bella's husband's thoughts either! Was his gift on the blink? No, that's ridiculous, the man is probably of such low intelligence Edward couldn't detect him! How could there now be two people he couldn't read? This had never happened to him before and he now realised he was not infallible after all, that was very galling to the arrogant boy! Was something different about them? Was it where they came from? No that can't be it; he has been to Pennsylvania before and could always read every one, so it was them!
He knew he had trouble reading Charlie Swan too, unless he was really angry then it was clear. So a family trait, but that didn't explain the husband. Unless, yes, of course, she was shielding him as a human! She just cemented in Edward's head how much she is going to save him from the Volturi in the future. He was so arrogant that he never once thought she would not be interested in him! The fact that even if he was the last man on the planet, Bella would not pick him! He with his self-centred attitude could never understand the bond of mates. He didn't want to understand because in his heart he knew he would never be able to give that kind of devotion to anyone but himself!
"Well Jacob, it looks like things might go your way yet, they are arguing. Sorry about the fight, I didn't realise the depth of your feelings for her. At least her dad is on the mend and we didn't kill him!" Edward said placatingly to Jacob Black, as they heard,
"Godamnit, Bella! Is everyone in this parochial town insane? Come visit my father, you said! Come see where I used to live, you said! You never said this place was full of crazies and sex-starved teens!
I've been sneered at, propositioned and follow and I've barely been here a few hours! What have you gotten me into; it's like one of those weird movies. Mark my words. I'll wake up dead if I stay here much longer! Garrett was ranting,
Bella had her fist in her mouth trying not to laugh. It was so funny and they knew they were being listened to, but not seen they made sure of that.
"Oh Gary, I'm so sorry! Please don't be mad at me, I didn't know, nothing would have changed around here and another weird family would move in" Bella said sounding like she was sobbing and not laughing,
"I didn't become a high-powered lawyer to put up with this kind of crap! I think I'll head home, come back when you want a normal life!" Garrett shouted at her and made all the sounds of packing,
DMML
That was Edward's in with Jacob,
"Waking up dead sounds too good for him, better not waking up at all. He's cruel to her Jacob are you going to stand for that? Time to man up and protect your girl" he said insidiously,
"Whoa, you're suggesting murder there leech! You want rid of me too don't you, so you can have my girl? Do I look that dumb?" Jake for once saw the trap in front of him,
"Hell yeah, it was worth a try, but that woman is going to be my protection from anyone who would come against me!" Edward sneered and so began the second fight between these two,
This time nobody got in the way, nobody tried to stop it and Jacob Black for once used his head, by not using his head. Edward had no idea how to fight an opponent who didn't tell their moves beforehand, so he was seriously at a disadvantage. Jacob proved himself to be a better fighter when the chips were down and he was winning until Edward viciously ripped off his right leg below the knee. He could heal, but not re-grow body parts so unless Carlisle could re-attach it he would forever be without it. Bella rushed to get it and carefully wrapped it and put it in the freezer Charlie kept for his fish. Edward on the other hand was no longer the pretty boy he once was. He had chunks missing and slashes across his face and body. It was only when he went in for the killing blow that Garrett stepped in as himself and took his head off.
That was going too far and Peter had mentioned something about a treaty. Killing Jacob Black would bring death to everyone! Bella called them all, the Cullens, the pack, the elders and then, they waited. Alice arrived first and Bella asked,
"You saw them talking about killing my husband, didn't you? So you thought driving him away might save his life, thank you, Alice. I'm sorry I was so rude, but we didn't need any help. We came here in disguise so as not to upset the wolves or my father. Your family were unexpected and made it way more complicated than it should be" Bella said and the young vampire nodded,
One by one everyone trickled into Charlie's backyard and were shocked by the sight of Edward and Jacob. Carlisle was truly confused by Garrett being here now and with the still human-looking Bella.
"I don't understand! Where's Gary?" he quizzed,
Bella stepped forward when everyone was there and explained what had happened and Edward's plan. She told them she had saved Jake's leg, but thought only Carlisle would be able to reattach it. Billy refused, of course, saying no dirty leech was touching his son. Jake was incensed.
"Just wait a damn minute old man, that's my leg you're just throwing away. I say we let Dr Fang give it a go!" he declared and the other elders backed him,
"Now as to Garrett and Gary, I'm one in the same, sorry Carlisle. We had no idea you would be here until it was too late" Garrett explained,
"The disguise was for the tribe's benefit, the less they knew we thought was best. I was never going to return here to live so we thought no harm, no foul" Bella agreed,
"But these two idiots just made it worse for everyone! With all the trouble I'm surprised the Volturi haven't been alerted. Edward doesn't do low profile it appears and he's happy to stoop to murder to get his own way! That cannot go unpunished; if you refuse Carlisle we will involve them. So before you help Jake what's the one thing Edward would hate?" Garrett enquired and Alice started hopping up and down,
"I saw this, I saw it earlier and Edward hated it more than the thought of dying! Isolation, complete isolation. It was an island but he was alone and miserable all scarred up like he is now" she said in a rush,
"Is that not a little...," Carlisle started to say, but his mate stepped forward,
"Twenty-five years alone on Isle Esme. We will monitor him and if he tries to leave. I will personally take his legs! The fool almost started a war with the Quileutes and would have gotten us all killed!
We would have been sitting ducks because we don't know how to defend ourselves. You will teach me to fight Carlisle, you will teach us all!" Esme said firmly and everyone was shocked,
"So why exactly haven't you let us see you as a vampire? Are you disfigured or something?" Rose now piped up, showing her vanity was more important, it was a less than appealing trait,
"Rose! This is not the time for your nonsense" Esme rebuked, but everyone had turned to Bella now,
"No, I just didn't want to embarrass you!" Bella said annoyed at the vain bitch and dropped her shield completely,
"Damn woman, I don't care what species you are, you're hot!" Paul shouted making the others laugh and Garrett step closer,
"Thank you, Paul is it? You had and still have I'm guessing, quite the reputation yourself. As I recall back in high school you were the hot ticket!" Bella laughed as her mate growled slightly,
"Right, where do you want to do this Doc, here might be neutral territory. I'm ready to donate again if needs be" Seth piped up and Bella nodded,
"Emmett, take Edward back to the house as is, I want his undivided attention while I tell him how it's going to be!"Esme informed the biggest vampire Bella had ever seen,
DMML
The other elders were shocked at Billy's disregard for his son's leg; he would have left him like that for what? They weren't at war with the Cullens, just frenemies as the young ones called it, well Seth mainly! It was decided they were going to restrict his power from now on because they knew he abused it.
"Billy, you have been making some very harmful choices lately. You will no longer have the last word or be allowed to make decisions without one of us agreeing!" Old Quil told him plainly,
As Billy blustered and got red in the face Sue Clearwater said,
"If it's going to affect your health like this we could always strip you of the title too!"
She was enjoying having some power over him at last, her a mere woman!
Bella and Garrett decided to stay in Poet Angeles while Charlie had a house guest. He arrived home from the hospital with a very happy Joy Ateara fussing over him and happy to do the same for Jake. Charlie was enjoying the fact his house was busy, busier than it had ever been. Seth and Quil V were there as often as they could too. He now saw his future was going to be much more fun packed and probably stressful too. Just from talking to Seth, he knew these young wolves had been starved of any fatherly type of guidance and Sam Uley was just a young man himself. Charlie Swan could see his new role spreading out before him and he liked what he saw. Bella no longer needed him; she had barely needed his help with anything but maths, so this would be his second chance.
So just one week after Bella had arrived in Forks, she and Garrett were ready to return to their own lives. She would see her father often, but never there in his hometown. They had holidays together, Joy even joined them and Bella and Garrett donned their disguises so they could be seen out and about. The Cullens to moved on because of Edward, once Carlisle was sure Jake would be able to shift without pain in that leg. Strangely this was the thing that woke the boy up and he turned over a new leaf. His apologies were many and most were accepted without reserve. His father had become a shut-in, avoiding everyone and Jake never returned to life with him. As for Edward, he fought against his punishment of course, but Esme was relentless and yes she took his legs on several occasions until he accepted his fate.
Twenty-five years was a long time and he eventually realised the world did not and never had revolved around Edward Cullen.
*Modus Operandi - a particular way or method of doing something.