A/N: Still do not own Twilight.

Adjournment

Chapter 11: Love at First Sight?

The thing about recovering from a bullet wound is that when you are used to being active every day and then you suddenly have trouble making it to another room before feeling like you are going to pass out from the pain, it tends to put a damper on anyone's charming personality. However, one thing that Angel Jamison brought to Bella Cullen's life was the ability to be stubborn. Esme was convinced there was no one in the world as stubborn as Bella. Stubborn and tenacious.

By the second day that Esme had allowed her out of bed to do things like shower, Bella started testing and working to build her endurance back. Against her doctor's wishes of course. On the fifth day, Bella refused to spend even one moment of her day in the hospital bed and took to sleeping on the couch in the family room at night. That was the day she started practicing her Akido forms, encouraging Johnathan do join her. Emmett joined them as well. They had fun working out together and the three of them became fast friends. Esme continued to try to curb her daughter's activities with limited success. She finally gave up trying and settled for spending time with her instead. They spent hours together with Esme telling stories about their family. Bella was happy to soak up every word about her real family and her history.

"Have you been avoiding me?"

Edward was startled by Bella's sudden appearance. He had been sleeping during the day and patrolling the estate during the night to ensure their security. The two hadn't really spoken and she obviously felt like he was trying to avoid her. He finished pouring himself a cup of coffee and turned to face her.

"Not at all. I'm sorry. We haven't been formally introduced. I'm-"

"Edward Masen. Alice said the two of you are pretty close. She said you're a really nice guy. So, why haven't you been hanging out with us? With Emmett?"

"Wow. You really don't hold anything back."

"Esme calls it being tenacious. Johnny says I'm a pain in the ass." She grinned. "So, why are you avoiding me? Is it because of who raised me? Because I am Jamison's daughter?"

He looked at her as if she was a mental patient in need of medication. "No. Not at all. It has nothing to do with you or Johnathan or even Jamison. Besides, you are my boss's daughter, not Jamison's."

"So it's your brother?"

Edward chuckled, "You really do just say whatever pops into your head don't you?"

"Will you answer the question?" She challenged.

He muttered something about being ruthless before he continued, "My brother and I have a difference of opinion on how our father's funeral should be handled."

"Emmett doesn't seem as upset about things as you are."

"Look, I really don't want to talk about this right now." He huffed.

"Fine. What would you like to talk about?" She pushed.

"Let's talk about you. How are you doing with all of this?"

"You don't hold anything back either. Do you?" She studied him for a minute before continuing, "At first I was very hostile. I doubted everything Esme told me. They were all I knew and it was all pretend."

"What changed your mind? You seem to accept everything now."

"I had this thought. How many people would give anything for a chance to start over. Better yet. To start over with a family that actually loves you instead of treating you like an object. Some thing instead of a person. A means to an end." Bella's expression was one of serenity. "I have been given the greatest gift and I intend to treasure it." She walked over to pour herself a cup of coffee. "I get the impression after spending time with Emmett, that you wish the same."

Edward pondered that statement for a full minute before he looked directly into her eyes, "I loved every minute that I had with my mother. I wouldn't change one moment that I got to spend with her. You know, I think you are really fortunate to find your birth parents, but please don't think you know anything about what's going on in my head because of what's happened to you." He started to walk out of the room, but she placed a hand on his arm to stop him.

"Just because you are angry about your father, don't push your family away. I don't know you or your brother very well, but I do know that he loves you. Edward, you need to stop pushing Emmett away."

"You are just as pushy as your twin. I have to make sure the property is secure. You should get some sleep." Edward slammed out of the kitchen, not caring if he woke the entire house.

Bella stood at the kitchen bar contemplating her options. She wanted to go after him and explain. For days, she had watched him when he thought no one was paying attention. Edward was so full of anger that it was consuming him. Alice had tried to impart all of her Edward trivia in the time they had spent together before she and Rosalie had been forced back to Seattle. Alice was truly worried about her friend and she wanted him to have moral support during the time Alice herself wouldn't be around to offer any.

She decided to go with her second option which was giving him a little bit of space before seeking him out again. Bella decided that her new goal, aside from regaining her strength and getting to know her mother, would be to see Edward happy and smiling as much as his older brother. She was a sucker for a happy ending.

Finishing her coffee, Bella was on her way to the family room when she saw a low light flickering in the study. She knew Emmett and Esme were already sleeping at this late hour so she didn't knock before entering, assuming that Johnny was inside.

"What are you doing? Emmett told you that it was dangerous to be on the computer."

"I'm trying to hack into the security system at the compound. If I can retrieve the video feed of the night he killed Mom, then maybe I can plaster it all over the internet. He wouldn't have a reason to come after us anymore. The whole world will know what he did and you would be safe to start your new life with your new family."

"Do they know you're doing this?"

"Don't worry. There's no way it can be traced back here to us."

"I think you should talk to Emmett before you do anything. Please stop." She waited until he closed the laptop and really looked at her. "Why are you still awake?"

"What's going to happen to me, Angel? I know you told me that we would always be family, but is that realistic? I'm only seventeen. What if they try to stick me into foster care?"

"Firs.t of all, nobody is making you go into foster care. I already explained to the Cullens that we are a package deal. Yes. I am their daughter, but you are my brother. Haven't I always looked after my kid brother? Why would that stop now?"

"A package deal, huh?"

"Absolutely. Besides, if you get tired of me, you can always engage our plan B," She smiled. "I think you could get pretty far with our escape fund and your computer skills."

"How far do you think he could get?" Emmett questioned as he stepped into the room.

"Oh, at least all the way to … where ever the hell he wanted to end up." Bella informed him. "What's going on. Isn't anyone sleeping tonight?"

"I was doing a damn fine job of it until I received an alarm. Someone's been a bad boy, John. You've accessed the internet. Why?"

"I was just trying to help," John defended.

"He wants to find the security footage from that night. If it still exists." Bella explained.

"We're going to change safe housed tomorrow, just in case someone traced anything you did. I hope the next place is as nice as this one." Emmett grumbled. "If we get stuck in some kind of back woods cabin, I'm so kicking your ass kid."

"You really think her Dad would do that to Bella?" Edward smirked.

"Are you finished being a moody jerk?" Bella queried.

"Not really. No. Are you finished projecting your issues onto other people?"

"Not really. No." She flashed a sarcastic little grin.

"Now that you two are finished flirting, I need to call the boss so we can get a game plan together for tomorrow. Bella, you should be prepared to say your goodbyes to your Mom tomorrow. She won't be moving with us."

Her head snapped up with that revelation. "Why?"

"She was here to monitor your recovery."

"Carlisle said two weeks," she sounded panicked. "He promised I could have two weeks with her."

"Don't worry about it," Edward jumped in. "We don't know anything for sure. Let Emmett call the boss before we speculate on anything. Okay?"

That seemed to calm to calm her down, but Johnny looked so guilty that Emmett had to interject, "Don't worry about anything, kid. You didn't mess up."

"Sure I did. She might not get the time with her Mom that she needs. That's because of me."

"Johnny, It's okay. If she can't come with us tomorrow, I know she will be waiting for me when this is all over. I will be able to spend time with all of them when this is finished." Bella tried to make light of the situation. She knew he would feel guilty and blame himself, but really he had been trying to help.

Emmett's ringing phone interrupted the conversation. He spoke for only a moment, but looked more serious than Bella had ever seen him when he finished the conversation.

"What's wrong?" She demanded.

"They just recovered two bodies connected to Jamison. Felix and Janessa Velenti. It looked as if she had been tortured. He was shot in the head twice."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that as ruthless as Jamison has been, it looks like he just stepped his game up. The Director wants us to move tonight. You guys have ten minutes to get your stuff together. I'll go get Esme."

"Ten minutes, guys. I'll meet you in the foyer." Edward instructed.

The plan was good and solid, but the plan went to hell about seven minutes later. A small explosion rocked the entry way Where Edward had been standing. He was thrown all the way into the kitchen area where Bella had been walking from. Emmett appeared on the stairs and fired his weapon at the two men that entered through the hole they had just created where the door used to be. He hit one, but the other ducked back outside.

"Edward, Edward! Wake up!" Bella demanded as she hovered over him.

"I'm awake." He mumbled but didn't open his eyes. That's when another set of men burst in through the back door leading into the kitchen. Without thinking, Bella grabbed Edward's weapon and fired twice, taking out both intruders.

"Edward, you have to get up now. Get up. You can be lazy later. We have to get out of here." Bella demanded. "Emmett, where are they?" She called as he continued to take aim at the front entrance way.

"Not sure yet. I need you to get him up." Emmett instructed her. "Great job, by the way."

Edward seemed to become more aware as she forced him to his feet. Shaking his head as if to clear it, he looked across the hall to his brother. "Esme and the kid?" He demanded.

"I'll get them. Get her out of here. Meet us at the backup location." Emmett demanded.

"Come on, Bella. Let's go!" Edward pulled her toward the garage after retrieving his weapon from her. She pulled away from him trying to get a glimpse of what was happening in the entrance way but he tightened his grip on her arm and pulled her along. She heard more shots and what she was sure was a scream from Johnathan but Edward refused to let her go back. "Stay close. I have a car waiting two streets over."

"But what about-"

"Bella, please. We have to go. Emmett can handle whatever is happening here. Move it!" He demanded, giving her no choice but to follow behind him. She had the worst feeling about what the outcome of the night would bring.

A/N: So, I think that if an author is going to pull a fic, they should let the story followers know before they do it. Agree or disagree?