A/N: Hello again everyone! Here is the next chapter of While We Were Gone. I hope you enjoy, I was going to go more into detail about the celebration, but it's really not what is important. Italics always means a flashback. Thank you for the reviewer who asked about Jasper, how he looks so much different than he used to, you find out why in this chapter. Possibly more in the next as well.
Peace, Love, and Slyther
Gimi aka Jess
Bella had decided to go to La Push that day, she knew that Klaus and Elijah would be there in the afternoon and while she knew she should have been training, she couldn't think of concentrating on it. Leaving a note for Damon, she sent a text to her friends saying she was going to the beach if they needed her, got into her truck and drove to the res.
Stopping by Sam's house, she said hello to Emily, also letting the packed know she would be at First Beach. Sam and Jacob insisted she let them know when she was on tribal land since Victoria was not against breaking the treaty lines. She knew the wolves were never far from wherever she was on the reservation.
Pulling up to the parking lot, Bella sat in the truck, rolling the window down slightly so she could hear the waves. It wasn't raining, but the cloud cover was thick and the air chilled as always. Getting out of her truck she longed for the sun to shine, the heat of it to scorch her pale complexion. Today, of all days, she missed Phoenix, as she walked down the cold beach on the wet sand.
Phoenix was her mom's favorite place; she loved the dry heat of the summer, the desert sand, even the prickly cactus. Because of that, it was one of Bella's favorite places too, she had come to like Forks, she even began to love Virginia, but they both held bad memories for her. If she survived this ordeal, she was getting out of dodge. Maybe she would move to Texas; she couldn't see herself in California, maybe New York. The possibilities were endless.
Stopping to sit on a piece of driftwood by the fire pit, she thought of her mother. The pain in her heart had dulled, she had thought she had cried out her tears, but the pain would flare up at different times; in the shower, watching a movie, during a particularly hard training session with Alaric where she ended up accidentally staking him in the shoulder. Whether it was tears or uncontrollable anger, it didn't matter. Everyone understood, her friends have all gone through enough loss to know it was going to be hard.
Bella sat there for what seemed like hours when she felt the log sink further into the sand. Smiling a little, she didn't even need to look up to know that her best friend, Jacob, had found her. Her personal furnace, he seemed to heat her to her chilled soul. Of all her friends, he was one of her rocks, her sun, her Jake.
"Bells, you know you shouldn't be out here alone," Jacob scolded lightly, shoulder bumping the petite girl.
Bella smiled sadly and looked up at her friend, "I had to get out of the house Jake. Elijah will be here today, I needed to think."
Jacob nodded in understanding, he put his arm around her waist, and she leaned into him. Once upon a time, the closeness between Jacob and Bella would have given Jacob hope for a future between the friends. It was no secret to anyone that Jacob had harbored a crush on the older girl, and when the Cullens first left Forks, he had thought maybe it might be his chance. Maybe he would get the girl, be her friend first and then maybe something more, that all changed when Jasper came back only a few days later.
Jacob was so angry that Jasper had the nerve to come back, to torture her once again that he shifted into a wolf, a tribal protector only hours after he found out. For weeks he refused to go near her home, knowing the bloodsucker was there. Then one day, he had heard through the wolf link that the leech had gone on a long hunt, a couple of days and he thought he would stop by and try and talk some sense into Bella. Show her that she didn't need Jasper to protect her, to put her back together. What he saw will haunt him til the day he dies.
He had made it to the forest border of her home and had shifted into his human form. Walking up to the back door, he could smell the sickly sweet scent of Jasper wafting through the open door and the metallic copper of fresh blood.
Jacob raced through the door, ready to shift in case Jasper was trying to kill Bella to see him sitting on the floor, her head in his lap and his hands around her bloodied wrists.
"Bella, what did you do!" Jasper growled, Jacob could see his hands shaking around her wrists, blood still oozing from a thin, deep, cut on each. What seemed like ages, only took the span of a few minutes.
Jasper looked up to see Jacob and tensed, "You! Why weren't you watching her? Sam said you wolves could handle it!" Jasper began to yell angrily, holding her wrists above her heart, his bit out the words like it was paining him to say them.
"Paul is watching the house!" Jacob yelled, his self-control waning at the sight of his friend dying on her kitchen floor.
"A lot good that does her now! Call an ambulance; she's lost too much blood," Jasper said, struggling to hold onto his control. The scent of her blood was intoxicating, he was close to losing it, but he held onto her feelings of self-loathing and despair as well as his own genuine fear to focus. As long as he could concentrate on that, he could keep it together, but not for long.
"Jacob," Jasper said, trying to talk and hold his breath, only breathing just enough to speak, trying not to breathe too deep, "Jacob, I can't wait much longer."
"You have to!" Jacob yelled, bending down next to Bella, his brown eyes, wide with fear.
"Jacob, I'm too close to her blood, I need to get away from her before I lose my cool. You need to call someone to help now!"
"Okay," Jacob said, looking around frantically, "Okay, I'm going to shift outside real fast to tell Paul to get her quick, he can come, and you can get out of here."
Jasper's jaw clenched like he was locking down, closing his eyes and focusing on the pain once again, he nodded his head, and Jacob flashed outside. Paul was there instantly, racing to the house, pulling his pants up his legs as he burst through the door. Grabbing a couple of kitchen towels from the counter, he wounded them around her wrists as soon as Jasper released her arms, somehow keeping in mind that his hotter body would make the blood pump out faster.
Paul sat next to Bella as Jasper moved her head off his lap, opening his eyes slowly, he caught Paul's gaze and nodded in thanks as he ran outside the door. Jacob was running back inside when he saw Jasper come out. Jasper's eyes were pitch black, and he still wasn't breathing. Jacob stood, tense for a moment, not knowing why Jasper wasn't running away from the house. Then he could see that Jasper was listening, he was listening to the sirens that were racing up the street before Bella's. It wasn't until that moment that Jasper visibly relaxed.
Jasper let out a breath and nodded at Jacob as he raced into the woods, saying that he would be back, but he needed to clean off the blood before he lost control.
That was the day he realized that not all vampires liked to kill. Sure a lot of them did, but if a vampire like Jasper could put it aside so he could save Bella, he couldn't be angry at him anymore. From that day on, Jacob Black respected Jasper Whitlock.
OoOoOoO
Bella sat there with Jacob for another hour or so, until Damon called her to let her know that everyone was home and Elijah had called to say they were only an hour from the town border.
Hanging up with Damon, Bella looked at her friend, "I guess I should go home now," she put her head on his shoulder, and he kissed her hair.
"Do you want me to drive you back? I don't know if I feel safe with you driving right now."
"Sure, maybe we'll make it back before anyone gets stabbed."
Jacob chuckled as he moved to stand up and pulled her with him, "I don't know, I'm sure Jasper can keep them calm, but it is Damon and what's the other one's name again? Klaus?"
Bella nodded as they walked back to the truck, Jacob sent a text to Emily to let Sam know he was going to Forks with Bella to greet the new vampires, when Bella said, "Yes, Damon and Nik don't get along. Well… Nik doesn't get along with anyone, but they've tried to kill each other several times."
"How is this going to work if they've got such a history?"
Bella laughed, "Um, they've called a sort of truce? Nik and his family don't ever go to Mystic Falls; the guys don't go to New Orleans. They stay away from each other." Bella said as Jacob pulled out of the parking lot, "Elijah is a good man, Nik is hard-headed, but I don't have a problem with him."
Jacob snorted, "Of course you don't." She punched him in the arm as he laughed, "Bells you are the one person who would actually pet an alligator with a steak in your hand. You have no self-preservation."
"Nik is not a bad guy, Stop laughing, he's not. He's misunderstood." Bella said stubbornly.
"Bells, didn't he sacrifice Elena in a ritual?"
"Yes, but…" Bella stopped talking as Jacob looked at her sideways, pushing her truck to the max speed of sixty, "Hey, Elena is alive, that's all that matters."
"You are the strangest human ever," Jacob said shaking his head, "The man literally killed one of your best friends and you're just, She's alive, that's all that counts."
"It is!" Bella argued, "Look, Damon has killed Ric and Jeremy a few times, not to mention snapping Stefan's neck more than enough times over the years. If I focused on all the time's people have killed each other, I'd have no friends."
"You'd have me," Jacob pointed out.
"You helped kill Laurent," Bella said smugly, "No one is perfect. After a hundred plus years, you develop a bad record. Besides, I thought you were trying to be open-minded of my family."
"I am, I haven't sounded off to anyone in weeks. We all are trying Bells, you know that, but you know it's hard. Especially since Damon, Tyler, and Caroline still drink human blood."
"From blood bags," Bella reminded him again.
"Yeah, I know, donated blood. We don't like it, but since no one dies, there are no treaties broken, doesn't mean it isn't hard for us. Now with this older vamps, a lot of the wolves who stay on La Push are anxious."
"I get it, Jake," Bella said nodding her head as they passed the school, "I promise no one feeds from the source in town unless it's with consent. No compulsion."
"You can guarantee that with the new vamps?"
Bella shrugged, "Nik will throw a fit, but he doesn't need to feed as frequently. He can go to Port Angeles or Seattle if he wants a warm body."
"Speaking of a warm body," Jacob said with a knowing smirk, "Is this the same…"
"Don't finish that sentence wolf boy." Bella said with a groan.
"So it is. This is the Nik that tried to jump your-"
"Shut up Jake."
Jacob laughed, "How does Damon like that?"
"He hates it," Bella mumbled, "I chose him, I will always choose Damon, but he has an unfortunate history of women who don't. He gets very possessive when Nik is around."
"Maybe he won't this time because of the reasoning behind it," Jacob offered. The two friends looked at each other as they pulled up the long drive and parked the truck. The both shook their heads and laughed.
Bella let herself into the house and saw that everyone had assembled in the living room. Damon was sitting in an armchair, a drink in hand. Bella knew he must have been drinking for a while, he was quiet and broody, something he shared in common with his brother when it came to the Original family.
Bella walked over and sat in his lap, "Are you okay?"
Damon gave Bella a tight smile, "Just peachy. I love when Klaus is brought back into our lives, especially yours."
"Damon, I-"
"Didn't ask him to come," He finished for her, "I know, but it doesn't mean I'm okay with it."
"I know," Bella sighed, a lump back in her throat, tears threatening to fall. She swallowed hard, "I'm sorry."
"It's fine Allie," Damon said, taking a pull of his bourbon, "I know he is loyal to you, at least he won't try and kill you."
"Thanks, Damon," Elena drawled out and rolled her eyes. Bella felt guilty, knowing that Klaus frequently tried to kill a lot of her Mystic Falls family, not that they hadn't tried to kill him as well. The waters were murky in the Mystic Falls pool.
"I'm sorry Elena," Bella said to her friend. Sadness clouding her eyes as they watered.
Elena went over and pulled her friend up, "It's fine Bella. Your needs come. First, we understand that."
"I know it won't be easy to have your would-be murderer in the same house with you," Bella said dryly.
"Well, we let Damon in the same house as Jeremy all the time," Elena said with a snigger, Bella smiled at that while Damon chuckled, "I found it in my heart to forgive him."
"Have you? I know you still throw looks my way when you think I'm not looking," Damon said with a smirk.
"Well, you have tried to kill every single one of our friends at least once Damon," Elena pointed out, "There is always going to be a glare in your direction."
"No one died!" Damon argued, he raised his hands in the air, while Stefan threw him a look, "At least not permanently, I call that a success and it helps me to rid myself of excess anger. At least I'm not killing anyone now, and with Bella's cold one problems, there is a lot of anger to go around."
"Whatever Damon," Elena said, rolling her eyes and smiling at Bella, "Point is, everyone here has died at Damon's hands one time or another, we still tolerate him."
"I didn't kill Blondie," Damon pointed out.
"You used her as a human blood bag," Stefan countered.
"But she never died, that was Katherine's doing. Score one for Damon." Damon slashed the air, marking a point on an imaginary board.
"You've killed me at least twice that I can remember," Ric said from his seat.
Damon stood and pointed the finger at Ric, "Doesn't count, you came at me first, I was only defending myself." He pulled Bella into his arms, "I've never killed Elena or Charlie, or you Allie." He said caressing her cheek, "That counts as wins too."
Neither Bella, nor Damon, were paying attention to watch the group around them begin to disperse to the basement for more training.
Bella laughed, "Because killing Charlie would kill me and you loved Elena, you wouldn't kill her."
Damon shook his head, "I never loved Elena, I never loved Katherine. I was infatuated with Katherine because she was beautiful and bold. I was a small town boy, and she was worldly and everything the girls in Mystic Falls weren't at the time. I was infatuated with Elena because she looked like Katherine and she was the first person in a long time who needed my help. She helped me to realize that I wanted to feel again. My feelings for either of them are a faint glow compared to the love I have for you, Isabella Marie. I love you because you don't want to change me, you allow me to be me without judgment. Even though you should look at me with disgust, you don't. There is no judgment there. You love, want, and accept me for me. Flaws and all."
Bella pushed him back in his seat and sat on his lap again, "I do love you, I just hate that this has to be this way. I know Nik will piss you off like he does every time and I'm sure you will both try and kill each other at least once. I'm just asking if you will at least try and hold it in until tomorrow. Tonight will be hard enough without waiting for you or him to wake up."
"I will try," Damon said with a kiss to her nose, "It'll be hard, and I'll probably fail. But I'll do anything for you, and I know how much you care for him as well. Especially since-"
"Damon," Bella groaned, "Do we really need to go through this again? Nothing happened."
"I know," Damon said, "You guys just went on a road trip."
Bella chuckled, "Not everyone goes on road trips for road ass Damon."
Damon begrudgingly smiled, "Fine, but I know Klaus, and I don't believe that he didn't try anything on you while on that trip."
Bella rolled her eyes, "Of course he tried. I wasn't interested, and he can't compel me. So he gave up, and I had a good weekend with my mom and Phil," her eyes began to tear, "It was one of the best, that was the weekend that I realized just how much you had started to mean to me."
Damon's eyes softened at the sadness in her eyes, "I'm sorry Bells, I hate that I put you through this. I know my trust is almost non-existent, I believe you, it's him I don't."
"I know Damon," Bella said, her hands on his face, "I hate Katherine a little more every day because it's her doing."
Damon smirked, "Another reason to hate her. I like it."
Bella laughed lightly and brought her face down to his, kissing him. Damon pulled away slowly a smile on his face, "I've missed that," Bella looked confused, "That laugh, it feels like ages since you've been relaxed enough to laugh freely."
"You are such a sap Damon Salvatore," Bella teased, a smile on her lips, "Admit it, you are a closet romantic."
"Only for you Bella Swan," Damon said with a smirk, "You are the only woman who deserves it."
Bella blushed and looked around, "Looks like we cleared the room again. You think they would get used to us."
"Oh I'm glad they know to leave us alone," Damon said with a devious grin, pulling her firmly against his hips, trapping his hardening member between the two of them.
Bella let out a soft moan as her body came into contact with his, still sensitive from their encounter that morning, it didn't stop her body from reacting as it always did when Damon was near. She could feel the fire in her veins rushing to her core, heating her as she pushed even closer causing him to hiss. Damon moved a hand up to the back of her head, bringing her lips back to his as he swallowed her groans of pleasure.
Bella continued to push against his hardened cock, revelling in the feel of the harsh fabric of his jeans against the cotton of her leggings. She knew she should stop, knew she would have to change before their guests arrived. Her arousal would be evident on her clothing if they went any further. It never took long before Damon had her soaked through and in a house full of hyper-sensitive noses, well… let's just say; it would be known what they were doing.
"Noah, we need to stop," She gasped out as he released her lips from their kiss.
Suddenly there was noise coming from the stairs that led to the basement, the two lovers looked up to see Alaric, "Can you guys cool it up here? Jasper is overloading everyone down here. You know the rules, a good two floors away from him before an orgy ensues."
Bella began to giggle, which turned into a full blown laugh as she could hear Caroline yelling from the basement.
Damon smirked and blurred Bella and himself up the stairs. Bella screamed that they didn't have time as the bell rang out. Alaric shook his head as he ambled to the door. Stefan and Jasper both walked upstairs and stood behind him as he answered. Time for the fun to start.
OoOoOoO
Standing outside stood two men and two women. Elijah, dressed impeccably in a two piece dark blue suit and white button down looked up to see Stefan standing further back.
"Hello," Alaric said to Elijah, the only original he was on good terms with.
"Hello Mr Saltzman, we were told that Isabella would be here," Elijah said in his polite English accent.
"Yes she is, she'll be down in a moment."
"Aren't you going to invite us in chap?" Klaus said with a smirk.
"Nope," Stefan said with his own grin, "Bells! Damon! Get your asses down here. Your hybrid is at the door begging for entrance!"
"Aww, Stefan I thought we were friends," Klaus said from the door as the girls chuckled along with Elijah. Stefan just smirked, and they stood there waiting.
"Damon," Bella said walking down the stairs, "I told you we didn't have time." She ducked under Alaric's arm, walked out the door and into Elijah's arms.
"Isabella," Elijah said, holding her tightly a fond smile on his face, "It's good to see you safe."
"Elijah, thank you for doing this for me," Bella said, tears forming in her eyes. She ignored Klaus who had began clearing his throat behind her and gave a hug to Rebekah and Freya, the Mikaelson sisters.
"Love, you are beginning to make me think you didn't miss me," Klaus teased as she meandered her way into his arms for a hug, "Now, are you going to let us in?"
"Elijah, Becca, Frey, please go in and make yourselves at home, I need to talk to Nik first." She looked at Rebekah with narrowed eyes and said, "Behave Becs."
"Why am I getting the warning?" Rebekah said with a frown.
"Because Elijah won't start anything with anyone in there."
"It's because Elijah is your favorite? You have a thing for a guy in a suit," Rebekah said smirking.
Bella laughed, "It's because you have Nik's temper. So once again, don't kill anyone."
Rebekah sighed, "Fine dear Bella. I mean your family no harm."
The Mikaelson's all went inside, and Bella stood outside giving Klaus a hug, "Thank you Nik."
Klaus smiled, revelling in the fact that she called him Nik. Only Rebekah and Kol called him that and even though he would never tell anyone, he loved that Bella did too. "You know I would do anything for you, Bella." He held her close, missing the feel of his arms around her. Even though they were never anything in the past, didn't mean he didn't want a future, even as friends. Klaus had never had a friend, he always took what he wanted, killed to get it, but Bella was special. She gave her friendship to him willingly and without prejudice. "Are you ready for this evening?"
Bella pulled out of his arms and sat on the swing on the porch, "Honestly? No. I don't know if I'm ready to say goodbye. I was always ready to say goodbye. When I thought I was going to change, but that was on my terms. Since I decided not to become a cold one, I didn't have to hide from my family, they could know what I was becoming, I would be able to stay in their lives. But this," Bella swiped the hot tears that fell from her eyes, "This, I don't know if I was ever ready for."
Klaus sat next to Bella, his hand covered her's, "I can't say I can relate. My parents were not the best role models," Bella let out a strangled laugh and brought a smile to his face, "I guess a father who has tried to kill me for a thousand years and killing my own mother makes me the wrong person to confide in for this topic. But I do know you are beyond lucky to have had parents that care for you. You will always miss your mother and Phil, as well as Liz, but you will survive this."
"What if I can't," Bella whispered, fear clouding her vision, "What if she kills me Nik? She came close in Mystic Falls, what if we are doing all of this and I still die? What if Charlie or Elena, Bonnie or Jeremy die? For me? I don't think I could survive that."
"No one is going to die," Klaus said firmly, squeezing her hand, "I won't let that happen, Love, I promise, everyone you love will live."
Bella gave him a wry smile, "Are you saying that because you need Elena alive for your hybrid army?"
Klaus smirked, "Of course, Miss Elena must live, her blood is too valuable." Bella knocked his shoulder with her own, "Only kidding Love, I will not be making hybrids anytime soon. I have enough to deal with right now at home."
Bella smiled brightly, "How is your Little Wolf?"
Klaus chuckled, "Hayley is excellent, upset she couldn't be here for you, but she knows she must rest. Freya put a protection spell around the compound and the Bayou where her family lives, she is perfectly safe."
"I'm glad Nik, I know you wanted to turn them all into hybrids to keep her safe, but I'm happy that you didn't."
"You hold entirely too much power over me, Little Swan," Klaus sighed, putting an arm around her, "I am grateful for your friendship, your help with my family, and your help with Hayley. It feels like we are truly becoming a family again. I'm sure without your intervention we Mikaelson's would be at each other's throats."
Bella laughed, "You would have daggered Rebekah six months ago, and you would have never met Hayley and have a chance to a future without me."
Klaus smiled down at the brunette at his side, "Exactly, which is why you will be okay. We Mikaelson's take care of our family, and you are family Bella Swan. Which includes the riff-raff you associate with."
Bella pulled him into another hug, "Come on Nik, let's go inside and see if Rebekah has gotten herself into trouble." Klaus laughed, and the two of them walked into the house to see what kind of mayhem was going on.
OoOoOoO
That evening, the Cullen family, minus Edward, pulled up to Bella's home. Bella had not wanted them at the funeral but allowed them to come to the house for the celebration of her mother and Phil's life. Jasper had said that Bella only wanted those who knew Renee and Phil best to be at the funeral, but was okay with the family at the party. She knew that the two groups of people needed to mingle a little more if they were going to work together.
The Cullens all walked up the home and were let in by one of the human boys, Emmett thought his name was Jeremy. He greeted them and allowed them into the home where it seemed like a celebration was the appropriate term. There was the typical photo of Phil and Renee placed on the mantel of the fireplace, music was wafting gently through the house, Emmett thought it sounded like The Beatles or The Monkeys or something of that nature. There was laughter, smiles, and alcohol for all.
Bella was standing with Damon and a man in a suit that the Cullens were unfamiliar with when she saw the new arrivals. Giving Damon a kiss, she walked over to the Cullens and gave them each a small hug.
"Thank you all for coming," Bella said graciously, "You didn't have to, you didn't know my mother, but I appreciate it nonetheless."
Esme smiled at her would-be daughter, "Of course Bella, we are very sorry for your loss and our part in how it happened."
Bella shook her head, "No, please. Not tonight, tonight is a celebration. My mother and Phil lived a wonderful life together, no matter how short. They loved each other, and for that, I am grateful."
"Bella," Alice chirped up, "I know it's not the same between us anymore, but if you ever want to talk, just as friends. Please know I am here."
Bella nodded in thanks and went to talk to Caroline. The Cullens all looked at her and couldn't help feeling regret at the way Bella was uncomfortable around the family. Another piece that would haunt them all.
Jasper walked up to the family, "Hello everyone," He said with a smile, his hazel eyes bright, drink in hand. Emmett looked at his former brother in question, he still had not revealed what happened to him, how he looked more human.
"Hello Jazzy," Rosalie said with a smile, "How are you?"
Jasper gave her a bright smile, "Would you believe, I'm partially drunk? I haven't been drunk since I was human."
"How Jasper?" Carlisle asked, hoping he would get an answer.
Jasper waved his hand, and the family noticed a ring on his finger with a dark stone, "Bonnie made this for me last year after I saved her from… well, I saved her. She is a witch, and she can make rings to allow vampires to walk in the light without burning or made me this so I can have a more human appearance. " Jasper pointed out another girl, one of the new girls, "Freya, over there. She is a witch as well; she found a spell that allows me to consume human food and drink, there is no real benefit to it, other than the appearance, but it's fun. The ring also helps control my bloodlust so I can be around humans."
"So it's like a glamour?" Carlisle asked intrigued. Jasper nodded, "That's amazing Jasper."
"Major, introduce us to your friends," Klaus said with a smirk, walking over with Rebekah. "Klaus Mikaelson, this is my sister Rebekah." Klaus said jovially, sticking his hand out to Emmett, "Who might you be?"
"Klaus this is The Cullen family," Jasper said, pointing out the family as he named them, "Carlisle and his wife Esme, Rosalie and her husband Emmett and my ex-wife, Alice."
"Ah, you are the Cullens," Rebekah said coolly, walking away.
"I'd apologize for my sister, but she's a bitch," Klaus said smirking, "So where is the elusive Edward, I've heard lots of things about him."
"He has decided to leave the family for a time," Carlisle said evasively, not wanting to give away his son's whereabouts.
"Pity," Klaus said, "I was so looking forward to speaking with the lad about how to treat a lady. Have a good evening," and he walked away.
"Who is that Jazz," Rosalie asked quietly. She was sure she had heard the name Mikaelson before, just not sure where.
Jasper looked over at Bella who was dancing with her father, "He's a friend of the family's. We met him in Mystic Falls, but he and his family live in New Orleans." He said, not saying anymore.
Jasper walked away, and the family went off in different directions, each of them able to find someone that was cordial to them as they all celebrated the lives of Bella's parents.
Emmett found Bella sitting at the kitchen table, looking through an old photo album of her mother's. He sat next to Bella in silence waiting for her to speak first. He watched as she flipped pages, sometimes running her fingers over the photos of her mother at the beach, flying kites, riding bikes, at some sort of yoga class. Emmett watched as a sad smile graced her lips and the far away, glassy look slowly fell away as she realized she wasn't alone.
"Hi Em," Bella said once she recognized him, "How are you?"
"I'm okay Bells, how are you?" He asked cautiously.
The sad smile was on her face again, "I'm okay, I guess? I think the party is helping. If it were a real wake, I'd be a disaster, but Renee never wanted a wake, she didn't want everyone to be sad, she wanted everyone to celebrate her life. She wanted to be remembered the way she lived her life, full of love and laughter."
"I'm sorry you didn't get more time with her or your step-parents Bella. You, of all people, deserve that."
"Thanks, Emmett," Bella said sadly.
Emmett could hear the laughter and conversation going on in the rest of the house, "You have a great family Bells, I wish we could be a part of it."
Bella looked at him again, taking in his demeanor. She was sick of the Cullens trying to worm their way back into her good graces and would have told him to stop, but she could see that it wasn't an attempt at that. Emmett just felt sad that he wasn't close to her anymore. He was complimenting her family and feeling sorry he wasn't her brother figure anymore. That, she could handle.
"I would say sorry Em, but I'm not. Because of what Edward did, I have my family now. I wouldn't have met any of them without the pain he cost me first. So for that, I'm glad."
"Will you ever tell us the story of how you came to have this family?" Emmett asked curiously, "You don't have to, of course. I know we don't deserve it, but it's hard to believe that you would have one vampire family leave you to walk into another. Especially falling in love with another one."
Bella sat there thinking for a moment, "It's true, I don't owe you any explanations. Your family lost the right to interfere in my life months ago, but as you are willing to help in this Victoria situation, I will tell my story."