Chapter 7

Stephenie Meyer owns everything except Bella's daughters.

"Edward, I'm so sorry," Bella whispered to me for the hundredth time. "I couldn't have been more stupid if I tried."

"It's alright Bella," I tried my best to soothe her anxiety. "I'm fine, I swear."

"It's just, there had been so much to do at work, with all the papers to grade, and tests to make, that I completely forgot that Jacob was coming to visit," She rubbed her temples and took a deep breath.

"So, you know about him," It wasn't as much a question as it was a statement.

"Yes," She began to explain. "You see, after you left, I began to form a friendship with Jacob. A bond. He was always there for me," Like you weren't. My voice finished. "Then, he got mixed up with some guys and I began thinking something was really wrong. He wouldn't talk, call, or see me at all. So, after many hints from him, I figured it out."

I smiled. "You always were good at fitting the pieces together,"

"Detective Bella, at your service," She laughed.

As much as I enjoyed Bella's company, I was very curious to hear from Lacey. Once she had left to help Jacob, she wouldn't speak to me. When he left and her mom came home, she only spoke directly to Bella and then left. She didn't even come down for dinner.

I wasn't sure to whether Bella knew that Lacey knew, but I figured it better not to ask and make Bella upset right then.

"Well, do you mind if I go talk to Lacey for a few moments?" I asked.

She was puzzled but didn't ask for an explanation. "Sure. I should be getting to bed anyway. I have to get up at five tomorrow. Her bedroom is the second, on the left."

"Thank you. I'll see you at five then," I said as I left for the stairs, and she laughed.

When I reached her bedroom, I quietly knocked, hoping she wasn't asleep.

"Come in," She called. I gently pushed the door open. She was sitting on her bed, looking at me patiently, like she had been there the whole night. I stayed by the door.

She sighed. "Nineteen-hundreds manners, huh? Sit," She ordered with a little laugh and gestured to the bed.

I sat down next to her. I must have looked dazed because she walked over to the door and shut it, making sure no one could hear what she was about to say.

"Where should I begin?" She asked me, making her way back to the bed next to me.

"Well, how do you know about vampires and werewolves?" I questioned.

"My mom told me. Well, I can't say that fully, I found it out, sort of by accident..."She trailed off, seeming to remember memories. "I was about thirteen when I first met Jacob. He was nice and friendly, but I felt something about him. There was a...feeling that my body took on whenever he was near me. I would feel a small vibration throughout my whole self. I didn't really take notice of it until the vibrations started getting bigger, and I felt so lonely and depressed. My mom took me to countless therapists and doctors, but none could help me." She pulled her knees underneath her chin. "Then, I saw Jacob transforming and the vibrations grew ten times. My mom ended up explaining everything she knew about werewolves and vampires. That there was a whole other world that no one really knew about. I wasn't one to disbelieve what I'd seen, so I took whatever information she could give me about your kinds. I was fascinated, and scared at the same time. But, I still didn't know what the vibrations meant, but I figured the depression was also a "symptom" of whatever was wrong with me. My mom and Jacob didn't know what was happening to me either.

At the age of about fifteen, I met my first vampire. Instead of getting vibrations, I felt cold. It was very warm out, so I knew it had to be something. Plus, I only felt it when he came near me. He drank human blood, and I saw him go after a young woman down an alley." She shuddered. "I still do get vibrations and feel cold. I just came to the conclusion that I was born with the ability to tell who's vampire and who's a werewolf. Though, I still don't know why I get depressed."

Her story came to an end.

"How bad is the depression?" I didn't want Lacey to feel hurt, she was special to Bella.

"Not as bad as it was when I first felt it," She shrugged. "It's very subtle now, but I still feel it, though..."

"What?"

"Well, when I found you and Jacob fighting, I was overwhelmed with the depression, but when I broke you up, it went back to being subtle. Do you think it means anything?"

"Maybe," I wasn't sure how to piece it together. I had another question, though. "When you first met me, why did you act so scared?" If she had been around vampires before, yes I knew we were scary, but she seemed very used to Jacob in werewolf form.

"I didn't know if you were a human-blood vampire." She explained. "But, she had told me that there was a difference in the eye colors, depending on what the vampire drinks. I saw yours were that topaz color and relaxed."

"I'm still dangerous," I muttered. No one should forget that.

"I know," She said to the floor. It was silent for a few moments. "Are you and my mom still...together?"

"Um, no," I wondered how much Bella shared with her about our past.

Lacey answered my thoughts. "She told me all about you last night, and how you left a long time ago,"

I wasn't sure how to answer that.

"But, she's glad you're back now," She smiled at me. "So, you live with a family."

She changed the subject.

"Yes." I wondered how they were doing.

"Did you leave them to come here?" She asked thoughtfully.

"Yes."

"When are you going back? I mean, I'm glad you're here, it's been nice meeting you and stuff, but don't you miss them?" She hit my emotions. I did miss them, and I knew they would be worried.

"Yes, I do. I probably will be leaving soon..." I really didn't know when. I didn't want to leave, but I knew I couldn't stay. Then, Lacey said something unexpected.

"Can I meet them?" She looked at me with those wide brown eyes.

I couldn't say no, but I couldn't say yes. It was up to Bella, really.

"It's really not my say." She understood my words.

"I'll ask her." She was determined to meet them, and I wasn't sure why.

"Why?"

"Because my mom told me that your father has been a vampire for many, many years. Maybe he knows something about my ability." Like every human, she was curious. It was killing her that she didn't know what was going on. I thought about Carlisle. It's worth a shot. My mind told me.

"He may." After she asked a few questions about my family, I left her to sleep.

"Hey, Edward?" She called before I shut the door.

"Yes?"

"I really am glad that you came. It's nice to see my mom happy." She smiled.

If I had a heart it would've been broken. She suddenly seemed so beautiful to me. Her scent wafted through my nose, nothing like Bella's blood, but beautiful all the same. Her face was friendly and open. I urged to wrap my arms around her. She cared for her mother just as much as I did. She cared for everything. She was Bella. My Bella had never grown up, she had just been reborn. I had to keep myself composed, so I just smiled and left.

As soon as the door was shut my thoughts began to rain on me. Was I falling in love with Bella's daughter?