So, I finished this chapter quicker than I thought I would have, and decided not to wait to give it to you.

I hope you like it :)

In the next chapter, I think we'll hear from Bella again.

Enjoy :)

TWO CENTURIES LOVE

Chapter 11: Welcome.

The time of the Denali clan's arrival was approaching, and with that Emmett and Jasper's jokes about Tanya were getting tiresome. I mean, the girl propositioned to me once, and they never let me forget it. I turned her down for good, and she has never attempted again. After I turned her down, she admitted that she preferred our relationship to stay as it was, close friends, instead of her having slept with me. She knew it would have made things awkward because I'm not one to sleep around without a connection to that person. And the connection I have with her is not the one I was looking for.

Bella had been looking at me curiously since my brother's jokes started. I knew she was curious about what had happened with Tanya, although I told her I've never loved anyone but her, and I never slept with anyone either.

Taking advantage of a free period in common, I took Bella to the empty stadium behind the school for some privacy to explain what the hell was going on. I hoped she wasn't worried.

"I know you have questions about Emmett and Jasper's jokes." I started.

"Mostly because you seem uncomfortable."

"I am uncomfortable because they know nothing ever happened. She propositioned to me once, but I turned her down for good and we just became really good friends after that. She admitted that it would have been a mistake to sleep together because she knows I'm not one to have meaningless sex. I want a connection. And I had you, and was not ready to let you go, for anyone." As simple as that.

"Does she still want to sleep with you?" Why did she sound insecure?

"No. I'm positive she does not. Last time I asked her about any companion, she mentioned a guy, but didn't give too many details, so I'm not sure if she's seeing someone or if it was just a hook up." I shrugged. With those sisters, anything is possible.

"And are you sure you never wanted to sleep with her? I've seen pictures, she's pretty." I hated the look on her face when he asked that, but I understood her. I felt the same way when I met Demetri.

I took her hands in mine and locked our stare. "Love, I never wanted any other woman from the moment I first started talking to you. I thought for a hundred or so years, that I had lost you forever, it didn't help that I couldn't find anything about you. I always loved you, and it has always been you. Even if I hadn't had you still in my mind, I wouldn't have slept with her either, because like I told you, I wanted a connection, something meaningful, and I couldn't have that with any of the Denali sisters." I winked at her, trying to lighten the angst.

She smiled softly. "So, she never pursued anything again with you?"

"No. She took the rejection very well, I think she might have been hurt at first, not being used to being rejected, but she then admitted that it had been for the best. She's been a good friend since." She nodded.

"Sorry if I freaked out on you about her." She apologised still smiling.

I released her hands and encased her face. "I don't care, as long as you talk to me. I love you, and only you. I've loved you since we first talked, and I'll always love you." This time her smile was wider and more beautiful.

She leaned her forehead against mine. "I don't doubt you, or anything you've told me since we saw each other again. I don't know what came over me." She shook her head not letting me speak. "I love you so much, I guess I just thought that you being you, had an army of pretty girls after you. I just never put a face and a name to your fans." I laughed hard. Silly Bella.

I kissed her forehead and led her inside the school for our next classes. She went to her psychology class, and I went to gym. I despised gym.

I met Alice and Emmett there. Alice smiled tentatively at me, and I nodded. "Is everything ok?"

I nodded again and she smiled relieved. Emmett apologised in his mind. He was genuinely sorry he caused any trouble. I clapped his shoulders and whispered that there was nothing to worry about. I should have told Bella about Tanya instead of letting her find out from the doofus twins. Even if there was nothing to tell.

The next few days came without anything remarkably interesting to tell. Bella never mentioned Tanya again without one exception, and the doofus twins didn't issue a joke since. She told me that she thought Emmett and Jasper were joking about it out of boredom. This was the most interesting thing to happen since we reconnected. Of course, they wanted to make the most of it. Juice it to the maximum point. I rolled my eyes at that.

Carlisle had spoken with Eleazar, who said he would arrive in the next three days. He was coming with his family, and we were excited about it. They were our closest friends, and it was always fun to be together. Kate was the most fun, she would electrocute Emmett any time she had the chance, much to Rose's amusement and Emmett's annoyance. He made fun of her a lot, so she took every chance to give it back.

Bella was looking forward to that once I told her about Kate. Irina was shier than her sisters, but I warned Bella not to be fooled by her silence, she could be a real piece of work if she wanted to be.

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We all stepped out of the house to receive them, as if we were an early twentieth century aristocrat family. One could dream. I could hear Emmett bouncing of anticipation to mess with Kate. He never messed with Irina, because she was 'no fun' (his words, not mine). Emmett had heard my conversation with Bella about the sister's occasional hook-ups, they varied in age, race, and in being (meaning, they slept with both vampires and humans alike). He had been preparing a few jokes, trying to decide which one to use. He kept asking Alice what the outcome was going to be, but Alice just rolled her eyes and told him that once he decided on a joke, then, the future would be easier to see. Emmett pouted but shouldered the unknown in a better way than he usually did.

When the sisters arrived flanked by Carmen and Eleazar, Emmett opened his mouth to speak, but Carlisle beat him to it. Emmett didn't mind. His thunder hadn't been stolen.

"It's great to see you again." Carlisle greeted in general, smiling at everyone.

"Likewise old friend." Eleazar stepped forward and hugged Carlisle. It had been a while since we last saw each other.

After they broke the ice, we all hugged each other. Bella was hugged as if the Denali coven had known her as long as they've known us. She seemed surprise at first, but quickly recovered and accepted the love and the feeling of being welcomed.

"Everyone, I want to introduce you to my fiancé, Bella." Carmen smiled wider and clapped her hands excitedly. She had moved to stand beside Esme to come inside the house, but I was too impatient to wait any longer to tell the Denali the news. So, Carmen moved away from who is by all means, my mother, and walked hurriedly to my side and Bella's, who didn't have time to register the movement before she was engulfed in a tight hug by our political aunt.

Carmen was similar in character to Esme. She was sweet, passionate, and authoritative. She had more of a firm hand when punishing misbehaviour than Esme had. Esme often let her passion and love for us get the better of her. Of course, none of us have never had any worried misbehaviour, so there had not been any instance for a strict correction. The Denali sisters were more rambunctious than us. I think Carmen was saved from a hell of a household by fate. Because having those three sisters and Emmett would have been a true nightmare. At least, with us, Emmett had more targets for his pranks, and with Bella, who was proven quickly to be overpowered by Emmett's attitude, Emmett had enough in his hands. He didn't dare to prank too hardly on Esme and Carlisle, but they were never truly safe.

But we wouldn't want it any other way.

After Carmen congratulated both of us, kissed our cheeks and hugged us a few times, she let the rest of her family do the same. Eleazar kissed Bella's hand, and clapped my shoulder. Irina smiled from a distance and Bella returned her smile. Kate hugged her and welcomed her to this weird but wonderful family. Tanya was the last to approach us. She approached Bella first, took her hands in hers, and with the most genuine warmth I've ever seen from her, she silently hugged her. Bella hugged her back with a comfort I've never seen her acquire so quick in front of anyone. It was a surprise to all of us.

I could see in Tanya's mind that they hadn't met before, but she felt that there was something about my girl that draw her in. She felt protective of her. Like she felt protective of Kate and Irina. That meant a lot to me.

Soon, we walked inside the house and caught up with the latest news or developments in our lives. They were planning on moving from Alaska to somewhere else but were still undecisive. We still had the current year, and one more of high school to go through, and then we would decide where to go. Eleazar proposed to his family to hold on for that period, and then move together, but not mixed, to the same location. We could not live together if we did not want unnecessary attention from the Volturi. They'd see it as if we were uniting forces against them. But we could live separately but close enough. Closer than we were now.

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At some point, during the visit, I saw Tanya ask Bella if she could join her for a quick hunt. Bella agreed and they both left. It intrigued me, but I would soon find out what they talked about.