Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight

Chapter 9

The morning came with splatter of rain. I dressed and went downstairs urgently. Breakfast was a silent affair. My mother and father both greeted me "Good morning" but ended conversation after. It was so strange how they were acting, it made me feel queasy. My mother was never the quiet type. And none of them met my gaze. There faces stoic and blank. Because of this, I picked at my food, not eating much. That was ladylike, wasn't it?

But right after breakfast, dad went to his study. I went after him. When we both entered, I closed the door. My father was never really the argumentative type, always leaving it to my mother. He was only a lover, a gentle, soother. Sometimes, it annoyed me so.

"Papa," I started but he had cut me off with a raised hand. "Isabella, I have news for you." This has got to be no good news. He went to his desk, sat down, folding his hands in front of him. Another clue, that's what I did when I was nervous, and I inherited the habit from him.

"Sit down," he said motioning his hand to a leather club chair. I did as I was told. He looked longingly at the door, I knew he was hoping for mother to come, to argue with me, handle things. "Oh bother! Would you please gain some backbone, father? Instead of always asking mother to do it for you?" I asked rudely, my face red and hot. I didn't know why, but I was suddenly very angry.

A fierce look came to his face, and he looked appalled, then mad. His face also grew red, he opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. The rage had dissipated, and he now looked wary.

"I know. I never really was such of a man, was I? I never really took care of my family, sent my boy off to war. And now, now, I have no idea what I'm doing!" he wasn't angry, but frustrated or exhausted by something. This was a long speech for my father. He, unlike my mother, was the quiet type. But something else dawned on me. 'Sent my boy off to war.' "What do you mean?" I asked shakily.

"There are. . . some news of.. . of your brother. He was spotted somewhere in India, looking beaten and worn. He looked as if he had been on a journey! A officer saw him, and remembered the paper where we posted him missing. He told the general, a friend of mine."

My brother, Tom. "Where is he?!" I raised from my chair. "Calm down. It was just a sighting, not an accurate description either! He was worn out. . . not very. . noticeable or very easily spotted. For all the officer knew, he was a native locale of the town!"

"Then why," A tear escaped my eyes. I rubbed it off with the back of my hand. But then more came, lots more. And finally, a sob erupting from my chest, like an ancient, forgotten, castle. A fortress kept, and now the walls were all crumbling, falling down. As I sobbed harder, I placed my face in my hands. "Oh, sweet, I. . " my father started to come over, uncertainly though. He wasn't really the comforting type either.

"No! Why would you let me hope just as you come crashing it after a moment?" I said angrily. I was in rage, in frustration. My heart was smothered. "He was my brother! If there is no hope, then why let me hope in the first place?! Are you trying to break me in purpose? Have not my heart been worn out far too much? Have I not had trouble mending it? And just as I come close, I gain new friends, you invite those malicious, Mallory's over for dinner, and invite me to sit with them! What cruel-" I had stopped for two reasons: I was crying now, full out crying and he had cut me off. "No, no, no! I do approve of your friends. I like them for you. But that isn't the reason why I invited the Mallory's. And I only invited Sir Mallory, never his whole family. I might seem ignorant Bella, but I know what happened to you and his son. I am not blind! I know he had hurt you. And I was just unforgivable as him to let it happen! I have always blamed myself for that and that of your brother's and I always will!" He declaimed, almost proudly with a loud, bass-ing voice that I had never heard him use for all my seventeen years of life.

"I love you Bella, and Tom, and your mother.I would never want to hurt you even if I do. And if I did, I am very sorry. I would never live it down. My soul will not rest until yours do." He said in a softer tone. "And your brother's soul too. Oh dear, dear, Lord. God, bless his soul! Have mercy on his soul, my dearest Lord." I saw tears glistening on his eyes. My father and I were the same at this-quiet martyrs, my mother called us.

"As for Mr. Mallory, he wanted some permits, I granted it to him. Reluctantly, I might add. Then we converse, and he asked me about you. I proudly told him about you and your friends-your mother had informed all the gossip, so blame it on her." Things started to lighten up. "But you still spread it! I though General Swan never gossips." I accused him. He merely shrugged his shoulders. "Sometimes, people slip." He smiled, lightening his whole face making him the handsome young man my mother fell in love with. I walked over to his desk, and put my arms around him. "Thank you father. Our discussion was very progressive to our relationship." I told him. He, in turn put an arm around me and kissed my hair as he said, " I love you daughter, never, ever, forget that. I love you always, my beautiful, Bella." With that we pulled away, and I parted from his office. I came up to my room, needing solitude than my mother's positive chatter.

Inside my room, I went over the bookcase my parents purchased for me on one of our vacations to Italy. I loved it there, so did my mother. She fancied different cultures and loved learning them. She knows how to speak Italian, French, Latin and Spanish and forced me to do them as well.

It looked like heavy wood, but was really very hallow, and was polished. It held lots of different books aside from my Bible. Some even in different languages. I picked something familiar, something I had already read. It was a novel of Jane Austen's which I was a fanatic of. Aside from Shakespeare and Lord Alfred Tennyson, though his picture of women in his books-or the books I have read-seemed very. . . traditional. Shakespeare first intrigued me with the uncommon wordings, I liked it, it was strange and new. Of course, I liked other books too, but they were too many to mention.

A few hours and chapters later, someone tapped lightly, but firmly on the door. "Yes?" I asked. I often felt disturbed every time someone disrupted my reading. "Miss Swan, you have a few callers and lunch is served." Molly said. "I'll be right there Molly."

I knew who the 'few callers' were. I combed my hair, twisting it into somewhat acceptable, and smoothed my dress. I hid the book and brought it with me though, I would have to find sometime to finish it later.

"Bella!" I could hear Alice from the stairs. I enveloped both of the girls into a hug. "Oh! How I've missed both of you!" I told them.

"Is that how it's supposed to be now, Ms. Swan? I find that rather sexist! Oh! How-come only the beautiful ladies get affection these days?" Mr. McCarty said in mock offense. "Nay, brother. You give such lady the same affection and forget even your brothers as well!" Jasper chided. "I could say the same to you! dear sir," the other retorted.

Just as soon as I turned a bit, I met a pair of sparkling eyes. "Now, you two! Stop bickering about! Is this how you act around those 'wonderful ladies' you speak about, then?" he asked. "Yes, you should compose yourselves. I'm afraid you have to take the example of you younger brother." I said, going to his side at once. The younger brothers' eyes sparkled more than amusement.

"Forgive them, Miss Swan, I'm afraid they have no clue how to act that way." Rosalie told me. "It's alright Jazz, you still made the money and the beacon." said wonderful Alice skipping to her husbands side and taking both of his hands to her small ones. "I am very glad I found a most forgiving, lady of a wife." He said gently. I looked away, it seemed private.

"Well children! Suppose you just stood there and not take part in any of the festive food? I know my home isn't as grand, or the dishes and platters served as world-class, but haste! Waste none of it! Take part, or everything'll go to waste!" my mother said grandly. "Why, dear Mrs. Swan, do not fret nor even talk about wasting food, for I swear, with 'me' on your house, I won't live one dish unpolished." Emmett replied. "That is something, from what your mother told me boy, I know you have no problem with and have absolute knowledge for." Mother led us too the dinning room. It was surprisedly filled with delicious platters!

Once all have settled, I asked, "What 'festivities' are we celebrating?"

"We, have gained hundred thousand more profit, than last years!" Emmett said proudly. "That's why we were out of town for a bit, missing the ladies." Edward said looking at me. I blushed and look down. "Don't waste your food, Sir." I muttered to him silently.

A/N: Hey, is anybody even still interested in reading this? Please, I'm not much of a beggar for reviews, but please do write one! Oh, and check out my other story-its settled in an earlier century- Single Again. . . or maybe not.

Thanks, Alice