Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or plotlines of the Twilight Saga and the following is a form of fiction based on the brilliance of Stephanie Meyer's work.
Author: ToryD
Beta: Splendorous Night Unfurled (Stay warm!) (Trying! -2 degrees at the moment!)
Title: A Forbidden Forever
Chapter Twelve
"What time is it?" Bella asked anxiously as she continued to pace the length of Edward's impressive foyer.
Alice glanced up from her cookbook with a slightly annoyed expression gracing her flawless features. "Bella, it's only ten minutes since the last time you asked."
Bella heaved a deep sigh as she wondered what was causing Edward and Jacob's delay. "What if the Governor changed his mind?" Bella asked with an unhidden alarm to her tone as she looked anxiously towards Edward's sister who sat so calmly upon a plush pale green suede sofa, her dancer's legs tucked under her gracefully.
Alice, who had already seen the vision of Bella and Jacob's reunion several times in her mind's eye in the last few days, carefully closed her book and rose gracefully to cross the room to put a comforting arm around Bella's tense shoulders. "Bella, you need to relax. Edward has everything under control," she offered with a solid confidence that caused Bella to nod her head in agreement. Knowing that Bella needed a distraction Alice quickly changed the subject. "So, you haven't told me where Edward took you last night," Alice stated as she led Bella over to the sofa.
Bella blushed slightly as she remembered the magic of the prior evening. "Edward surprised me with tickets to the symphony," she answered with a soft smile.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Alice asked as she slipped down on the sofa next to Bella, secretly anticipating the thrill of what human females considered 'girl talk'.
"It was wonderful," Bella sighed contently with a soft warm light shining from her brown eyes. "Edward is just so…"she paused as she tried to find a word that would describe just how utterly amazing Edward was.
Alice smiled impishly as she watched Bella's dreamy look. "Edward is just so what?" she asked after a few more silent seconds passed.
Bella just smiled serenely and shook her head slightly, feeling as if she were living a dream. "He is just the most amazing and thoughtful person…" her words trailed off as she struggled to convey how special Edward was to her. "I mean, he always seems to be thinking about what would make me happy, I've never known anyone who was so selfless before. He is just about the most perfect man I have ever met. I am so lucky that he wants to be with me," Bella said with a reverence that only touched on the depth of her powerful feelings for the man who had stolen her heart only a few weeks ago.
"So you really like him then?" Alice asked with a feigned casualness that was belied with the intenseness of her golden gaze.
Bella frowned slightly at the word 'like', as her feelings for Edward ran much deeper. "I love him," she responded simply, watching in awe as Alice's perfect lips formed a happy grin.
"Well thank goodness for that! I don't know what I would have done if you didn't return his feelings," Alice said with an exaggerated sigh of relief.
Bella frowned in bewilderment causing Alice to giggle musically.
"What I mean is that Edward can be hell to live with if he doesn't get what he wants, and since he has decided that he wants you above all things, then it's good that you seem to want him too," she concluded solidly. "Speaking of the devil, I think he is pulling up the drive," Alice said as she watched Bella jump up and race towards the door.
Edward pulled his black BMW smoothly to a stop and watched as Bella flew out of the door with a smile of happiness on his perfect face, his eyes alighting at the sight of her with joy undeniably evident in her beautiful face.
Bella froze a few feet from the passenger side of the car as she peered into the tinted windows, unable to see if Jacob was within.
Jacob swallowed hard at the sight of his foster sister, who looked so beautiful as she waited patiently for him. Opening the door, he slowly slid out of the car; his six foot three inch frame stood stone still as he stared at the young woman whose chocolate brown eyes began to fill with tears. "Bella," he called as he held out his long arms.
Bella ran into Jacob's outstretched arms and hugged him tightly. "Oh Jacob," she sobbed into his broad chest, a feeling of long awaited release washing over her soothingly.
Jacob smiled into her hair as he laid his head gently upon hers, his own eyes filling with stinging tears which he quickly blinked away. "Hey now," he admonished gently. "What's with the waterworks?" he asked playfully as he leaned back to tenderly wipe away her tears with his calloused fingertips.
Bella sniffed a few times as she recovered herself. "Sorry," she said as she gazed up into his tanned face. "I'm just so glad you're here."
"Me too Bells," he said as he tweaked her nose teasingly.
Bella glanced around to see Edward waiting quietly to their right, a look of peace in his beautiful topaz eyes. Pulling free of Jacob's loose embrace she raced over to Edward and threw herself into his surprised arms.
Edward wrapped her protectively within his cold hard arms, feeling such a strong love fill him as he held her tenderly.
"Thank you," Bella whispered softly as she pulled back to look into his incredibly gorgeous face with an undeniable love shining in her unblinking gaze.
Edward leaned down and placed a cold gentle kiss upon her lips. "You're welcome," he said as he reached up to trace the delicate curve of her cheek.
"Are you just going to stand around outside all afternoon?" Alice asked with a sarcastic edge from the double doors that graced the entrance of Edward's home.
"Hello Alice," Edward greeted his sometimes annoying sister with a dry look. "Jacob, this is my sister Alice Hale. Alice this is Jacob Black," Edward introduced as he led Bella towards the house.
Alice smiled in welcome at the large young man who seemed to be slightly uncomfortable. "Hi Jacob," she said in her signature melodic tone.
"Mrs. Hale," Jacob greeted more formally.
"Mrs. Hale?" Alice repeated with a frown on her flawless face. "You'll make me feel old if you call me that," she complained as she entwined one of her arms through his and led him into Edward's mansion. "Call me Alice," she instructed as she patted his wide bicep reassuringly.
"Um, okay…Alice," Jacob muttered awkwardly as he allowed her to pull him into the elegant living room off the main foyer.
"Sit down Jacob," Alice instructed as she motioned to the pale green sofa. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"No thank you," Jacob responded as he looked towards Bella with an almost pleading expression.
Edward, quickly reading Jacob's thoughts, knew that he and Alice needed to let Bella and Jacob have some alone time. "Alice, do you have time to go into the office with me?" he asked with a meaningful look directed at his sister.
Instantly understanding Edward's silent message, Alice smiled. "Of course, I have the whole afternoon free. I need to go into the city anyway to get the ingredients for the dish I'm making for tomorrow night dinner. Jacob, you'll come won't you? It will just be my family and Bella and Mike of course," Alice informed as she gazed expectantly at Jacob.
Jacob looked towards Bella with a helpless expression on his tanned face. "I guess if Mike and Bella are going to be there and it won't be any trouble for you," he advised Alice.
"Great! Now were even numbers again," she said more to herself than to the others. "Edward, we will need to stop and get some wine as well."
Edward nearly groaned out loud at being roped into helping out with Alice's dinner party. "Fine," he said somewhat briskly before he turned his tender gaze towards Bella whose hand he held. "Bella, do you mind if Alice and I leave for a while? I do have some contracts that I need to review."
Knowing that Edward had been neglecting his work for the last few days in order to secure Jacob's release, Bella felt a slight sting of guilt assail her. "I've been keeping you from working haven't I? She asked with a pained look in her eyes.
Edward frowned at the change he saw in Bella's expression. "No," he answered with a soft smile. "You have been making the last few days the best of my life," he whispered sincerely into her ear so that only she could hear.
Bella's heart lifted at Edward's words. "I don't deserve you," she said with a new look of wonder in her eyes.
"It's I who doesn't deserve you," he replied with a light caress of her jaw line with his lips.
"Hello!" Alice's call interrupted impatiently. "There are two other people here."
Bella blushed slightly at Alice as she pulled out of Edward's embrace. "I'll just catch up with Jacob while you're gone," she advised softly.
Edward, not ready to let her go pulled her back into his arms, "I'm not going to see you for the next four hours so I need a kiss to sustain me," he said with an intent look as he dramatically bent her over his arm and kissed her breathless.
"Oh brother," Alice moaned sarcastically as she picked up her purse, "I'll be waiting in the car when you can finally pull yourself away," she advised as she walked passed the kissing couple.
"I think I can survive now," Edward announced with a smug expression on his gorgeous face.
Bella swayed unsteadily as she tried to recover from Edward's passionate kiss. Edward laughed lightly as he steadied her, "Okay?" Unable to speak Bella nodded mutely.
With a quick kiss to her lips Edward released her and walked out the door with lightness to his step that attested to his happiness.
"So Bells," Jacob began as he stared at his still silent sister. "Tell me about you and Edward," he inquired with a raised eyebrow over his penetrating gaze.
Bella began to blush again as she walked over to her brother and began to fill him in on the man who now held her heart.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
"I've got you here next to Edward, Bella, and Jacob, you can sit next to Bella," Alice instructed as she expertly maneuvered her guests to their assigned seating; the humans within the room unaware of the importance of their correct placement for the place in which her vampire family members sat had a hidden compartment under the table in which they could all deposit their uneaten food surreptitiously.
Bella smiled up at Edward as he held her chair out for her with a gentleman's grace of a time gone by. "Thank you," she murmured softly, still in awe that she had been lucky enough to find someone as perfect as Edward.
"Jasper, Esme," Alice summoned as she made her way towards the kitchen to retrieve the first course, a lobster salad on fresh spring greens.
"Oh, Alice!" Bella exclaimed as her friend placed the chilled dish in front of her. "This looks so delicious."
Alice beamed at Bella's complement. "Thank you Bella, I really wanted everything to be just perfect for tonight."
"Alice, this is amazing," Esme said as she expertly feigned a bite of the cold salad. "You just have to give me the recipes," she added as she quickly shot Emmett a cold look as he was currently biting his lip to stop from laughing at her acting performance.
Carlisle, following his wife's lead, added his own complement, "Esme's right Alice, this is fantastic," he said as he secretly deposited a large lump of lobster meat under the table into his secret compartment.
"This wine is fantastic," Mike commented as he took a drink of the white wine. "I'd love to know the name and vintage."
"Edward was the one who selected all of the wine for this evening," Alice advised as she smiled at the memory of Edward's hour long research before selecting the wine.
"It's a '78 California riesling," Edward supplied as he watched Bella from beneath his dark lashes, enjoying the fact that she seemed to be happily enjoying his sister's somewhat erratic cooking.
"Hey Mike," Emmett cut in almost rudely. "What do you thing the Seahawks chances are to make the playoffs this year?"
Rosalie groaned at her husband whose only intent for the evening seemed to revolve around Mike Newton and football.
Mike smiled apologetically towards the beautiful blonde to his left before he answered. "It's going to be a long shot to even make it into the wild card round," he predicted before he took his last bite of lobster.
"That's what I thought," Emmett answered with a clear disappointment in his bronze eyes.
"How did your exams go Bella," Mike asked as he turned his attention to his sister.
Groaning Bella flushed slightly as she didn't think she did as well as she should have, with trading her time studying for time with Edward. "I'm not sure Mike, I guess I'll have to wait for the grades to post," she advised with a little reservation to her tone that Edward picked up on immediately.
"You're still planning on a career in law?" Jacob asked as he finished his glass of wine.
Bella was thoughtful for a moment as she considered Jacob's question. The decision to major in pre-law was in reaction to the injustice that Jacob had faced, but now that he was freed it kind of seemed pointless to hold onto her commitment when law was truly not her first choice in way of a career. "I'm not sure Jacob; I guess I need to think on that some."
Edward regarded her with a surprised look on his perfect face, wondering why she seemed to be confused about her choice when she was only about three semesters from obtaining her bachelor's degree. Promising himself that he would have a serious talk with her later, he let his curiosity falter for the time being. "How was your trip to Paris, Rosalie?" he asked in order to change the subject as well as to secretly bring his sister's thoughts to his mind, thoughts that she had been successful at hiding all evening by reciting the song 'Let it snow' in sixteen different languages.
Rosalie tensed unconsciously as Edward called on her. Carefully she pushed any thoughts regarding her hatred for Bella away before she answered his question. "It was great; I was able to secure some amazing textiles for next year's fall collection."
Edward's teeth clenched tight as he caught a brief glimpse of Rosalie's dark thoughts before she was able to push them aside.
Jasper, feeling a violent rage within Edward, quickly shot him a feeling of calmness which earned him an annoyed grimace from his brother.
"I guess we're all about ready for the main course?" Alice asked as she gracefully bounced to her feet to retrieve the dishes.
"I'll help," Rosalie offered, quickly wanting to escape from Edward's hard speculating stare for just a brief moment.
"The plates are over there," Alice instructed as she began to carefully place her perfectly prepared veal onto the fine china dinner plates. "There is a light sauce on the stove that needs to be drizzled over the veal," she instructed Rosalie.
"Tell me how Edwards was able to get Bella's brother released?" Rosalie asked as she spooned the green sauce over the veal.
"Edward had the Governor issue a pardon," Alice informed her sister absently as she continued to plate the veal.
"A pardon," Rosalie responded with a surprise in her tone. "I thought that only outgoing politicians issued pardons. I thought that Governor Reaves was going to run for another term next year."
"He is," Alice answered knowingly. "Edward had to use some pressure in order to get him to cooperate. But in the end it all worked out."
"Maybe for Jacob and Edward, but what is the Governor going to do when this gets out into the press?" Rosalie asked, her topaz eyes alighted with curiosity.
"Edward took care of that as well," Alice said softly. "No one will ever find out as he had everyone involved sign a very tight confidentiality agreement. He didn't want to take any chances that the press might do something to upset Bella."
Rosalie smiled menacingly as she filed away the information her sister unknowingly supplied. "Should I add the green beans as well?"
"Yes," Alice added as she glanced down at the plate that held her veal dish, rosemary potatoes and fresh steamed green beans. "I think we're ready," she said with a satisfied look in her warm golden gaze.
"I think I should warn you that Alice has assigned me the photographer duties for the evening," Jasper warned before Alice entered the room.
Emmett sighed dramatically, "Aren't we too old to have our family picture taken in front of the Christmas tree?"
Esme frowned at her son. "No you're not! One day you'll look back on these photographs and be grateful that your sister had the forethought to make a record over the years," Esme stated with a slightly admonishing tone.
Edward quickly glanced across the table at Mike who had a concerned look on his face as he gazed fixedly at Bella's down bent head.
Mike felt a shiver of pain race through him at the mention of family photographs in front of Bella, knowing that she had lost all photos of her mother and father when Laverne had so callously destroyed them in reaction to Ron's death.
Edward reached out and gently took hold of Bella's hand under the table, willing his strength and support to her as he assessed her emotions as best he could from Mike's thoughts.
"Here we are," Alice announced with a flourish as she placed her exquisitely plated meal in front of her guests.
"This looks great Alice," Carlisle said as he looked proudly towards his youngest daughter.
Rosalie deposited the plates she held in front of Mike and Emmett before she returned to the kitchen to retrieve a plate for herself and Jasper.
Once everyone was served and she and Rosalie were seated, Alice ordered everyone to begin.
Bella cut into the tender veal and took a small bite drizzled with a light green sauce. As she placed the tiny morsel in her mouth an instant unbearable heat assaulted her tongue. With tears coming quickly to her eyes, she reached for her water glass in hopes to put out the fire that was threatening to leave permanent damage to her taste buds.
Mike was also reaching for his water glass after sampling his first bite of the meat.
Edward winced at the pain that he read in Mike's thoughts and looked quickly to his left to assess Bella's condition. Reaching for his untouched water he handed it to her as she drained the last of hers. "I think that you may have been a little heavy handed with the spices Alice," he observed as he continued to gaze worriedly at Bella.
"I think it's just right," Jacob intoned as he enjoyed his third bite of the veal with a look of enjoyment on his tanned face.
"Bella are you alright?" Alice asked with a look of dejection on her flawless face.
Unable to speak past the fire within her mouth, she nodded as reassuringly as she was able.
"Do you have any milk?" Carlisle asked Alice as he watched with concern in his physician's eyes as both Bella and Mike struggled against the too spicy dish.
"Sure," Alice answered as she stood to quickly retrieve the milk.
"Thank you," Mike chocked out as took the offered milk from Alice's out stretched hand while beads of perspiration were braking out on his forehead.
"Bella," Alice called as she held out a second glass for her friend.
Bella welcomed the coolness of the milk as it washed away some of the intense heat within her mouth.
Edward reached out and brushed a stray curl from her face as he assessed her features with a concern so clearly evident in his golden eyes. "Okay?" he asked her softly.
Bella smiled bravely as she nodded towards Edward. "I'm okay," she answered as she looked towards Alice with an apologetic expression.
"I'm so sorry Bella," she said with a look of guilt deep seated within her gaze. "Mike, are you all right?"
"Sure, sorry about that," Mike responded jovially. "Bella and I never could handle the hotter dishes like old Jacob here could," he informed the others while he gestured to a still eating Jacob.
"They were always a bunch of wimps," Jacob intoned as he finished his last piece of veal. "Bella if you're not going to finish yours, do you mind if I have it?" he asked with a boyish grin on his broad face.
Laughing lightly at her brother's expression, Bella handed her plate to him, "Help yourself."
"I don't know what I could have done wrong," Alice said more to herself than to her guests. "It called for one cup of green peppers and that is all I added."
"What did the pepper look like Alice?" Esme asked as she feared that Alice didn't choose the traditional green bell pepper when selecting a 'green pepper' to make her dish.
"They were small and round, they kind of looked like little lanterns," Alice said as she described the small green peppers she had purchased,
"Where they called habaneros by chance?" Jacob asked with his lips twitching in amusement.
"Yes, I do think that that was what they were called," she said as she looked curiously towards Jacob's delighted face.
Mike bent his head as he started to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Alice asked as she looked towards Carlisle and Esme, who were also trying to hide their amusement.
"Alice, habaneros are the second hottest pepper in the world. Few people can handle the heat of one. How many did you use to make up one cup of them?" Edward questioned her drily.
"Six," Alice answered hesitantly. "I'm really sorry everyone," she apologized with a sincere regret in her worried topaz eyes.
Bella smiled at her friend as she finished a bite of the rosemary potatoes. "Don't worry Alice, the potatoes more than make up for the peppers," she said as she scooped up another fork full.
"Thanks Bella," Alice responded as she retook her seat next to Jasper. "Can I get anyone anything?"
Jacob smiled with a sheepish grin, "I'll take another helping of veal if you have some extra."
Bella and Mike shot him an amazed look to which he responded with a slightly affronted look of his own. "Come on now! It's not every day a guy like me finds someone who knows how to cook a dish with just the right heat."
Alice beamed gratefully at Jacob. "I'll be right back," she said as she went to retrieve his third helping of the veal.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Next Morning - New York City
"I need to speak with the editor please," Rosalie instructed into her cell phone as she smiled maliciously, thinking herself so very clever in putting physical distance between herself and Edward before making the call to the Seattle Times in order to evade his mind reading.
"I'm sorry miss, but I will need to know the nature of your call before I can transfer you to Mr. Jennings," a cool professional voice responded down the line.
"Just say that I have a tip that I think will make the front page of the next addition," Rosalie responded with a look of pure malice upon her stunning face.
"I'm going to need more than that miss," a board voice impounded back.
"It involves the governor and a secret pardon that was recently granted as a favor to one of the, oh how should I say this…" Rosalie responded with a dramatic flair. "One of the state's wealthest businessmen."
"And who would that be miss?" a much more interested voice asked.
"I'll think I'll save that piece of information for Mr. Jennings if you don't mind." Rosalie replied as she looked at her perfectly manicured nails.
"Alright," the female voice responded with a hint of disappointment. "Please hold while I put you through."
Rosalie sighed in contentment knowing that by tomorrow morning little Miss perfectly innocent Bella would be the talk of the town.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
A/N Thanks for reading and reviewing. More reviews would be great though; I have over 140 story alerts but only average about 12 reviews per chapter. Even a 'good chapter' review would be appreciated. Anything you can do to boost my average would make me so very happy and as you all know a happy author is a faster writing author. Okay enough with my shameless begging…next chapter the press will besiege Bella and Edward, Edward will pin Bella down with a serious discussion regarding her future studies, and since it is almost Christmas, we might have something relating to that as well. Have a great week everyone! And Happy Holidays!