Hi! I know you guys hate for beeing so slow with updates lately but I'm on vacation and after the rough end of semester I had I needed it, anyway it wasn't entirely my fault... One of my betas Joy1 (who is amazing) who I mentioned before, she had an accident a few weeks ago, but as I told she is worse than Bella with her luck and something else happened to her so she was bit slow proof reading this. I hope you get well soon honey! Seriously, go to a cleansing or something lol!
Anyway, two days ago I was having a really bad day... I'm just so stressed with work right now but when I opened my email to se if Joy1 had responded with the betaed chap, I had the most amazing surprise waiting for me! "Sweet Little Angel" was nominated for an AWARD! YES! I'm soo happy! It's nominated for "Most Promising WIP" for the Energize award! You have no idea how happy that makes me so I wanna thank Viola1701e for nominating me and loving my story! THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Voting starts from July 13th to July 20th I think, anyway if you think I deserve the award here's the link!
http*:*/energizewipawards*.*blogspot*.*mx/2011/09/ nominees*.*html
Just remove the "*"
Thanks again to my prereaders Lisopera and Joy1, this chapter was also betaed by Joy1 and will be betaed by Cattinson as soon as she is done with the few other chapters she missed while on vacation.
ENJOY!
SM owns the world!
Chapter 23: Mixtape
"Mixtape" - Butch Walker
You say, "Hello," inside I'm screamin' I love you
You say, "Goodnight," in my mind, I'm sleepin' next to you
You drive away from my car crash of a heart
And I don't know
But you gave me the best mix tape I have
And even all the bad songs ain't so bad
I just wish there was so much more than that
About me and you
…
Oh, don't turn around and say bye again
Yeah it crushes my head when you call me
Your friend and I'm not the same person
From back in the day in the back of the class
That you thought was gay
No, I can't find the words 'cause I lost them
The minute they fell out of my mouth
And it's love and I'm in it, so give me your lips
And just let me kiss 'em
And let's get messed up and listen to probably
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I yelled enraged before shoving her aside. "Bella?!" I screamed panicked.
"Tell me it is a lie!" Irina cried launching herself at me but I evaded her running towards the debris that surrounded the cottage looking for my angel.
"Bella are you alright?!" I yelled through Irina's screams.
"Where's Laurent?!" She insisted, but I ignored her again moving huge pieces of rock and wood that used to be part of the rooftop and walls of the cottage.
"Bella?!" I screamed desperately, I could hear her heartbeat but why wasn't she answering?! "Bella?!" I tried again.
"I'm alright!" I heard her cough, "I'm stuck though." She coughed again because of all the dust, just then I heard my siblings' frantic thoughts as they run towards us. Obviously having heard the ruckus.
"What happened?!" Carlisle asked, Emmett, Alice and Rose materializing at the edge of the clearing too.
"WHERE'S LAURENT?!" Irina screeched again, this time striking without thinking. She threw herself at me, both of us falling to the ground while I blocked all her punches. It took everything within me not to strike back. Not two seconds later Carlisle and Emmett were pulling her away from me and I instantly went after Bella again.
"Carlisle! Let me go!"
"Bella?! Are you hurt?" I asked moving stuff around and everybody quickly sprung into action helping me while Irina kept screaming at me and trying to free herself.
Finally I could see Bella's panicked face through the debris, with Emmett, Alice and Rose's help we started moving everything around until we reached her. I could smell blood, and now it was my turn to panic, thinking she had been hurt badly. She was laying on the ground pressed against the couch, huge broken lodges hovered over her but thanks to the back of the couch they hadn't fallen on her, only trapped her in a tight cage.
Seconds later, Emmett removed the final lodge and I knelt by Bella. Her sweats were tattered where her knees were scrapped and she had a small cut above her eyebrow.
"Did you hit your head?" I asked her worriedly.
"No, why?"
"You are bleeding…"
"Oh," she touched her forehead, wincing when she felt the red liquid. "Yeah, sorry about that."
"You are apologizing for bleeding?" I chuckled to myself, only Bella would do that. I took off my shirt and used it to stop the bleeding in her forehead, a blush covered her cheeks and I got curious.
"What's the matter?" I asked intrigued.
Bella seemed to be covering but said with a shrug, "Got into the habit after my eighteenth birthday...at least that's what Jacob tells me."
I kept pressure on her forehead and admired her face murmuring, "Well, we will add that to my list of sins... Somewhere between letting the birthday party happen to make Alice happy..."
"HEY!" Alice yelled.
I continued, "...and destroying us over my own arrogant belief I could control the world by will alone."
Bella gazed at me in silence with an open look. I hoped that something about this non-argument acknowledgement of my errors would sink in as reality and not what she believed to be one of my ridiculous lies for Lizzie's sake. As she continued to stare at me, for one moment I was transported back to a time when Bella trusted my words. And then the moment shattered.
"WHERE'S LAURENT!" Irina screeched.
She threw her head back, cracking Carlisle's nose and tried to launch herself at me, but Rose grabbed her before she could take one step and then Emmett pinned her against the ground.
"LET ME GO!" She cried as I helped Bella to her feet and positioned myself between her and the crazy Vampire before me. "WHERE'S MY HUSBAND?!"
"THAT PIECE OF TRASH IS DEAD!" I screamed back enraged.
"No! You are lying!"
"I'm sorry," was all I could say before she started crying her eyes out.
"I think we should go back to the house," Carlisle spoke. "Irina please calm down… We have to talk. There's something you need to know."
Between Rose and Emmett, they managed to drag her back to the house. I turn to Bella once more making sure she was alright.
"I'm fine."
"You sure?" Alice asked in a tiny voice. She looked into the future and saw Bella stumbling, but didn't say anything - not wanting to upset Bella again by being too overbearing and letting her find out on her own.
"Yeah, let's go… Irina's not stable right now and I don't want her alone with Lizzie like that."
Crap, Lizzie.
With a new urgency I put my hand on Bella's back guiding us back to the house but as Alice predicted, she stumbled letting out a hiss.
"God, I think I sprained my ankle when I fell."
"Here, let me help you," I offered.
Before Bella could protest, I swoop her up in my arms and Alice and I took off. Five seconds later we were walking into the kitchen through the back door and continued our way to the living room where everybody was.
As soon as Lizzie saw us she sprinted our way with a worried and scared face.
"Momma? Are you Ok?" she asked with her sweet voice.
Bella smiled warmly at her while I sat her on the couch. She still had my shirt pressed against her forehead. Even though the bleeding had stopped, I noticed Jasper had stopped breathing. His mind filled with the awful memories from Bella's 18th birthday. I sent him a thankful look for trying.
"I'm Ok baby," Bella wrapped her arms around Lizzie who sat on her lap. "Just a small cut."
I heard Irina start another rant in Carlisle's study, I gathered from their thoughts he had told her everything already so no matter how much I wanted to stare at my girls and make sure they were alright, I had to put a final stop to this.
"I'll be right back." I kissed their foreheads and stood up from where I was kneeling. "Esme," I called my mother "can you watch them, please?"
"Of course sweetie." Esme came and sat next to Bella an Lizzie on the couch."
Jasper and Alice followed me while Esme and Seth stayed back with Bella and Lizzie. We walked into the room, Emmett was there too, he and Alice had been witnesses when Laurent spilled the beans so they knew I would need them here. Jasper was here to act as a piece maker of sorts with his special gift and Carlisle to be the voice of reason. As for Rose I wasn't sure what her intentions were but she was here as well.
"He wanted to be one of us!" Irina was arguing.
"He killed Bella's father!" I interjected as I entered the room.
"I don't believe that!" She came to stand in front of me.
"Seth recognized his scent." I tried to refrain my fury.
"He's a damn wolf! You believed a stupid mongrel over Laurent?! He was family!"
"Irina, he confessed plotting against us with Victoria." Carlisle tried to reason patiently with her. "Laurent is the reason Victoria found Edward with Lizzie."
"You are lying! You are covering for him!" Irina pointed to the door where we could see Seth in the living room. He had his eyes closed trying to control his anger so he wouldn't phase inside the house.
"Irina, he wouldn't be able to lie to me!" I pointed to my forehead.
"You can still lie with your mind!"
Emmett decided to be witty, "Are you saying that Seth lied with his mind that Laurent was involved or Laurent lied with his mind that Laurent was involved?"
Irena glared at him, "The mutt...Idiot."
"Laurent confessed! Alice and Emmett were there too!" I said in exasperation.
"You are all lying!" Irina said irrationally repeating in her mind Laurent telling her he loved her. "I get you are overprotective Edward but Laurent wouldn't do that to me! He loved me! He wanted to be one of us!" she cried.
I glared at her, "He was a threat to Bella and Elizabeth. I had no other choice. I'm sorry."
"I'm going to fucking kill that stupid mutt!" Irina took a step in his direction but Jasper and I blocked her path.
"His name is Seth," I hissed, "and you are not touching him. He has been nothing but loyal since he arrived here. He almost died protecting Lizzie when Victoria attacked us...which, by the way, was because your oh so precious Laurent gave away our location!"
"I can't believe you'd put that stupid dog over one of us! He's lying Edward! Can't you see?! That's not true and you know it! That mutt is playing with all of you!"
"Laurent came here only to gather more information for Victoria! I read his mind! Seth had nothing to do with it!" I defended him.
Irina looked over my shoulder, sending a lethal glare in Seth's direction. Seth glared back but remained quiet but I could tell he was dying to have his say too.
"What? Nothing to say Irina?" I turned her attention back to me. "I just told you, I read Laurent's mind. He confessed in front of others to killing Bella's dad and to helping Victoria...He didn't even listen to you when you told him not to come." I tried to lead her back to the reality of her husband's crimes...but the grief was too strong.
"I can't believe you'd do this to me Edward, you of all people…" Irina cried angry tears. "You of all people know what it means to lose your mate!" She screeched, "We helped you look for her!" She pointed at Bella who stared at our encounter with wide eyes, "Laurent helped you! We all helped you and you betrayed us! We were there for you remember? When you lost her? We helped you through your darkest night and this is how you pay us?!"
Now she was pissing me off, bringing Bella into the argument, "He didn't love you Irina! Otherwise he wouldn't have betrayed us! If we were really his family he wouldn't have agreed to let Victoria come after us! He would have warned us! He was weak, that was the only reason he stayed with you! You were part of a strong coven...He knew he wasn't your mate."
She swung her arm but I blocked the punch, I would never hit a woman… well except for a certain redhead but god how I wished to punch some sense in her thick skull. Jasper grabbed her, locking her in a death grip, and tried to calm her with his gift.
"Enough!" Carlisle shouted over our screaming, "Irina we understand you are in pain, but Seth is as much member of our family as any other of my sons… we trust him. Edward had to do what he had to do and we stand by him, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I know this is a lot to take in and you are hurt so we won't take any of your attacks on our character, the questioning of our familial bonds with your coven or the destruction of our property at heart." With steely coldness he quietly said, "The last one is a little harder than the rest since my human daughter, who we thought had died once already was inside that cottage you destroyed at the time and was injured in the process... as well as the fact my granddaughter could have been in there too!"
Irina looked at him in disbelief then around herself, assessing the scene. We all surrounded her not letting her get any closer to Seth. She was confused and at disadvantage.
She turned to glare at me, "You are going to regret this." And with that, she jumped out of the window and lost herself in the woods.
"Watch her." I told Alice, to which she nodded solemnly.
Irina was unstable right now, and she could do something really stupid.
I turned around and flew back into the living room, Seth was at the farthest side of the room, not trusting himself to be around Lizzie right now. Lizzie was on Bella's lap hiding her face on Bella's neck. Obviously she had heard everything and must be scared.
I kneeled in front of them and touched my daughter's hair.
"Hey little angel, are you alright?" I kissed her head.
"Is Irina gone?" She asked in a small voice.
"Yes princess, she's not going to hurt you. You are too cute." I winked trying to make her laugh.
"Is she going to hurt Seth?"
I shook my head.
"Don't worry about him, he is a tough guy." I joked, looking up at Seth.
"The hell I am." He answered with a fake smile, but stayed where he was.
"What about you daddy? She was mean to you."
I took her from Bella's lap and hugged her to me kissing the side of her head.
"Don't worry about me beautiful girl."
"But she said-"
"Elizabeth," I pulled back, searching her eyes "No one is going to keep me away from you, Ok? Irina was just mad which made her say a lot of nonsense… I'll always be here to protect you." I kissed her nose.
"Promise?"
"I swear… you are stuck with me." I winked at her to which she giggled. "Now, I hear nana Esme at the kitchen, why don't you go help her with lunch while I check on your momma?" I looked up at Bella who had tears in her eyes at our little chat. This day must be taking a toll on her.
Lizzie nodded and danced with Alice –who threw me a new shirt to put on- in direction of the kitchen, Seth following after them. Jasper sat on the other couch turning the TV on and Emmett joined him.
"How are you?" I looked up at Bella, since I was still kneeling on the floor.
"I'm ok, I could use some Advil though." She rubbed her temples with her fingers.
"That's not what I'm asking." I said softly, staring intently into her worn out eyes. I had seen her breakdown last night. I didn't want her to go through that again… at least not in front of our daughter. I knew that would upset her to no end later.
"I'm fine… I, I don't feel like talking about it right now." She looked down.
"Ok," I agreed, assessing her forehead and then her scraped knees. "Let's take care of that… May I?" I motioned to carry her -since she couldn't walk because of her ankle. She nodded awkwardly.
I swoop her up in my arms and carried her to Carlisle study where he had his medical kit. I sat her on his desk and then opened the bottom drawer where he had it.
I stole a glance at her scrapped knees.
"Do you have Lizzie's tears with you by any chance?"
She shook her head.
"I left them at the cottage, but I don't think the dropper survived the collision anyway." She shrugged "they are just scrapes." She said as if they were nothing.
I kneeled before her and opened the bottle of alcohol.
"You don't have to do this… no need to make yourself uncomfortable." She said as I started cleaning her forehead with a clean cotton ball and alcohol.
I stared at the dark liquid that had dried on her forehead, and then at her big worried eyes.
"It doesn't bother me anymore," I said truthfully and resumed my task.
"What?" she said skeptically.
I shrugged as I poured alcohol on a new cotton ball.
"It's easier to ignore it… uhm, this might hurt just a little." I swabbed the cotton ball over the cut and she flinched.
"Since when?" she insisted and my gaze locked on hers.
"Since I spent a whole year thinking you were dead," I whispered.
A great silence fell upon us. I sat on the chair before her and ripped her sweats in half; transforming them into long shorts so I could clean her knees as well.
"What do you mean?" her voice trembled and I stalled, not wanting to reopen old wounds. "I thought we were being honest…" She insisted when I remained silent.
"It's not easy to talk about it Bella… besides, you don't believe any word I say any more."
…
…
…
"Try me," she breathed and I felt my chest fill with hope. I looked into her eyes again, wondering if she was being serious, but I could only see curiosity in them. No skepticism or doubt.
I swallowed before concentrating back on her knees and shins.
"I lived through an entire year thinking that you were dead, Bella. That changed the way I look at a lot of things."
"Did it change the way I smell to you?"
"Not at all. But… having experienced the way it feels to think I've lost you… my reactions have changed. My entire being shies away from any course that could inspire that kind of pain again... As a human, the smell of you bleeding means you are still here, Bella."
She was at a loss of words so I decided to change the mood.
"I guess you could call it a very educational experience." I tried to joke but I only got a tight lipped response. We stayed quiet after that. It was when I was done putting the gauzes over her knees when she spoke again.
"Edward… I'm scared," her voice broke at the end.
"Bella," I took her hand, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'm sorry I was distracted today but-"
"No, that's not what I meant… I'm not scared for me. I'm scared for Elizabeth… what Laurent said… I can't lose her Edward," Her eyes filled with tears, "She's all I have."
I put on a Band-Aid in her forehead over her cut, then rested my elbows on my knees and stared at her eyes.
"I'm not going to let anybody hurt her."
"You are not invincible!" Bella said steadily. "Victoria had Laurent working for her. What if she has more vampires working for her?"
"Alice says she's alo-"
"I don't care what Alice says… she couldn't see Laurent either. Besides, even if she is in fact alone, it took nearly 10 seconds for your brothers to show up today when Irina destroyed the cottage… If you are not near enough, it'd only take Victoria a second or two to-to… you know." She couldn't end that sentence.
I looked down, frustrated with myself… I was so arrogant thinking I could do it all and she was right. Even if I never left their sides, even at night –which she still doesn't know about- we didn't know for sure if Victoria had anymore friends who would be willing to help her. She could distract me so easily and it would only took her a second to strike.
"You're right… what do you suggest then?"
She squared her shoulders, as if taking a very important decision.
"I want Lizzie to live here at the big house, with you and your family. She'd has her own room here anyway and she'd be safer."
I nodded, excited at having my daughter living with me again but it didn't escape me that she only mentioned Lizzie.
"What about you?"
"Well, the ideal thing would be the cottage but that's destroyed for now. Esme said she'll work on it and should be ready in two weeks if it doesn't rain. So meanwhile I can stay at a motel in Sundre?"
I immediately shook my head.
"Bella, Sundre is at least 15 minutes away if we run… Victoria is after you too; don't forget that."
"Exactly, if Victoria comes after me that should give you enough time to run away with Lizzie."
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard you say."
"No it's not." She tried to argue as always but I interrupted her.
"Yes it is, first of all I can take care of you both, especially with my brothers' help. Second of all, I'm not running away from Victoria. She's paying for everything she has caused and I'll kill her even if is the last thing I do to make you safe again. All this is my fault, I should have dealt with her since the beginning."
"I don't want you to fight Victoria."
I was taken aback. "Why not?"
She looked out of the window, it was raining again after a minute she looked back at me. "Elizabeth needs you more than me."
I brushed my thumb over her knuckles; I was amazed she hadn't pulled her hand away yet.
"That's bullshit," I said honestly, remembering my daughter's pain when we thought Bella had died. "You are her mother. There are huge parts in her life I'd never be able to fill."
"But you'd be able to keep her safe better than me."
"This conversation is pointless." I didn't want to think of a world where she wouldn't exist again "I can keep you both safe."
"How?"
"Just move in here with us, at least until we catch Victoria. I'm sure she would be coming soon again looking for Laurent."
"I can't Edward."
"Why not?"
"I'm not comfortable here… I… I want my privacy."
"You'll have it; you can take my room. It's the last at the third floor, Lizzie is next door and you'll have the whole floor for yourselves."
"I can't take your room!" she said incredulous. "It's your room."
"Bella, I'm barely there… I don't need it. I don't even sleep. I can take the guest room next to Rose and Emmett's if I need some space." God, that will be pure torture at nights.
"I don't know Edward…"
"Ok, I have an idea… just hear me out." I added when she was about to protest again. "It will take about two weeks for Esme to rebuilt the cottage, right?" She nodded, "How about you move in, take my room, we try to work it out see how you feel about it… then by the end of the two weeks if you are still not comfortable enough you move back into the cottage."
"I don't know… I don't want to be a problem. Having the human around will change a lot of things around here. I don't want Alice and Jasper having to leave home again. This is his haven. He shouldn't be tempted in his safe haven."
"I understand you are worried about the others, but I assure you Alice would be ecstatic as well as Emmett. Jasper feels awful about your birthday so I know this would make him start to forgive himself. Carlisle and Esme would be so happy. Its what they wanted from the start... While you were sick, all any of us wanted was for you to live with us."
She still seemed unconvinced and I heard Esme and Carlisle approach us having heard our talk. Two seconds later they appeared and stood by the threshold on Carlisle's office.
"Bella," Carlisle started in a contrite voice. "I know we let you down… not only Edward but all of us," his voice was full of emotion. "Please give us a chance to win your trust back."
She still seemed reluctant and wouldn't meet his eyes so Esme took a step forward sitting next to her and putting an arm around her.
"Sweetie," Esme started, her eyes red with unshed tears, "We are willing to do anything for you to forgive us. We know we have to earn it. Having you here… it'll mean the world to us. You are as much part of this family as any other...even if we didn't show you properly before. Let us try to show you now... We miss you." She kissed her temple.
There was a loud bang upstairs from a door closing which made Bella jump, my eyes hardened when I heard it was Rosalie.
"What was that?"
"The wind," I lied, I don't think she believed me but thankfully she let it go.
"So… what do you say?"
She contemplated our words, and I held my breath along with every other vampire at the house with the exception of a stupid blonde as we waited for her answer. A loud squeal was heard a minute later when Bella took a breath to speak again.
"Two weeks," she said, "if it doesn't work I move out." Bella fixed Carlisle and Esme with equally hard stares, "No guilt trips!" They nodded. "No coercions, Pixy," Bella yelled at Alice which was met with a pathetic 'Fine'. And then her eyes landed on me, "Or pity parties." I nodded. "And no using Lizzie against me... not one of you or I will never trust any of you again." Bella stated with steely nerve to the house of vampires.
"Deal." I smiled at her. "You are not going to regret this."
Esme was beaming, her smile so bright it put the sun to shame. "Ok, Alice is already preparing your room, I'm going to make yours and Lizzie's lunch before I go help her. Thank you so much sweetie for giving us this opportunity." She kissed her head and then disappeared out of the room.
I tested Bella's swollen ankle and noticed the bruise starting to form. I put my cold hands over it for a few minutes to help with the swelling.
"I'll help you back into the living room. Carlisle will look at it while I get your things from the cottage." I set her foot down.
"Thank you. Uhm can I ask you for one more favor?"
"Anything."
"I need to take my pills… they must be somewhere in all the debris. I'd go and get them but…" She motioned to her foot.
"Alice has a supply here… I'll go and get them before I go, Ok?"
"Thank you."
I carried her back to the living room and sat her on the single couch. Esme was already waiting for her with a tray with food. Once I made sure she was comfortable I went to retrieve her medicines from Alice's room. When I reentered the living room I handed Bella the little orange bottles. Carlisle was already there sitting on a stool probing her foot.
"It's just a sprain… nothing serious, you won't need a cast although it would be best if you use crutches for a few days so it heals faster. Also the most you stay still the better for your foot... No weight bearing if possible."
Lizzie jumped from her place next to Emmett who was watching the news with Jasper and motioned me to carry here.
"Daddy am I going to school tomorrow?"
I sighed. There were so many things up in the air right now. I didn't know when was the last time Laurent talked to Victoria and Irina could attempt something stupid and pull a Victoria on us now. That was something I had just contemplated, I killed her mate… I needed to talk to Tanya, maybe she could knock some sense in her.
"I don't know angel… I need to check on a few things first."
"But I'm sooooo bored." She pouted.
Of course she would be restless, she has been inside the house for two days… since we learned Laurent was coming. She must be in need of some distraction.
"Tell you what… I'll go for you and momma's things and then I'll take you for an ice cream into town. Does that sound good?" I wiggled my eyebrows at her.
"With sprinkles?" Her eyes brightened.
"And syrup."
"Yes!" she threw her arms in the air and kissed my cheek.
"Ok, I'll be right back."
Later that day Emmett, Seth and I took Elizabeth into town while Bella made herself at home without me being in her way. After getting Lizzie an ice cream, we walked to a park near the shop where other kids were spending the day with their parents.
At first I had thought odd of Emmett offering to come with us instead of Jasper or Alice but it didn't take long for me to crack his mind. He wanted to talk about Rosalie but didn't know how to approach the subject.
I gave him time to gather his thoughts, but honestly no matter what he said Rosalie won't come close to Lizzie especially now that Bella was moving in. I only had two weeks to change her mind and convince her to stay permanently, and if I dared to hope… to change her mind about me and I didn't want that stupid Barbie to ruin that with her obsession with my daughter and her dislike for Bella.
"I know you know what I'm thinking…" Emmett started suddenly "and before you say no, please let me have my say."
"I already know what you are going to say, and the answer is still the same."
"Why not?"
"I don't trust Rosalie with Elizabeth."
"She's more than capable of taking care of her. She loves her."
"She's obsessed with having a child...not loving mine." Emmett geared up to fight me, so I eased up. "I know Rosalie is sorry about what happened with Seth and all the other things but I'm so close at having a real chance Emmett, I don't want to ruin that."
"How will Rosalie do that?"
I gave him an incredulous look.
"Emmett, you saw how possessive Rosalie was of Lizzie when Tanya visited. You saw her fight Seth –Lizzie's imprint- over her even when she made it clear she preferred Seth."
"She won't do that anymore, I promise."
I shook my head.
"What assures me she won't do the same with Bella? Push her aside and make her feel less because she's human? Bella is Elizabeth's mother, she has every say on her."
"What Rosalie wants is not different from Esme and Alice, she just wants to be part of her life."
I shook my head again.
"First of all I am not stopping Elizabeth from approaching Rosalie. She doesn't want Rosalie. She doesn't like Rosalie. Second of all, Esme & Alice respect Bella as Lizzie's mother and as a person. Esme knows when to step back. When Bella's firm about something she respects that, Alice respects that too… they are not possessive. They are lovable and fun. They give in into Lizzie's whims when they are acceptable. I know Rosalie, she is tenacious… she knows what she wants and getting to baby Lizzie once in awhile won't be enough. I'm sorry Emmett but unless Lizzie seeks Rosalie out, I don't want her near my daughter. Please understand that."
"Edward, I get you are a worrier but this is too much…"
"Has Rosalie even attempted to talk to Bella since she arrived here?" I asked him shutting him up. He slowly shook his head. "If Rosalie really just wanted what's best for my daughter she would have approached Bella already, making her feel at home so Elizabeth could be more at ease seeing her mom happy... but no, she has been cold and harsh, banging doors and sending glares everywhere. I won't force Lizzie into spending time with her, and unless Rosalie wins Bella over, she won't ever win Lizzie over either."
Emmett looked down, a sad look on his face.
"Look Emmett, I get you hate to see Rosalie in pain… but as much as you want to make her happy I want to make my own family happy too. I want to protect them… I have no problem having Rosalie in Lizzie's life, but I won't force her either… if Rosalie really wants to be part of her life she needs to change her attitude and start with Bella. Elizabeth is amazingly protective of her mother; she won't let Rose in unless Bella approves."
We went quiet after that, Emmett kept thinking about how to best to tell Rosalie about this. I left him to his own thoughts and decided to call Tanya, see if she had heard anything about Irina. She answered within the first ring.
"Irina?"
"Sorry, it's me."
I heard her sigh.
"I take it you haven't talked to her? "
"Not since this morning… she called after she left your house."
"So you know what happened?"
…
…
"Yeah, I know what happened." She said in a monotone voice. "Carlisle just called too."
"Tanya, I wish I was sorry but I can't."
"God Edward, you really had to go that far? You had to kill him?"
I glared at the ground.
"Yes Tanya I had to… he killed Bella's father."
"You don't know that." She spat defending Laurent.
"Yes I do, Seth recognized his scent and he was wearing the same hoodie as that day… besides he confessed."
She was silent for a moment.
"I don't know what to think Edward, I want to believe you... I do… but Irina is my sister and I have to stand by her."
"And what does that imply?"
"She wants to avenge Laurent…. She says she understands you, she is trying to… she says she would have done the same thing if someone she loved was at risk but…"
"But what?" I spat.
"She blames the dog… she wants Seth."
"Forget about that, no one is touching him."
"Edward he is just a wolf. Just let Irina have her little revenge and everything will be fine with time."
I stared at Seth and Lizzie playing in the swings, oblivious to my phone call.
"He is not just a wolf! He is Elizabeth's imprint. It would kill her if something happened to him… and he is a great friend… I owe him a lot."
"Can't you get her Chihuahua or something?"
I immediately saw red.
"Seth is not a dog! He is my brother just as Emmett and Jasper so don't talk about him like that… and tell Irina if she wants to come after him that she'll have to kill me first... And by the way Tanya," I said snidely, "It wasn't just Seth….the truth is Bella realized Laurent was there to pump her for information. She realized he had no reason to be there at all if he didn't want something from her...and she recognized that he was wearing the same damn hoodie he wore the day he killed her father. She asked Seth to come out to prove her theory because he knew the killer's scent, and Bella wanted that proof. Laurent was with Irina only for convenience, you have a large coven… he is weak that's why he had stayed with James too… please open you eyes!"
"Edward, calm down. Just put yourself in my shoes! Irina is my sister, I can't go against her."
"As their leader you should help her see the light too, if she comes after Seth… I'll do my best not to kill her but I won't just sit down either." I hissed into the phone before turning it off.
I closed my eyes, taking calming breaths.
"Want to go home?" Emmett asked tentatively.
I nodded. "Yes, please." I needed to see my angel.
The ride back home was quiet, Lizzie had fallen asleep in her car seat and we didn't want to wake her, but once we got home she was awake once again.
"Where's momma, daddy?" She asked as I helped her out of her seat.
"She's with Auntie Ally in the living room."
They were talking about getting new curtains for my room among other things - Well, Alice was… she thought that now that Bella would be staying there she needed to redecorate it according to Bella's tastes. Bella was arguing the room was fine and it was only a waste of money, but Alice kept saying my room was too broody it needed a bit of light.
"Alice, why don't you ask Edward? It's his room." I heard her say patiently from the couch she was sitting. Alice was on the floor with a bunch of magazines and fabrics.
"Edward would tell me to pick up whatever I want, and what I want is for the room to be what you want. Now, which shade of blue do you prefer?"
"You don't need to paint the walls, I like the way they are."
"But they are so white," Alice made a face, "That room needs a bit of light."
Bella chuckled, "White is the absolute reflection of light, Alice. Surely a fashion icon as yourself knows that?" I could practically feel Alice's glee.
I opened the front door and Lizzie immediately went for the living room in search of her mother with me on her heel. But before she could enter the living room I stopped her.
"Here, give this to momma." I gave Lizzie a small bouquet of pink lilies I got from a flower stand in the park. Lizzie nodded with a wide smile and turned to the room.
Bella looked up and smile as soon as she saw our daughter.
"You had a good time with daddy?" Bella kissed her cheeks.
"Yes! We brought you these!"
"Oh, thank you baby they are beautiful," Bella smiled tenderly at her. I loved how her eyes shined every time Lizzie smiled or did something as simple as giving her flowers.
"What are you doing?" I asked sitting down by Alice on the floor.
"I want Bella's opinion on her new room that used to be yours, but she won't help me," Alice pouted and I chuckled.
"I just don't get why you have to change Edward's room for just a few weeks."
I masked my face before she could see the disappointment in my face at her statement and focused on the news Jasper was watching.
"Kamloops is in a state of terror… whoever this band or serial killers are have moved north leaving the states and now is causing disappearances in south British Columbia… it's official… these "bone crushers" as people call them are now in Canada, authorities are considering on issuing a curfew to all citizens until further notice. 15 disappearances have been reported to which only 3 bodies have been found in almost unrecognizable shape…"
From the corner of my eye I caught Lizzie staring intently at the TV.
"Jasper, would you mind?" I gave him a look, telling him to change the channel. He is obsessed with these newborns, I don't know how many times I have told him to be careful around Lizzie.
It's obvious we are dealing with newborns here, but they are not our responsibility. Although now I'm getting worried. As Jasper said only a large number of newborns could be doing so much destruction and I worry they come too close to home for two different reasons.
One, they could hurt Bella if they run into her scent and two… the Volturi must be looking for them and if Aro decides to come too and pay Carlisle a visit as friends… he would find out about Lizzie and her uniqueness and about Bella being a human who knows entirely too much about us.
They could kill us all.
And I know I'm not the only one who has figured this out… Carlisle is seriously thinking about moving us again. The thing is we would have to go to an entirely new place. We haven't been away for enough time in any of the other residences we have for us to return without acquiring some attention. Because of Bella and Lizzie we can't go to any of the houses we have in remote places; there has to be a town nearby. Then there's another issue… while this may be our lives, Jacob would have a real strong case to have Seth, Bella and Lizzie just move back to the reservation. Victoria never found them there, Laurent never got the chance to tell her, and the newborns were moving further away.
Then there's Jasper, he knows if one of these newborns finds out our scents, -granted we are still pretty far away but you never know- it will attract them here, curious about us and that would lead into a fight. Newborns are unstable, they feel threatened by anything and with a human and a hybrid added to the equation it would only end in a bloodbath. He thinks there must be around 15 or 18 newborns lose… no more than twenty. We are outnumbered but Jasper think we could still put up a fight if it comes to that.
I know Alice has been trying to track them, but it's all blurry… as I said they are unstable, they act on instinct so it's hard to know where they will go next. And what confuses the most is… where's their creator? Did they kill him? Or as Jasper said, he created an army to claim his territory?
Anyway, no one has said anything out loud, no one has voiced their concerns, it's like the big elephant in the room. We have a silent agreement not to say anything so not to scare Bella and Lizzie, but I know we have to do something… and soon.
"I like that color mommy." Lizzie said happily, pointing to green square on Alice's pallet.
"Of course you'd like that." Bella laughed and I couldn't help myself but stare at her smile. It was so rare nowadays. She caught me staring, our eyes locked for a second before I looked away.
"Just pick a color Bella, or I'll go with Lizzie's choice." Alice said losing her patience at which Bella laughed again making Alice laugh in return "You are enjoying playing with the visions in my head aren't you?" Alice sneered playfully.
"It's payback baby," Bella chuckled. "I can be just as annoying as you. I'm a mommy. It's in the manual for teen years," she winked as we heard Emmett booming laugh from his room.
"Isabella Marie Swan, if you don't pick a color now you'll be sleeping in a snotty colored room for the next two weeks." Alice said firmly.
"Alright, alright… let me see that damn pallet again."
Alice handed her the color book and Bella stared at it and I stared at her intently, watching her bit her lip as she flipped the pages, she sensed my stare and looked up at me then back at the book before closing it.
"Gold." She said with a finality tone.
"Gold?" Alice asked.
"Yeah," Bella nodded, "gold, amber… butterscotch… warm earthy colors."
"Alright," Alice beamed at her "Gold it is!"
-SLA-
He lowered us down and laid us over the blanket, his lips felt amazing on my skin. He was so soft and tender with me… it was almost ironic he had thought he could harm me in anyway. His breathe, his scent was like a drug… it messed with my brain and left me barely functioning but I wanted more. My hands traveled down his chest, my fingers were trembling but I willed them to calm enough to unbutton the first buttons of his shirt exposing his marveled chest.
He was so beautiful, I couldn't understand how someone as amazing as him would want to be with someone like me. Most times, when he held my hand while we walked down the aisle on school I'd think I was dreaming, I'd have to fight the urge to pinch myself.
I pressed his body against mine, and I gasped at the new sensations my body was experiencing… so new, so wonderful, he made me feel things in places I didn't even know they existed. His hands traveled under my blouse and I swear I heard a ripping noise but now I couldn't care less.
He was staring at me, my breasts were exposed and the look of adoration in his face as he eyed my naked flesh was almost my undoing. I threaded my fingers through his hair and pulled his lips against mine again. I needed more, I needed him and that's what I kept telling him… I needed him closer, I couldn't have him close enough.
Wow, too many confessions on this chapter don't you think? Lol! Most of you guessed it was Irina, others thought it was Victoria.
Now, what's Irina up to? Is she up to anything? What about Victoria? Where is she? Damn, does newborns are getting pretty close don't you think?
Just a reminder, the cullers live in Alberta, Canada near a small town called Sundre.
Also, some of you seemed confused by the part in italics at the end... I thought it was obvious. That's Bella's point of view from the night before Edward left her after her birthday party fiasco.
See you in... I don't know I won't put a date anymore since I can't keep up and I only end getting "hate mail" for my tardiness but I promise soon! Very soon!
Saludos!
Tammy