21 Years Later: Final Chapter
Summary: The Cullens visit the Denalis after 21 years to be met with the most unlikely of surprises.
Bella/Tanya
Tanya was over a millennia old and had more experience in her little toe than her mate had in her entire body. Yet, Bella could fuck her to the point of almost falling unconscious. She was currently cradled in Bella's arms as she flew them back to the house. The high altitude meant the air was colder, and it did wonders for her befuddled state of mind. She had become more alert as they got closer to their home.
"I do not like the look of that." She whispered. Bella looked down and agreed with Tanya. There was a semi headed to the house, it was a few miles out, but it was on the road that led to the Denali compound. Bella flew closer to the truck, and the couple laughed. Emmett Cullen was currently singing to Madonna's vogue with all the enthusiasm of a contestant on American idol. Bella was sure if they got closer they'd find him voguing to boot. She quickly got them back home but made no move to head inside. "Bella, as much as I love the way you smell, I think a shower might be in order." Bella took a sniff of herself and with a nod disappeared inside. Tanya followed at a more sedate pace. Bella was out of the shower by the time she got to their room. She smiled at the prospect of seeing the rest of the coven; the Cullens hadn't even crossed her mind.
By the time Bella made it back outside, Emmett was attempting to park the trailer. "Just leave it there and get out already." She groused as Emmett was determined to get the trailer appropriately parked.
"Hold your horses, little sis, I'm coming." He soon had the trailer park and jumped out just in time to catch Bella. "Hey, little sis, miss me."
"Hey bear, you have no idea. Where are Rose and Esme?"
"They had to stop to pick up a steering wheel for Tanya," Emmett said with Bella still wrapped around him. "We wanted to surprise you, so we asked them to keep it quiet." He added.
"They certainly did. I'm surprised Kate managed it." Bella teased.
"Hey, I can keep a secret." The vampire in question joined them. "Good to finally have you home. And just in time for our weekly training exercise."
"Do we have to?" Bella groaned.
"Yes, we do, I have to win at least one." Emmett moaned.
"That is never going to happen, let it go," Bella advised.
"If at first, you don't succeed," Emmett argued.
"And what is the definition of insanity?" Bella asked with a raised eyebrow. Before Emmett could reply, Rose pulled up in a jeep.
"Of course, you bought another jeep." Bella chuckled as she eagerly made her way to Rose and Esme.
Esme was off her feet before she could utter a word. "Hello, Bella."
"Hi, I'm so happy you are home."
"I can see that." Esme teased.
"You are not leaving me again," Bella whispered as she held onto Esme.
"We may leave on occasion, but we will always come home. And we will never leave without saying goodbye." Rose said at the site of the Cullens.
Carlisle more than the rest struggled to stay still. It was apparent he wanted to talk to Esme, but the woman in question paid no attention to him. Bella was now in Rose's arms. "You look good. You are more likely to get the smell of sex off you if you wash your hair." Rose quipped. If Bella could blush, she'd be doing so as the others chuckled.
"What's with the trailer?" She asked, changing the topic.
"Aro," Emmett answered.
"You can send it back," Bella muttered dismissively.
"We will do no such thing. We can finally finish all those cars we've put on hold." Rose retorted.
"It can't be all car parts?" Bella asked in disbelief.
"It is and more," Rose answered as they made their way to the house. Bella grabbed Esme's bags even though the woman could easily manage them.
"Charlie." Emmett boomed voice pronounced.
"Hey, big guy." Charlie chatted to them as Bella took Esme's bags to her room. She came back downstairs to find everyone on the various couches in the den. It was a beautiful sight.
"Bells, call Aro, it's been six years," Rose advised.
"Oh, I don't know... you should round it up to a decade. It's a nice even number." Charlie interjected.
"So is six." Rose returned. "You are only saying that because of all the stuff he sends you." Charlie shrugged, but they all knew it was true. Aro had tried using the Denali coven to take out a coven in the Congo when he heard the coven had a powerful shield in its ranks. Bella hadn't taken the deception well and ended her friendship with Aro. The Volturi leader has been desperately trying to win her back ever since.
"Come on, Bells, Sulpicia just gave him back his hand," Emmett added, struggling to keep a straight face.
"So the rumors are true," Aida whispered.
"Yeah, Aro lost his hand in a training exercise." Emmett could not contain his laughter at this point. "No one knows how it happened, but it did." He took a deep breath even though it wasn't necessary.
"I mean Aro is known to be friends with Carlisle, but he still had an issue with the size of his coven. He doesn't seem to have a problem with yours, on top a human knowing about us." Aida said in disbelief.
"That is because Bells here saved his and Caius's lives," Charlie added proudly. "And I've always known about Vampires. No one here broke any laws. Well, at least this coven didn't." He added with a glare aimed at the Cullens who had bravely joined them in the den.
"You saved his life," Aida said in surprise.
"Yep, and it was epic," Emmett answered. "First Aro couldn't read any of our thoughts thanks to Bella. At first, we only wanted him to know that Bella was a mental shield. Aro was so excited by Bella's range and strength of her shield as a newborn he failed to see three of his guard attack." Emmett was on his feet at this point. "Bella was the only one who seemed to see it. She threw a shield over Caius and Aro just as the guard threw some kind of incendiary device. It hit the shield and burst into flames engulfing the outside of the shield. The rest of us were lucky to already have shields, which did the same thing or else we'd be ash. The guards were afraid to move it because the three had more of those devices. So we stepped in and took them out because the device was useless on us." Emmett had everyone's attention even those that were in the throne room when it happened. "Of course, we had revealed the very thing we didn't want Aro to know. When the dust settled Aro made a move for Bella as expected. At the same time saying he owed her much, and she could ask for anything." Emmett moved to stand in front of the TV, shoulders back as he stood tall. Bella shook her head at the stance.
"Bella looked at him and gave this epic speech. 'My reason for saving you is entirely self-servicing. I saved you because of your position. I saved you because, without you, my new-found life would be one that could be disturbed very soon. I need you to be sat where you are so my life can continue. For the first time in my life, I belong. For the first time in my life, I am finally living. I am loved. I have a family. I never felt right as a human being, and now I know why. I was born to be a vampire. I finally have the life I was meant to live, and those three were about to jeopardize that, and I couldn't allow it. Woe betides anyone that tries to come between my family and me. I am theirs, and they are mine, and it will remain that way. I am happy where I am.' Bella finished with a smile that was so chilling even Aro flinched. It was epic," Emmett high fived Bella, who looked a little sheepish.
"Yeah well, you guys kept going on about how Aro would find an excuse to come after me to get me later. I had to make sure whatever ideas he had were squashed right there." Bella muttered with a shrug.
"It worked," Kate said. "And when he eventually found out about Charlie, he just brushed it off."
"That shocked the hell out of me," Bella said. "I mean, I had this elaborate plan to make sure nothing happened, and he just accepted it without fuss." She added.
"Speak of the devil." Eleazar waved his phone at Bella. She took the phone and answered it.
"Aro, dear one, what a pleasure," Bella said imitating Aro earning laughter from the Denali's and it appeared whoever was around Aro.
"Isabella, this is a surprise." Aro was too happy about her answering to care about her teasing.
"Isabella is vocally challenged, so you have to make do with me."
"Ah yes, I forgot you named your beast. Did you get my gifts?"
"I did, thank you. We have to come and visit soon." Bella muttered.
"That would be wonderful, Sulpicia would be very happy to hear the news."
"She's making your life hell uh."
"Dear, you have no idea." The rest of the coven got to talking among themselves as they knew the phone call would go on for some time.
Nearly two hours later Bella handed the phone to Charlie, who left the den to talk to Aro. "So Aro has finally earned your forgiveness." Tanya quipped.
"He would have a long time ago, but well with all the gifts he was sending, he made it hard to forgive him." Bella chuckled.
"Good thing too, we can finally finish all those cars," Rose interjected.
"You people are cruel." Eleazar teased. "Although I will admit, it's quite funny to watch Aro so discombobulated every time Bella gave him the cold shoulder." He added with a chuckle. Bella relaxed with her head on Tanya's shoulder as she read the latest news on her iPad. Bella kept her eye on the Cullens; they hadn't uttered a word since everyone converged in the den. Conversation and laughter flowed around them, and yet they looked miserable. Bella chuckled softly earning a raised eyebrow from Tanya. Bella threw a shield over them. "They look so miserable, a minuscule part of me actually feels sorry for them."
"Don't let Kate hear you say that." Tanya teased.
"Hey." They turned their attention to Kate.
"Yes," Tanya answered, never looking away from her mate.
"What are you two talking about?" Neither got the chance to answer as Carlisle finally found his courage.
"Esme."
"Yes." She answered, surprising him.
"Could we talk?"
"No, there is nothing you can say or do that will change anything. That moment passed over two decades ago."
"God, when did you turn into such a bitch?" Alice just about managed to finish her sentence before she found herself in Bella's grip. She was staring into the pitch-black eyes of Isabella. The growl that left Isabella was deafening. Jasper tried to come to his mate's aid only to hit a shield.
"Isabella." She turned her attention to the voice. Tanya stood up and sauntered over to her mate. "Let her go." She purred. Alice dropped to the floor, shocked by the sudden disappearance of the hand around her neck.
"Alice, it would be in your best interest not to speak ill of anyone in this coven. We have done nothing to you and owe you nothing. This is our home, and you will respect it, and it's occupants. If you don't like it feel free to leave." Tanya advised as Bella's beast buried its head in her neck.
Tanya turned to the beast and knew there was no talking her down. She wanted to take Alice's head off, and she had been stopped. "Come on, let's go for a run." Tanya took off, and with a growl, the beast followed.
"We can no longer stay here. I may not feel their emotions, but the hatred is obvious." Jasper mumbled. Bella's beast had every intention of killing Alice. Tanya had saved her, but he wasn't going to stay around for Alice to utter another sentence. Jasper blamed Carlisle and only him for the loss of his mate. Jasper had no respect for anyone who allowed others to bully their mate and worse stand by the bully. Even with all of Alice's faults, he would always come to her aid or die trying.
"I agree, unfortunately, we would have to rent a house or stay at a hotel. It would seem all of our homes have developed structural problems."
"Well, that proves my theory; the damage was deliberate." Edward intoned.
"Yes, it would appear so." Carlisle sighed. "Pack your things we are leaving now." The Cullens packed up and walked to the main house to find Bella covered in mad and hovering in a bubble.
"So the ski track is ready?" Irina appeared excited by the prospect.
"Yes, just in time for the winter. The cold should solidify the ground enough to allow us to use it this year. I am covering the compound in polythene plastic to collect snow."
"That is rather clever. That should give us more skiing time if we have snow." Rose added.
"Glad you think so because it will hinder our freedom to move."
"Don't' care as long as I can ski to my full potential without having to worry about humans," Kate interjected studying the 3D model on the TV screen. Edward had to admit the track would be incredible to ski if it matched the 3D model.
Carlisle cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "We are well aware of your presence. We are just ignoring you." Kate snarked.
"Kate," Tanya warned.
"We are leaving," Alice whispered.
"We can see that." Rose sneered. Watching the Cullen's misery has been nothing short of satisfying for her.
"Arrivederci," Emmett added, turning back to the 3D model on the screen.
They loaded their luggage in the car and were quickly pulling out of the Denali compound. Jasper could feel the regret and sadness as it permeated the car. Bella had always been different from the others, and now it truly showed. He could feel Alice and Carlisle's regret more than Edwards. Carlisle was still struggling without Esme despite the lack of pain. He suspected it had something to do with Bella's shield. Alice's regret was over the loss of Emmett, Rose, Esme, and Bella. For three days they drove, only stopping for petrol. Carlisle had rented a cabin in New York and for some reason felt the need to drive.
"I think it's time Alice and I traveled a little," Jasper said out of the blue.
"Can I come with you?" Edward asked. He had been somewhat subdued since learning of Tanya's mating to Bella. The two women he had ever found himself attracted to, were mated to each other. The irony was not lost on him.
"Alice and I would like to be on our own."
"Right, I understand," Carlisle said with little emotion. He had lost his mate over the three sat in the car with him. For years his resentment for them had grown, but he had managed to keep it from Jasper. He had no one to blame but himself; his cowardliness had cost him Esme. As he had always suspected Edward would rather them than his sire. He pulled into the middle of nowhere to get petrol. The stations were automated these days. Self-serving stations were everywhere, even in the privately-owned stations that had one pump and little security. It suited his needs perfectly. He looked around for a camera and with none in site he pulled out his lighter only to see cloaked figures approaching them. The Volturi. With a defeated sigh, he pocketed the lighter. Aro would finally get what he had always wanted. Carlisle knew Alice's crimes would catch up to them sooner or later. He suspected Charlie's conversation with Aro was the catalyst. The man hated them and this was the best way to punish them for what they did to his daughter.
Emmett was going to lose the race that much was obvious. He was going to have to cheat if he stood in a chance of winning. He got to Tanya and had every intention of budging her into the trees when Bella out of nowhere shoulder checked him into a boulder. "Fuck that hurt." He groaned as he got back up. His skis were broken.
"That's what you get for trying to cheat." Rose laughed uproariously as she skied past. Unfortunately for Emmett, there was no running on the ski track as the friction caused by the speed they generated melted the snow too quickly. This, unfortunately, was their last batch. When the track solidified, it was over.
Bella was the first to crack up laughing as Emmett with his broken ski trudged towards them. The dropped the broken skis in a huff and quickly moved to strap on a new set. Outside of ski boots, they were dressed in regular clothes. Being vampires meant they didn't feel the cold at all, and they enjoyed skiing without the restrictions skiing clothes caused them.
Another race and this time Emmett won fairly. He was also, unfortunately, the worst kind of winner.
"I could drop him if you like," Jane whispered to Rose as she glared at her husband, who was shaking his ass.
"Go on." Emmett let out a scream as he hit the floor again, breaking his skis.
"Oh, come on." He moaned. "That was my last pair."
"Can't remotely feel sorry for you, you lack any sportsmanship," Heidi muttered as she secured her skis. Some of the guards had come down hearing about the private ski track with the impossibly steep descend and sharp corners that even vampires struggled to beat. Every one of them had tumbled on the descend and veered off course on the corners.
"Everyone ready," Tanya asked.
"Yep." Bella piped up. They lined up for the next race. As they took off, Bella shouted. "You can use one of mine." Emmett quickly scrambled to get the skis on.
"You couldn't have told me that before the race started," Emmett grumbled, but Bella was long gone.
Bella never once imagined her life could get better without the Cullens, but as she tried valiantly to catch Tanya who had worn almost every race, she realized how wrong she had been. Her words to Aro rang truer than ever. She was finally living her fullest life with her mate and family.