Unexpected

Here's the next part! It covers the end of Chapter 16 and the beginning of Chapter 17. I'm so excited I have time to do this! Well, not really. I have an essay calling my name, which I really should be doing right now. But this is so much more fun…

Disclaimer: Yep, out of creative ways to say it. Not mine, no matter how much I might wish it was. Never will be, because "If wishes were horses then beggars would ride." Sorry. Random nursery rhyme.

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Bella looked around the room, letting her eyes take in the details. "Good acoustics?" she finally asked.

I laughed, nodding. Very good acoustics. A must, for me. I flipped the stereo on, realizing the silences were getting a little uncomfortable, at least for me. I'd never had anyone except my family in my room before. It was decidedly strange.

I noticed Bella walk over and begin to examine my music collection, but I couldn't focus for longer than that. I examined my own feelings carefully as I watched her. I couldn't deny the happiness I felt, after finally telling her everything. Almost everything. I could not remember a time in which I'd ever been so happy. It was intoxicating. My eyes followed her every move as I tried to articulate my other feelings to myself. There was relief, yes, and I'd expected that emotion, but the swirling maelstrom of feelings in which I found myself caught defied further explanation.

"How do you have these organized?" she asked, still exploring the wall of CD's.

I pulled far enough out of my reverie to answer, but the distraction I felt was still evident in my voice. "Ummm, by year, and then by personal preference within that frame."

Bella noticed my bewilderment. She turned to look at me, expectation in her eyes. "What?"

"I was prepared to feel… relieved. Having you know everything, not needing to keep secrets from you. But I didn't expect to feel more than that. I like it. It makes me… happy," I admitted, a slight smile on my face. It also made me feel a myriad of other emotions that I could neither name nor understand. It was so strange. And yet, I'd never felt better.

"I'm glad," Bella said, smiling back at me.

I couldn't help myself. I searched her eyes for some hint of dishonesty, some hint of falsehood, my smile fading. Was she really glad? Or had the shock of learning so much, so quickly, prevented her from truly understanding what I had told her? Was she going to run from me when she finally did understand it all? I had shaken the foundations of what she knew to be truth so many times today. How was she reacting so well to learning that everything she had thought to be fantasy was, in fact, truth?

"You're still waiting for the running and the screaming, aren't you?" she guessed, cutting directly to my thoughts with her unusual sensitivity.

I forced myself to smile, admitting it with a nod. And then I received another shock.

"I hate to burst your bubble," she stated casually, "but you're really not as scary as you think you are. I don't find you scary at all, actually."

I stared at her, fairly certain that blatant disbelief was clear in my expression. And then I flashed a wide, wicked grin at her. The sort of grin little boys give their mothers when they know they've done something they shouldn't. She didn't find me scary? I had a sudden, irresistible urge to see just how far that lack of fear went.

"You really shouldn't have said that," I chuckled.

And then I growled at her, letting myself shift into a feral half- crouch, ready to pounce.

She backed away from me, glaring. But there was no hint of fear in her eyes. "You wouldn't."

Wouldn't I? She certainly didn't know me very well, did she? I leapt at her, moving far too quickly for a human to see, wrapping my arms carefully around her and flinging us both onto my couch. Gasping, she struggled to right herself, but I held her securely, though carefully, and refused to loose my contact with her warmth.

She looked up at me, a hint of worry evident in her eyes for the first time since early this morning. But I was well in control of myself. It seemed that despite her brave boasts she was a little afraid of me. I couldn't keep a silly grin off my face.

"You were saying?" I growled playfully.

"That you are a very, very terrifying monster," she panted, completely ruining her attempt at sarcasm.

"Much better."

"Um, can I get up now?" she asked plaintively, struggling against my grip again.

I laughed, aware that I was enjoying this far too much. I never wanted to let go of her.

"Can we come in?" Alice called softly.

Bella struggled harder against my grip, trying to get off of me. I refused to allow it, but shifted her so that she was seated in my lap rather than curled against my chest. I didn't want to embarrass her more than I had to.

"Go ahead," I called, still laughing softly.

Alice danced into the room with her usual grace, sinking to the floor in the middle of the room. Still aware of his limits, Jasper paused in the doorway. He was incredulous, tasting the air with his unusual sensitivity. You're in love. I never thought I'd see the day that Mr. in- Control fell in love. That's why I've been sensing so much confusion up here. And with the only human to ever test your control! And she feels the same for you…. Miraculous….

I knew that you'd do the right thing. I saw it. "It sounded like you were having Bella for lunch, and we came to see if you would share," Alice teased.

Bella stiffened slightly in my arms.

"Sorry, I don't believe I have enough to share." I pulled Bella closer as she relaxed.

She trusts you so completely…. "Actually," my brother said with a smile as he stepped a little closer, "Alice says there's going to be a storm tonight, and Emmett wants to play ball. Are you game?" Come on, little brother. You know you want to. Emmett will say that you were afraid to loose if you don't come along.

I knew he would. And I wanted to play—we hadn't had a good storm in a long time. But the thought of being away from Bella was excruciating.

"Of course you should bring Bella," Alice chirped, seeing a vision of Bella in the field with us as she spoke. Esme would love to spend more time with her. Rosalie won't like it, but that's just too bad for her.

Jasper shot a quick glance at his wife. Are you sure that's a good idea, Alice? My control isn't all that great. What if I do something to her? He wouldn't do anything, though. Alice and I both knew that. And we'd have a warning if anything changed.

"Do you want to go?" I asked, my excitement brimming over.

"Sure," she replied quickly. "Um, where are we going?"

"We have to wait for thunder to play ball—you'll see why."

"Will I need an umbrella?" she asked, so plaintively that all three of us started laughing.

"Will she?"

"No. The storm will hit over town. It should be dry enough in the clearing."

"Good then," Jasper said excitedly, his enthusiasm feeding our own. If I'm going to spend the night near a human, I need to hunt.

"Let's go see if Carlisle will come." Alice bounded to the door.

"Like you don't already know," Jasper teased, following his wife out. He closed the door behind himself. I'm sure you two would like a little more time alone, hey Edward?

I ignored him.

"What will we be playing?" Bella asked when he was gone.

"You will be watching. We will be playing baseball."

She rolled her eyes at me. "Vampires like baseball?"

"It's the American pastime," I teased, mock solemn. With the exception of Carlisle, we were all Americans, born and bred. Why shouldn't we like baseball?

It was just beginning to drizzle when I turned onto her street. I had no doubt that I would stay with her until the game, talking to pass the time. And then I caught their thoughts.

There she is. Good, she's safe. Wait, who is that driving the truck? Damn it! She's sitting next to one of the bloodsuckers! I've got to convince her to stop seeing him. But I can't break the treaty. Maybe I could let a couple hints slip to Charlie?

I hear the truck! Wonder why Dad looks so mad? Wait, she's not driving. That Cullen guy is. That explains Dad. Hope he's not going to say anything about it…

"Damn it!" I hissed, too softly for Bella to hear.

Jacob Black and his father stood beneath the shelter of the tiny front porch.

I was livid. "This is crossing the line."

"He came to warn Charlie?" Bella guessed, horrified.

I just nodded, locking my gaze with that of the Quileute elder. I knew that he knew me for what I was. I dared him to break the treaty. I wanted him to break the treaty. And I was surprised at myself. Why was I so ready to kill? They were only protecting Bella. Giving her a reason to stay away from me, the same thing I'd been trying to do since I met her. I knew that if I got too close I would not be able to control myself. My desire to resist Bella's blood had left me little willpower to control myself when confronted with an enemy. Even if neither of the two before me were werewolves. That genetic quirk had been lost, we believed. Even still, the stench wafted through the rain. I could smell my enemy.

"Let me take care of this," Bella suggested, worry in her tone.

"That's probably best," I agreed, much to my own surprise. "Be careful, though. The child has no idea." I didn't want them anywhere near her, but I refused to be the one to break the treaty. I wouldn't hurt my family like that. But if they broke it first there would be hell to pay.

"Jacob is not that much younger than I am," she reminded me, bristling a little.

"Oh, I know." I was able to smile at her then—she was gorgeous when she was angry. He wasn't much younger than her physically, but mentally…. Mentally, she had already admitted that she was middle- aged.

"Get them inside," I told her, "so I can leave." Because if I get any closer to them I am going to loose control. "I'll be back around dusk."

"Do you want my truck?"

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. "I could walk home faster than this truck moves."

"You don't have to leave," she whined, wistful.

I smiled at her again. "Actually, I do." Because you would certainly run from me if I lost control. If you were even alive. "After you get rid of them"—I couldn't resist throwing another glare at the men on her porch-- "You still have to prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend." I grinned, glad I'd found a way to remind her to tell Charlie about me. I would soon have my double security. Triple, if the Quileutes were watching as intently as they seemed to be.

"Thanks a lot," she groaned.

I smiled at her again. "I'll be back soon," I promised.

My eyes then flickered back to Bella's porch. I couldn't resist doing what Emmett calls 'poking the bear'. I leaned in, pressing my lips to the hollow just below her jawbone. I knew that it would look as though I had bitten her from outside. I may be well over a hundred, but occasionally I still act my physical age. Her heart sputtered frantically, and her eyes, also, drifted to the pair waiting on her porch.

He just…. I'm going to kill him myself…. Billy Black's thoughts howled in rage as his hands clenched on the arms of his wheelchair. I could hear him willing his body to cooperate with the desires of his mind. He knew, however, that his body would betray him should he attempt to follow through on his fantasies.

He just kissed her. I guess that means she likes him. So much for my chances.

Both sets of thoughts brought back my rage, and I fought to hide it from Bella.

"Soon," Bella stressed as she opened the door and stepped out into the rain.

I watched her as she sprinted to the porch, fighting my instinctual desire to protect her from them. They were enemies, no matter what form they wore. It was in their blood. And I was letting her run to them. It took an enormous amount of willpower to remain in my seat.

"Hey Billy, hey Jacob," I heard her call, feigned cheerfulness in every word. "Charlie's gone for the day. I hope you haven't been waiting long."

"Not long," Billy replied. So that wasn't what it looked like. Maybe talking to her will work better than talking to Charlie. God knows my own daughters never listened to me. I need to convince her that he's dangerous. But Charlie needs to know, too. How do I convince him without making him think this is some sort of stupid prejudice? He doesn't understand how dangerous they are. And I can't break the treaty to tell him…. "I just wanted to bring this up," he continued, gesturing to a brown paper bag on his lap.

"Thanks. Why don't you come in for a minute and dry off?" Bella casually unlocked the door, gesturing for them to precede her inside. By now, I knew her well enough to see that she was not as oblivious to his scrutiny as she seemed to be.

"Here," she said, turning to close the door, "let me take that." She glanced at me one last time. I forced myself to sit perfectly still, and show nothing of my inner turmoil on my face.

When the door closed, I leapt from the truck and ran.

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Well? What do you think? The next scene will be entirely my own creation, and I have no idea whatsoever as to when I'll be able to get it written and up.

Let me know if I'm doing anything wrong! I can't fix what I don't see!

Thanks for reading!