Phew! Done!
Thank you soooo much for all your reviews! They are amazing and keep me going! I came up with this plot before OMC but didn't have the guts to write a vamp story, especially a spin off from the original since I had to be real to the SM world. I'm so blown away by your response! Thank You Thank you Thank You!
WARNING!: As I said in a previous chapter, this story is about to get too angsty, but I promise a HEA! It'll be hard at some point but I promise to hold your hand through it and I won't kept you waiting long for updates!.
ANSWERS!: Someone said she was confused with timelines and ages. Edward left a little more than three years ago now, Lizzie is three years old but looks like five. Edward is still claiming to be 22 and Carlisle's brother instead of adoptive son.
Special thank to my beta Cattinson for breaking her own record and having this for me in no time, I also wanna thank my prereader Lisopera for being my rock and being so amazing. This story would be the same without them!
SM owns everything!
Chapter 9: Like A Knife
"When You Were Gone" – Avril Lavinge
I always needed time on my own
I never thought I'd need you there when I cried
And the days feel like years when I'm alone
And the bed where you lie
is made up on your side
When you walk away
I count the steps that you take
Do you see how much I need you right now?
When you're gone
The pieces of my heart are missing you
When you're gone
The face I came to know is missing too
When you're gone
All the words I need to hear to always get me through the day
And make it OK
I miss you
Jasper and I are waiting at the clearing Alice is a few miles away in the car waiting with Lizzie. I refused to be too far away from her so that's why she is close enough that I could hear Alice's thoughts and she could hear us but far away enough from the wolves and Lizzie's hearing range for my peace of mind. Because Alice is with Lizzie though, she can't see how the talk will go.
I can already hear Jacob's thoughts, he is not with Seth though Sam's with him and I frown at that. By Lizzie's memories I thought they were closer, but then again he is just a boy, so maybe that's why Jacob didn't let him come. I don't really care, I'm just here for answers and I hope Jacob will give them to me.
Two minutes later, Jacob and Sam step out of the woods in human form, they walk towards us with arrogance pouring out of them, chin up and flexing their muscles.
Jasper snorts.
"Kids these days."
I stifle a laugh which makes Sam glare at me, but I'm not paying attention to him, my attention is solely on Jacob, trying to get as much from his thoughts as I can. I gather he is the leader of the pack, which was obvious since his grandfather used to be the leader too. Sam was beta, which also explained why he was here instead of Seth.
They stop several feet away from us and eye us, measuring. Jacob looks around looking for any signs of Lizzie and Sam just eyes our form.
"I could easily take'em both." I ignore Sam's thoughts.
"Hello Jacob, Sam… thanks for coming."
"What do you want?" Jacob asks his tone rude.
"I have a few questions I was hoping you could answer them."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I know you love Lizzie, and this is for her too."
…
…
…
"How did you find out about me? Bella told her not to say anything, did you suck it out of her?" He glared, his accusations making me see red and I felt the calming waves from Jasper.
"No," I seethed "I would never harm her, she told me about you on her own."
"Why are you here?" That would be Sam, obviously he was more in control of himself. He was older, he seemed more mature.
"I'm looking for Bella I wanted to know if you knew where she was."
Jacob spoke again.
"Why would you care? You left her, she doesn't need you."
"That's my own business."
"Well, we don't know she just left… and even if I knew I wouldn't tell you."
He was telling the truth, he had no idea where she had gone. He didn't even know she had contacted child services to look for me until Bella left leaving a letter for him. He was angry because of that, thinking Bella should have left Lizzie with him in La Push where she would be safer.
I wanted to scoff at that, but I knew that would only make matters worse and I needed him. He was my only hope at finding Bella and to figure out a few pieces of this gigantic puzzle.
"Jacob, I know you have no reason to trust me but please… if you have any idea where she might be tell us. For Lizzie's sake."
"Don't bring her into this!" He growled "You have no right to speak for her! You left them! Don't say you care about her now cause I won't believe it for a second you leech! I don't even know how Bella could trust you with her!"
I flinched when his mind filled with memories about Bella, just a few days after I left. She was a ghost, no talking, no eating, motionless. Then his mind changed with a pregnant Bella, crying and in pain –physically and emotionally- I choked on my breath when I saw all the bruises around her stomach, she was skin and bones. A woman –Sue- hovering over her, making her drink what I instantly knew it was blood, Lizzie's comment about Jacob hunting for her when she was in Bella's tummy making sense now.
"Stop." I said above a whisper.
"Why? You deserve to know what you did, if you care so much." He spat. "Both of them almost died because of you!"
"Stop." Jasper hissed with a murderous glare. "We are all here because of Lizzie it won't make things better if you end up killing each other."
Jacob turned around and laughed sarcastically.
"You talk as if you cared about her."
"Of course I do!" I growled "That's why I'm here you mongrel! Don't you see?!"
"Then where were you all these years?!"
"I didn't know about her!"
"And what about Bella?! Why now?! Just because she is dying?! You want to get rid of the guilt?! Do you even have a conscience?!"
"I said is none of your goddamn business!" I hollered, and I don't know what they saw in my expression but it made them take a step back but they recovered themselves quickly.
"What happened between Bella and I is none of your business," I continued with a deadly voice "and I'm here because I care! Because I do love my daughter, I want to know what happened all the years I was gone I want to know why you a dog would care for my daughter. I want to know why Bella got anemia I want to know why Bella came here from all places! I want to know why Lizzie doesn't know about werewolves, why Bella would let her be near you and Seth but not near the rest of them!"
Jacob pulled at his hair with trembling hands.
"Jacob, calm down." Sam put a hand on Jacob's shoulders since he was shaking with rage and about to phase. Jasper used his gift and Jacob glared at him, but he was calmer now and released his hair.
"I guess this is the empath."
"You asked a lot of questions. We'll answer the ones we can." Sam said, using his rude tone again "Which one you want to know first."
"Why did Bella come to La Push?"
"To protect the child from the bloodsucker that killed Charlie."
Jasper and I gasped.
"What?" Jasper asked for me, as I still was processing it.
Jacob and Sam shared a look.
Jacob didn't trust his judgment right now, that's also why he had asked Sam to come since the whole situation was too close to him and didn't want to be blinded by hate and act on instinct for Lizzie's sake.
Sam nodded for Jacob to continue, he could tell us but it was Jacob's story to tell.
…
…
…
Jacob sighed.
"Two weeks after you left, Charlie came to me for help." Jacob started and I followed the story through his mind too as he remembered that day.
"He said he didn't know what to do with Bella and asked me to get her out of the house to distract her. When we came back, I smelled the vampire from miles away. I phased and warned the others since I couldn't leave Bella alone. Seth was the closest but he only got a glimpse before he threw himself into the ocean."
He shared the memory from Seth's mind, the vampire in question was covered by a hood.
"We only know it was male."
Charlie was killed by a vampire? Oh god, and Bella had been close… if Jacob hadn't taken her out of the house…. Oh no, no no no no no. Damn it!
"Take it easy Edward, you can't freak out right now." Jasper put his hand on my back.
Charlie was killed by one of us… and we weren't there to protect him. Lord, Bella must hate me so much, I wouldn't blame her. My kind killed her father, and I wasn't there.
I wasn't there for her either.
"What happened next?" I asked.
"Bella saw me phase, so I had to tell her the truth about what I was… I tried to convince her to come to live at La Push but she refused at first, something about memories. She was in a bad state, dealing with a lot and I feared she would do something stupid so I stayed close."
I gasped in horror when he remembered getting to Bella in time before she threw herself from a cliff.
"A week later she found she was pregnant, that same night another vampire came to forks, but I was at Bella's house this time so I went after him. He bit me so I was paralyzed" He grunted "the rest of the pack came just in time and chased him but he still managed to escape. After that Bella finally agreed to come to La Push for the sake of the baby."
I didn't say anything for a while, trying to process everything that had been said. Two vampires had been in Forks, I saw the nomad Jacob had seen through his memories. The second one, you could tell by his clothes he was a nomad alright and I didn't recognize him, I had never seen him before, he was blonde and red eyed.
I continued to stay silent, absorbing it all and Jacob continued with his story.
"Bella became weak, too weak. Just a few weeks later she looked like five months into her pregnancy. The baby was killing her, we talked her into get it rid of it but she refused adamantly."
"It wouldn't really matter since she was too weak to oppose but Leah stopped us, she understood her need to protect the child and even thought she didn't like Bella sided with her and didn't let any of us do something about it to save her," I was awed "Seth sided with her too-" He stopped mid thought and said something else "He's her brother so there wasn't much we could do about it."
I was drained, all my angel had to go through with strangers and all alone because I had been so stupid and arrogant to think I knew better. What I thought had been me being selfness had actually been the most selfish thing I ever did. Doing what I thought made me a better person, what I thought it was best for everyone but I never stopped to think about her. I only did what I thought was best, not caring to stop and ask her, not caring about the consequences. I wanted to be the hero, the good guy and it all backfired.
"What happened next?" I asked, I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
"The pack found out about the horrific pregnancy and wanted to kill the baby," I growled seeing that by doing that they wouldn't only kill the baby but my angel too since she refused to let them do it in good terms "since it was killing Bella we thought it was a monster like you, we needed to protect the tribe."
"And why didn't you?" I hissed.
Of course I was glad they didn't for whatever reason, but it still made me see red they had thought about it.
"It was a chaos, Sam had been the leader then, since I refused to take the place at first, but I had promised Charlie to take care of Bella the very same day he died so I took the lead of the pack an ordered them to stay away from her until the baby was born, then they could do whatever they wanted with it since at the moment I thought of it as a demon too. Sue and Emily took care of her during the pregnancy," He showed me more painful memories about it.
My angel so weak and malnourished, barely breathing, thin hair, pronounced cheeks… it shattered me.
"It was killing her, the baby started breaking her bones it was too strong for her and she couldn't eat anything… that was the worst part, she was weakening, and we thought she wouldn't make it but she still refused to get rid of it."
As Jacob told me all this I could see and feel the pain in his voice as he remembered. The frustration he had gone through, wanting to help Bella but not being able to.
"I was about to order Sue to induce an abortion, I didn't care if Bella hated me for it later, I had to save her. But Leah, Emily and Seth wouldn't let us, I couldn't go against Leah and Sam couldn't go against Emily."
All this new information brought even more questions and I couldn't decide which one to ask first so I just told Jacob to go on.
"Soon we realized what Bella needed" His mind went back to him hunting and squeezing blood out of animals for Bella to drink "and it made her feel better, eventually she made it. I hunted for Lizzie, until she was able to do it by herself but Bella wouldn't let her go on her own, fearing she would run into another nomad so I would follow her without her noticing."
"Did the nomads come back?"
He shook his head.
"What about a female redhead?"
His frown deepened.
"No, just those two."
I kept thinking, replaying the images in my head and then something else dawned on me.
"The pregnancy was the reason behind the anemia." I stated and Jacob just stared at me, confirming what I was thinking of.
As always, it was my fault. I had abandoned her, I didn't take care of her, and because of me she was sick. Because of me she is dying now, I knew I would end up killing her at the end.
"When did she find out about the Leukemia?" I asked with a broken voice.
"About six months after Lizzie's birth."
"How?"
"It started with headaches, then with dizziness, she fainted once and that's when she finally agreed to see a doctor."
"And they moved to Seattle." I worked with the puzzle.
"She lived there during the week, and would come to La Push on the weekends so Lizzie could feed. One of us was usually near her, hiding in the woods even in Seattle, just in case there was another Vampire wandering around."
I thought about it, and realized all the things Bella had to do on her own for our child while being sick and I wasn't there to make things easier. To care for them in every way they needed, I knew getting answers would make me feel worse than I already was but this was beyond what I imagined.
"Lizzie told me Bella would keep them to themselves, even in La Push. Why is that?"
"To protect Lizzie, and our secret too. The tribe doesn't know about the wolves –we prefer it that way- much less about vampires," He cursed the last word "some of them know about the legends but they are just old stories to them."
I nodded for him to go on.
"Lizzie was growing by the minute back then they would notice something was off. Not that it mattered, we wouldn't expose you because of the treaty but we were still careful, no one ever knows."
"Either way, it wasn't safe so she never took her to Forks either, people knew you and even if I don't like it I have to admit she looks just like you. It would only raise questions and Bella would go to great lengths to protect your secret, too. She didn't tell me why exactly but she told me it was something about some vampires in Italy."
The Volturi, I remembered when I had told her about them on her birthday. When we were watching Romeo and Juliet on her old couch before her party, I was glad she remembered that. I shuddered just thinking about Aro knowing about Lizzie. He loved to collect uniqueness and it would be so easy for him to kill Bella claiming she was a human who knew our secret and taking Lizzie with them after slaughtering the wolves.
"She was right. It would have been a death sentence for all of you." He rolled his eyes "But what about the rest of the pack? Why wouldn't she let her be near them either if they already knew about her?"
He scoffed.
"Bella doesn't trust them to be around Lizzie."
"Because of what happened with Paul." I guessed.
He glared.
"How do you know about that?"
"Lizzie showed me."
He shut his eyes close, controlling his anger and Jasper helped him. He snapped his head at him.
"I don't need your help!" Jasper stopped. "That was an accident Paul was still learning to control himself."
"He still put my daughter in danger." I glared.
He growled.
"Look who's talking! If it wasn't for of us, neither Bella nor Lizzie would be here! Your kind was the real threat here and you left them to fend them on their own!"
He got a point, and even thought it pained me to admit it he was right. He saved them, I should be thankful. I dragged my hand over my face and pulled at my hair. You have to keep it Edward.
"But of course, it shouldn't surprise me you are just a cold hearted leech! Just stone, a demon, you can't feel, you can't love! I don't even know why I'm here in the first place!"
"You don't know me."
"I don't have to! You actions spoke for yourself!"
I winced.
"Why doesn't Lizzie know about the wolf thing?" Jasper asked changing the topic for my sake and helped me control my emotions again, I couldn't break down now.
Jacob looked pained but hid it quickly.
"After the Paul incident, Lizzie was terrified so Bella didn't tell her for her peace of mind."
"So Bella asked them to stay away?" Jasper continued.
"Yes."
"But she let you and Seth stay… why?" Thank god Jasper was here, with all Jacob just said I couldn't think in anything else than myself hatred and my blame.
"She trusted me, Seth… it's a long story." He started to think about something else.
That caught my attention and brought me back.
"What are you hiding?" I spoke again.
He looked to the ground and started thinking about Emily's dinner for tonight.
Why did Bella tell him I read minds?!
"Not yet, I will tell you later," He scoffed "I really have no choice the kid's been a pain in the ass." He muttered the last.
Something was wrong, very wrong.
Seth, Seth, Seth. I knew he had to be a key for something…
Why would Bella let the youngest wolf near our daughter? Why would Seth side with Bella? Leah I could gather why from Jacob's thoughts, -she was a wolf so she couldn't have kids unless she stopped phasing- Jacob, her imprint couldn't stop phasing since he was the leader and had to protect the tribe and she didn't want to grow older than him, she was already two years older than him.
But why Seth?
Then I remembered something else, and I could literally hear my mind working fast.
"You said the pack would wait until Lizzie was born to attack, why didn't the pack kill Lizzie?" I said in a lethal voice.
And Sam slipped.
Jasper grabbed me before I could launch myself at them, I heard clothes ripping and suddenly I had two wolves growling at me.
"Easy!" Jasper shouted "Edward, what's the matter?!"
"She is three years old!" I seethed.
"He didn't really have a choice!" Jacob shouted at me through his mind "It's not like you think."
Alice, who I had forgotten about, was at the ready to run with Lizzie if a fight broke.
"He imprinted on my daughter?!"
Jasper and Alice hissed.
"Yes! And that's what saved her life!" That floored me "Even if I hadn't allowed it, they would do what they needed to do to protect the tribe, a wolf can't kill other's imprint, it's our ultimate law!" Jacob snarled.
I saw on his mind how at first no one could explain the need of Seth to be near Bella while she was pregnant. The urge to protect them, he just said it felt wrong to kill an innocent and thought his job as a wolf was to protect. That's why he protected Bella and the baby too. It wasn't until Bella had Lizzie and he saw her that it all made sense.
"Jacob! Calm down bro." A young voice suddenly said, -breaking our glare contest- and we all turned to our right to see a boy jogging towards us.
Seth.
In my rage I didn't hear him approach.
"It's Ok, I'll handle this." He said in a soothing voice, Jasper didn't let me go fearing I would launch myself at the kid.
Because that's what he was. A kid with muscles.
Jacob growled, telling him to go away but Seth ignored him, standing in front of me.
"Hello, I'm Seth Clearwater." He introduced himself politely with a smile, but still warded and stretching his hand towards me - I felt like biting it off but Jasper's arms were still around me- and I could only growl at him. I should have brought Rosalie with me, I thought with regret. She would have kept the other two busy while I beheaded the pup.
Who was this kid? Who did he think he was claiming my daughter because of some stupid wolf spell?!
When Seth saw I wasn't bulging he lowered his hand and turned to Jacob.
"I brought new clothes I left them by the river. I was on my wolf form in case you phased" He said sheepishly, admitting he had been spying. "and things went wrong. It's Ok guys go and change while I talk to Edward."
Who gave him permission to say my name?
"It's Mr. Cullen to you, dog."
Seth looked reprimanded and I kind of almost felt bad, he was tall and big but still had a boyish face.
"Sam, stay with him." Jacob ordered and then he was gone.
When Jacob disappeared, Jasper let me go and even though he glared at Seth too he stayed by my side with his hand on my shoulder.
"Mr. Cullen," Seth started and Jasper hid his smirk, I heard Alice giggle in the distance "as I said, my name is Seth… you can call me Seth… or, hum whatever you prefer" He stammered, in other circumstances it would have made me smirk but I was too enraged "I'm sorry we couldn't meet on better circumstances."
"Oh, for the love of!" I turned and started pacing "Cut the act, what do you want? You want my daughter, huh? Because that's not going to happen! She is mine!"
"I know! It's not what you think Edw-Mr. Cullen… I swear it's not like that. Let me explain, if it was like that you really think Bella would have let me be near her? Even Leah –my own sister- would have shredded me."
"This conversation is over, and you are not coming near her." I hissed turning around ready to leave.
"Do you care about your daughter or not?" He got a little agitated and he made me stop on my track and whirl around.
"Who the hell are you to question me, flea bag?!"
"I'm just saying you shouldn't come to conclusions so quickly, for your daughter's sake… you said you were here for her after all, didn't you?"
I sneered.
…
…
…
"Speak." I didn't even know why I was allowing this.
Seth took a deep sigh.
"As Jacob said, I really didn't have a choice… and is not entirely like the legends. Yes, some wolves fall for their imprint, when the time is right like Sam and Emily… like Jacob and Leah but it's not only about that."
I was actually relieved when I learned about Jacob imprinting, somewhere on the back of my mind I had thought he was in love with my angel, hence his overprotection. Maybe that's why Leah doesn't like Bella too.
"Then what is it about?" I spat with rage, I saw Jacob enter the clearing and Sam disappeared into the forest but didn't phase back, staying like that to communicate with the rest of the pack.
"When we imprint on someone, it's as if our world revolves around our imprint, we'll do anything for them, be anything for them… whatever they need, and that's what we become. If she needs a playmate, a brother or like in Quil's case a nanny," He joked awkwardly and my glared deepened "Oh sorry, Edward" I snarled "Mr. Cullen… uhm I guess I should have explained, Quil imprinted on Emily's niece, she is two."
"And this is better because?" I asked, not following, but at the same time I refused to follow. I refused to have my daughter tied to a mongrel.
Seth sighed.
"Mr. Cullen, I know she is young and I swear to you, I only see her as that, as a little girl as if she was my little sister… for god's sake she is only three. I'm not a perv," He backtracked when I growled "I mean you know… I didn't, I don't see her like that."
"What about when she gets older, huh? Would you force her to you?" I seethed and Jasper grabbed my shoulder again, calming me.
"Oh god no! I'll never force myself on her, I know it might, uhm… you know lead to that but I'm not thinking about it right now. I just want her to be happy I won't ever force her to something she doesn't want."
He took a long breath.
"I know it might be different since she is not wholly human and I don't know how things will work out so if she decides she doesn't want me that way… I'll understand, I'll step away and be what she needs me to be… her brother, best friend… whatever she wants. I just want her to be happy I swear I'll never hurt her."
"You are staying away from her then."
His eyes widened and I saw the pain in them, good.
"No! Please, Mr. Cullen… don't do this, it's not only me… the imprinting thing is both ways… I'll do it if it's what's best for her, I understand I'm might not be perfect for her."
His mind went back to Sam and Emily and I gasped in horror at the scene, Sam phasing in front of Emily, hurting her in the process.
"It's not like that anymore," He assured me hurriedly "I'm in control of myself now and… Lizzie needs me too. Maybe she doesn't know it but she not only depressed for Bella. She misses me too."
"Why hasn't she said anything then?" I raised an eyebrow.
"She doesn't know about the imprint, she doesn't even know I'm a wolf because I know she is cared of them. At some point she'll have to know but I won't tell her until she is ready."
"And what do you suggest? Leaving her here alone with you? Are you crazy?!"
"No! I never thought you'll agree to that. So I came up with something… if you agree of course."
"Leah won't let you." Jacob interjected.
"Shut up Jacob," Seth glared at him before turning back to me "See Ed-Mr. Cullen…" He caught himself in time "I've been thinking about the uhm… the possibility of maybe coming with you?"
"What?!" Jasper and I screeched.
"I wouldn't live with you of course," He made a face "god the smell would fry my-"
"Not helping yourself kid." Jasper stopped him before he could finish his sentence.
"Oh god, sorry, yeah… I didn't mean it like that you smell uhm… good, too sweet, uhm sorry." Jacob rolled his eyes and chuckled in spite of himself, I would do the same if I wasn't too angry.
"Get to the point fido." I said getting desperate.
"Oh yeah, uhmm, I would stay in the woods… I can live there, I don't mind… I can hunt and I don't get cold… I can clean myself in a river and be near Lizzie to protect her."
"You think I can't?" I challenged and his eyes widened.
I had to admit this was fun.
"No! Of course you can! I just… I need to know she is safe… see her once in a while, with you there of course and then go back into the woods… she doesn't have to know I'm there."
That caught me off guard.
…
…
…
"You'd do that?" I asked incredulous "We live in the middle of nowhere in Alberta, it's freezing there."
He nodded eagerly, hope in his eyes.
"This is stupid, you are not going anywhere. Leah will have my head if I let you! You are just seventeen, Seth! You are too young to die!"
"Shut up, Jacob! This doesn't concern you or Leah." He scowled.
"I'm your leader." Jacob growled.
"So you are going to force me!" Seth stood to his full height and Jacob winced. Seth probably hit a sore spot. "Are you that leader?!"
The kid had balls.
Apparently Jacob had had issues accepting becoming a wolf, he had refused to be the leader until Bella became sick and did it only to protect her.
"Besides who says I'm dying! I would stay away from them, I'll keep to myself they won't have any reason to kill me… Bella said they are not like the red eyed ones, god she trusted them with her own daughter!"
"You know, Bella has the worst survival instincts. I wouldn't be so trustworthy if I were you." I warned.
"Agreed." Jacob muttered.
"She also said you will say that." He answered back at me and my jaw dropped.
She had known I would come here? She had so much faith in me, she knew I'd come here sooner or later looking for answers… did she knew I would also be looking for her? No wonder he didn't tell Jacob were she was going.
"Edward, I'm coming with Lizzie." Alice warned me "She is wondering why you are not coming back and she is getting worried."
"Tell Sam to go." I turned to Jacob and he glared.
"Why?" He asked suspiciously.
"Alice is coming with Lizzie," His face changed immediately.
Sam left but didn't go too far.
Moments later, Alice came trotting into the clearing with Lizzie on her arms. As soon as she saw our company her eyes changed and a wide smile lighted her gorgeous face.
"SETH!" She beamed.
Crap.
Lizzie jumped from Alice's arms and ran towards Seth, Seth opened his arms for her and I fought the urge to get in the way –well Jasper stopped me, to be honest-. She seemed so happy, I've never seen her this happy. Alice and Jasper noticed it too.
Lizzie jumped into Seth's arms and he twirled her around kissing her cheek.
"What's up sweet girl?!"
I wanted to gag at the scene. My hands twitched to take my daughter away from his meaty hands and run away to a far, far, far away land.
And that's when I knew I was jealous.
"If she wants a puppy so much I can always get her a Chihuahua." I snorted and Jasper stifled a laugh.
"Uncle Jacob!" Lizzie finally spotted Jacob.
"How are you gorgeous?" Jacob beamed at her taking her in his arms and kissed her cheek while I bit my tongue to not lash at him in front of Lizzie.
"Good!"
"Are you sure?" Jacob probed, getting protective and Lizzie nodded. "Are you treated good? Are you well fed?"
Who the hell does he think he is? Of course she is well fed, and we are not torturing her for god sakes! Ok, I admit I haven't done an excellent job at keeping my temper in control around her but I'll never harm her and I'm still learning.
Lizzie nodded again.
"He," She pointed at me "hunts for me, he got me a mountain lion the other day. It's my favorite!" She said excitedly.
I smiled warmly at her she told me it had been her favorite so far.
Jacob tried to hide his scowl, angry with himself for not thinking about it before.
"Don't all animals taste the same? It's just blood."
He thought about the deer and elks he had hunted for her when she was younger and wondered what the difference was.
"Carnivores taste more like humans because of their hunting habits." I explained and he looked green for a second there.
Lizzie got down from Jacob's arms and danced towards me, I took her in my arms feeling the tension leave me as I finally had her safe in my arms. Now it was Jacob's turn to glare.
Mine, dog. I glared back.
"This is Seth, and that's Jacob." She explained me with a wide smile and I smiled back at her.
"I know princess." I kissed her head –great, now she stinks like a wet dog- making Jacob took a step towards us, he looked like he was about to lose it, but Seth stopped him.
"So, how's life in Alberta?" Seth asked her, trying to distract her from the tension emanating between Jacob and me. "Do you like it?"
"Yes! He," She pointed at me again "takes me running very far, and plays momma's song for me every day!" I smiled warmly at her, glad she liked those moments too. They were my favorites. "And Uncle Emmett gets me lots of Shrek's stuff too!"
"Great, they are trying to buy her." Jacob thought scornfully and I glared at him again.
"That's awesome!" Seth said enthusiastically and Lizzie beamed at him. I've never seen all her teeth before.
I closed my eyes and looked at the sky. I knew I didn't have a choice, I've read a lot about wolves back then when we did the treaty, I knew how the imprinting thing worked. I knew what the distance would do to Lizzie, I didn't need her more depressed than what she already was. Then I remembered the look she had when she had talked to me about Seth, how she had stared longingly at the picture of the two of them.
"Lizzie, do you mind going with Seth and Jasper to play for a while? I hear some fawns over there." I pointed on the direction opposite from where Sam was hiding "I need to talk with Aunt Alice and Uncle Jacob." She nodded eagerly and jumped from my arms to the ground and took off with Seth and Jasper following close behind.
"You have no choice… you'll have to let him come." Alice said sympathetically as soon as they were out of view.
"Can't we work something else out? Like visits?"
"Edward," Alice sighed "Don't tell me you didn't see the look in her face. You can't do that to her."
I groaned.
"Damn it!" I turned to Jacob "What would this mean? Would he come alone or will someone else come?"
"He'll have to go alone," Jacob said hating the idea "I can't go with him, I have to stay with the pack and the tribe so Leah can't go either, the only ones that may agree to play nanny have imprints here, too. Maybe Paul or Embry could go but I don't trust them to behave themselves. Of course I'll ask him to phase every couple of hours to know he is Ok." He said pointedly.
"It might be good," Alice added "he can help distracting Lizzie while you look for Bella."
"You already know everything, why are you still looking for her?" Jacob asked suspiciously.
I know if I told him about my offer to change Bella he would flip, so I avoided his question.
"As I said, it's none of your business."
He glared back.
"Leave her alone, leech. She already has had enough and she doesn't need to put up with more of your bullshit."
I ignored him and turned to Alice.
"Make the arrangements, buy Seth a ticket but make sure he is in the back of the plane. I can't stand the smell."
And I want him as far away as possible from Lizzie.
"So I'm coming?" Seth thought excitedly from deep in the woods.
"Yes," I told everyone "but the dog stays out of the house."
"Where are we going?" Lizzie asked as I buckled her in her seat.
"I want to show you around. Aside from this afternoon you've been in a hotel all day." I explained and she smiled brightly at me. "I'm teaching you to act human too."
She smiled brighter and I kissed her nose before closing the door.
After making arrangements with Seth and Jacob, it was decided Seth would join us at the airport tomorrow night so he would come with us. Seth had said it wasn't necessary that he could run but Alice didn't let him. Insisting it would be child abuse or something like that. I didn't really care, he could do whatever he wanted as long as he stayed away from me.
When everything was settled, we told Lizzie the news. She was ecstatic to put it poorly. Then we returned to the hotel and stayed there the whole day, I noticed Lizzie was getting bored, she had gone through Alice's album a thousand times already and I decided to take a break from looking for Bella and took her out as Jasper took my place and helped Alice.
So that's why I was taking her for a ride around the small city, after a while I parked near the harbor and decided to take her by foot now. I knew she must be getting claustrophobic, she was like me. She liked to be outdoors.
I walked around the car and unbuckled her, then placed her on the ground and took her hand. I looked around and watched a few people walking around the harbor too, so I decided to start with the lesson.
"First thing you have to know," I started after a couple passed us by "you can't move too fast around people. No matter if you think they are not looking, like when you did at first in the house. You never know if you are safe, there could always be cameras or someone hiding."
She nodded as we started to walk down the harbor it was twilight the sun had just settled.
"When someone asks you something, you have to talk like your age. I know you are smarter and have a vast vocabulary like a ten year old but you still look five."
"How do I do that?"
"Replace some words talk slowly… like you have trouble with your tongue."
"How?"
I thought for a moment.
"Use the wrong article… or mix past and present tenses. Like you don't know which one is present and which one is past. Also, use simple words for describing things."
She nodded taking it all.
"And most importantly, don't ever use your gift with other people… no matter if they are like us only use it with people we trust. Like your uncles and aunts but that's it."
I didn't want the Volturi to know about her, much less about her gift. It would be too precious for Aro.
"Why?"
"Because… you are special, too prized and someone might want to take you away." I tried to be as honest as possible without scaring her.
Her eyes were wide.
"Like the vampire with the red hair?"
"Yes." I answered "But don't worry, I won't let anyone take you." I took her in my arms again and placed her on my hip. "I love you, and I'll always protect you, Ok?" I kissed her temple and she reclined her head on my shoulder.
"Where are we?" She asked softly after a few minutes.
"Port Angeles."
"It's pretty," she looked around, watching the twinkle lights on the lamps and tiny stores near the harbor. "Has momma been here too?"
I smiled at the same time my heart sank.
"Yes," I hold her tighter "we actually had our first date here."
She looked up at me with wide eyes.
"Really?" She asked awed.
"Yes, you want me to show you where?"
She nodded eagerly.
Two minutes later we were in front of "La Bella Italia" I figured since we were already here to be thorough and I walked into the restaurant.
"Good evening, Sir." The hostess greeted us "How can I help you?"
"Table for two."
"Great! Follow me this way."
She started to turn around but I stopped her before he could take a step.
"Uhm sorry, would it be too much trouble if you gave us the booth in the back?" I said pointing to the table Bella and I had shared so long ago.
"Oh, no of course not. Let me take you there."
Once we were seated, the hostess asked us for something to drink. I ordered apple juice for Lizzie and water for me.
"Alright, your waiter will be back with your drinks in a second." And with that she disappeared.
"So, what do you think?" I asked Lizzie and she whipped her hear at me, her boucles dancing around her face. She had been looking around in awe.
"It's very pretty." She said softly.
She was sitting in front of me, her legs bouncing down the table.
"Can I ask you something?"
She nodded.
…
…
"Did your mom ever tell you about me?" I asked nervously.
She looked down.
"Yes." She mumbled.
"Like what?"
She shrugged.
"Whatever I asked."
"What did you ask?"
"How were you… and…" She hesitated.
…
…
"And what? Lizzie, you can trust me." I reminded her.
She was about to say something but the waiter came with our drinks.
"Hi! My name is… Oh my god! It's Edward Cullen!"
I looked up and I wanted to kill myself. I had been to immersed on Lizzie I didn't hear her coming.
"Hello, Jessica." I said as politely as I could.
"Oh my god, it's been years! You look good, haven't changed much."
"Still hot as ever."
I wanted to hurl.
"You either." I said although she had gained a little weight.
"I'll take that as a compliment," She smiled widely "I'm at U-Dub now but since I'm on holiday break I'm using my free time to earn some extra cash." She filled me in as if I cared.
"Good." I said no spurring her on.
"So, how are you? What are you doing here? I never thought I'd see you again!"
"I had some business to attend to."
"Oh my god! I can't believe it's you! We should totally hang out, what are you doing later?"
I could see Lizzie scowling at her, and I knew she recognized her from the photo album.
"Sorry," I pointed at Lizzie "I have plans."
"Oh, and who is this?!" She said finally noticing Lizzie.
"She is my niece, my brother's daughter." I said going with Bella's idea.
"Oh! She is so adorable! She looks so much like you! I didn't know you had a real brother… What about tomorrow? When are you leaving? Where do you live anyway?"
"I'm hungry." Lizzie spoke then.
"Oh yes! I'm sorry here are your drinks and the menu." She said handing us two menus and she stood there waiting for my answer.
"Uhm, could you give us a moment please?" I said pointedly and she blushed.
"Oh, yes sorry."
When she was gone I looked back at Lizzie.
"What's with the face?" I chuckled scooting to sit next to her in the booth.
"I don't like her." She mumbled.
"Me either," I winked and took her menu. "When we are in a restaurant," I started quietly "since you are supposed to be five, you aren't supposed to be able to read yet so I'll have to tell you what's on the menu aloud."
She smiled glad I remembered the purpose of this outing.
I told her what the restaurant had, and she made faces at a few things making me laugh. When I was done she still didn't know what to have.
"What did momma had?" She asked touching my hand when she didn't know what to pick.
"Mushroom ravioli." I answered automatically.
"Then I'll have that too." She smiled brightly and I twirled one of her pigtails with my finger.
When Jessica returned I placed Lizzie's order and told her that was it before she could start conversation again. When she was gone I looked back at Lizzie.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked in a small voice.
"Sure, whatever you want."
"Would you promise to answer?"
…
…
"I'll answer as best as I can."
She seemed to think about it and figured it would be the best she could get.
"Why don't you like Uncle Jacob?"
I didn't expect that but damn, she was very observant. I couldn't answer her that unless I told her about wolves.
"It's… complicated, it has to do with what we are." I lowered my voice "Jacob and I are… different, that's why we don't like each other. I'll explain when you are older."
She nodded accepting my answers.
"Would you answer my question now?" I asked, remembering her of my previous question.
She was quiet for a second.
"I don't think you'll like it."
"Why not?"
"Because… you'll be mad."
"Just tell me Lizzie." I encouraged her. "I won't be mad, I promise."
What did she possibly want to know about me.
"It's about what you are." She said above a whisper.
I looked around, thinking. This wasn't the best place for that conversation.
"Would you tell me later?"
She thought for a moment before nodding.
Just then, Jessica came back with Lizzie's food. She smelled her food and smiled a sweet smile, and I watched her with one of my own eat her pasta.
"Is it good?" I asked making a face and she chuckled making one of her own.
"Not really," she made another face "but momma didn't like it when I wasted food."
That was so Bella.
"You don't have to eat it if you don't want. We can have it to go and give it to someone from the street."
She shook her head.
"It's not that bad."
I sneered at her playfully.
"You are a bad liar, you know?"
She blushed.
"Ok, it sucks."
I laughed out loud and she joined me with a giggle.
God angel, she is amazing. She is so much like you.
"What about dessert then? They have apple pie."
She nodded eagerly.
I called Jessica and told her to put the ravioli to go and to bring us a piece of apple pie along with the check.
Jessica brought Lizzie her dessert and the check at the same time. I ignored the card with her cell phone and threw a fifty into the little carpet. Then I returned to my little angel and watched her with amusement as she devoured her pie.
"What else do you like besides apples?"
"Chocolate."
"I'm talking about real food." I chuckled.
She shrugged.
"Lasagna I guess… and chicken soup. Spaghetti is fine too."
I can make those, I remember watching Bella make lasagna once for Charlie. It didn't seem too complicated.
"And what don't you like."
She made a face.
"Fish, it stinks."
"I agree." I chuckled again.
"Can I ask you something now?"
"Shoot." I said.
"How can you read minds? Why can't you read mine? Or mommas? And what's a shield?"
I laughed again.
"That's a lot of questions, I'll tell you what. We'll play twenty questions, you'll ask me one and I'll answer, then I'll ask you one and you'll do the same."
"Ok, can I go first?" She asked excitedly and I wanted cry out of happiness.
"Of course, ladies first."
"What's like to read minds? How do you do it? Can you read anybody's mind, anywhere?" She whispered with bright eyes.
"Hmm…" I pondered, remembering what I had told Bella when she asked me the same questions "It's like being in a huge hall filled with people, everyone talking at once. It's like a buzz of voices in the background… until I can focus on one voice, what they are thinking becomes clear, and I can't hear anyone anywhere. I have to be close, just a few miles but the more familiar someone's voice is, the farther away I can hear them."
"Oh, how far?"
"My turn," I smirked and she pouted. "Ok, just this one. I could hear Alice today while she was with you, but had she moved a few feet farther away I wouldn't have."
She smiled pleased and it was my turn.
"What did your mom and you used to do together?"
She smiled sadly.
"I liked watching her cook, and she read to me a lot. I liked that, sometimes I'd read to her too and we also listened to a lot of music together. We also took a lot of walks together she liked to walk into the forest. My favorite place was the meadow it was so beautiful, full of flowers. She would read while I caught butterflies."
I stared at her while I big fat knot formed in my throat, my eyes were beginning to sting too.
"Can you show me?" I asked thickly and she nodded.
As soon as my vision was replaced by Lizzie's thoughts, the emotions that hit me were too many and hard to describe.
It was my meadow, our meadow.
Bella had taken her there? I couldn't believe it… I was shocked but at the same time it didn't surprise me. Only Bella would do that, take our daughter to a place so special to us.
The vision ended and Lizzie stared at me with worried eyes.
"Are you Ok?" She asked tentatively.
"Yes," I masked my face quickly, "I'm sorry… I'm ok. Your turn." I changed the topic.
She thought for a moment, coming up with a question while she took another bite from her pie. I saw her eyes light up when she came up with something.
"What's your favorite color?" She asked shyly. I loved when she used her voice.
"Brown."
"Brown?" She scrunched her nose "Why?"
"It's the color of your eyes." I said simply and she blushed. "What's your favorite song?"
"The one you wrote for momma."
"Besides that one." My heart melted.
"Hmm… I'm yours by Jason Mraz." She smiled brightly and I had to smile back.
"That's a good song, why's your favorite?" I asked curiously, always wanted to know more about her. It was fascinating how much her mind worked like Bella, she always surprised me. She was so mature for her age too.
"It reminds me of momma she always listened to it while she cooked."
"She did?" I smiled in wonder, imaging Bella cooking for our daughter, probably stumbling, dancing and singing to that song.
"Yes, my turn." She said quickly "What's your favorite song?" she chimed.
"I've got you under my skin, by Frank Sinatra."
"I've never heard it." She frowned.
"I have it at home I'll play the record for you."
"Why is it your favorite?" She tilted her head curiously.
"It reminds me of your mother, too." She looked down.
…
…
…
"I miss her." She said, suddenly sad.
"Me, too."
She started biting her lip her sad face was killing me. It was Ok if I was sad, but she should never be sad. She had such a beautiful smile.
"My turn." I tried to distract her "What's something you really wish you could do."
She thought for a moment.
"I want to take ballet lessons."
"Really?" I asked in surprise "Why?"
She touched my hand.
Bella and Lizzie walking next to a Ballet Studio. Bella and Lizzie stopping to watch for a few minutes.
"I used to dance you know?" Bella smiled down at Lizzie "I sucked at it." She made a funny face and Lizzie giggled.
"Every time momma had to see her doctor…" she started softly "we always passed next to a ballet studio, she told me she used to do ballet when she was little but didn't like to be in the spotlight. She said she wished she would have gotten over it… I want to do it for her."
I swallowed, hard.
Just, breathe.
"We… we can arrange something, as soon as we get back to Alberta we can find a school for you. I don't see a problem with it, I'm sure Alice can help you prepare for that."
Her eyes widened.
"Really? You'd do that?" her eyes watered a little.
"Of course, I want you to be happy Lizzie. I'll do anything for you."
She smiled at me.
"Thanks." She blushed a little. "My turn."
I nodded for her to go on.
"Why do your eyes change color?"
I smiled ruefully.
"When I'm… hungry" I give her a meaningful look "our eyes change color, they become black… when we feed they go back to gold. That's also how you know if one of us is thirsty."
"Oh… why mine don't change like yours?" She frowned worriedly.
"Because they are too beautiful it will be a shame." I nuzzled her cheek and she giggled. "Are you done with your pie?"
She nodded.
"Alright," I stood from the booth "Let's go then."
I took her hand and we walked out of the restaurant, I spied an old lady next to a dump and gave her the food. Then I walked us back towards the harbor and the car.
Once I buckled her I took the driver's seat and started the car. I drove slowly back to the hotel, enjoying my time with her. She had finally opened up a little more to me and I was going over our dinner in my head contently.
And then I remembered my first question.
"It's later now," I told her. "Can you tell me now what you asked mom about me?"
…
…
…
"Yes," she said cautiously "but I need to ask you something first."
"What is it?"
…
…
…
"Why do you hate being a vampire?"
Damn! There's no escaping that one daddyward!
So, what do you think? What did you think about Jacob? Was he too mean or too soft? So Seth did imprinted on Lizzie! Some of you were right! I think Edward is finally going to get some greys! Lol!
So, a few questions were answered, the most important one remains unanswered... WHERE IS BELLA?!
What did you think about Edward and Lizzie's little game? Do you have any question you'd like them to ask each other? LET ME KNOW!
Please review! Your encouragements and love it's what keeps me inspired!
Since I'm on SLA mode right now, OMC's epilogue is taking a little while but I promise you'll have it next week!
Saludos!
tpec