La Libertà di Amarci Qui Senza Limiti Chapter 2, a twilight fanfic

AN:

Holy crap! 77 reviews for two chapters?! Don't know what to say, but keep them coming :) Sorry about the wait – you know how busy these times are. I'd have to say thanks for the support. If I could, I would mail each of you reviewers a bucket of Ben and Jerry ice cream. I know I love B&J. Hope you had a nice Christmas or whatever you celebrate. I know I fell in to the New Year – it was quite entertaining. But guess what? I got a HUGE laptop for Christmas! I love it.

There was a small error concerning this chapter, but it's fixed now and this is chapter 2.

Again thanks for the support and thanks to those who added this story on alert and fav! I really appreciate it and I love you all for it. Dedicated to all of you who have supported me through my ups and downs.

The song in the chapter is "Almost Lover" by A Fine Frenzy.

Chapter 2 – A Fine Frenzy at the Contour

(Seattle, Washington)

A loud groan came from the double doors across the room. I turned at the sound from behind the bar. I was wiping the counter until the noises piqued my interest. Emmett and Jasper were carrying heavy boxes from the car. Emmett saw this as routinely exercise, while Jasper was having a harder time. His face was red from the pressure and a light sheen of sweat adorned his forehead. I hurriedly poured them two glasses of coke, putting them on the counter. They had been working and moving since early morning, and I had to say that they were hard working people. Jasper dropped the last box with a loud and long sigh. He stretched and then lunged for the glass of coke. He downed the whole glass in one go and sighed appreciatively.

"Thanks, darling" he said as he leaned against the counter. Emmett flexed his bulky arms as he walked over to us. He also took several gulps before putting the glass down.

"That was it!" he exclaimed as we looked around us. This was it. It was all ours.

"Come on! Let's make it official and put the sign up, outside" Jasper said and moved away from the counter. He walked over to the furthest corner of the room and picked up a sign that had been draped over.

"Let me take it" Emmett said teasingly as he took it from Jasper. I shook my head at his childish behavior. But then again, that's one of the quality we loved in Emmett. Rosalie and Alice entered the door after having done some shopping.

"Easy, monkey man" Rosalie said as she battered her eyelashes at Emmett, who instantly turned into a puddle of goo before her. I had to laugh – I couldn't help it. It's amazing how Rosalie could turn the strong Emmett into a puddle of goo in mere seconds. Emmett put the sign down again and sighed helplessly at Rosalie.

"Baby, my arms are sore… Could you kiss them better?" Emmett asked with a large pout. I almost fell to the floor laughing my butt off. I had to get a firm grip of the counter as Alice and Jasper laughed wholeheartedly. Rosalie didn't hesitate as she kisses his arms, almost forgetting that they had an audience. I cleared my throat to make them aware of our presence. Emmett looked and then smiled at us unabashedly. He pulled her face up to his and kissed her fiercely.

"OKAY! ENOUGH!" I yelled, clutching my stomach. They pulled away from each other, but not without sending each other suggestive glances.

"Can you at least wait till we are done here?" I asked and they nodded. We all walked outside and watched Emmett setting up the sign. Café Lettuce Meat & Rock – it was ours.

I was miserable for years after Edward died. I had finally come to terms with the truth and there was nothing else to do – I couldn't deny it anymore… The problem was that I couldn't let him go. A small fraction of my heart still clung to memories of our blissful happiness. That didn't mean that he didn't occupy the major part of my heart. I know it sounds like a contradiction, but my life was full of them. I spent several days in my bedroom, refusing to acknowledge the world outside. It held no meaning to me without Edward there. I refused listening to music – it reminded me too much of him and what we had.

When I finally allowed myself to listen to music, I entered the stage of grief. It was a difficult time and I felt so hollow – I couldn't even use my own words to describe it. At first I wouldn't acknowledge any feelings in relation to grieving. I guess you could call that denial. All I knew was that I wasn't feeling normal at all. Alice told me to embrace these feelings – it would lessen the pain and my grief would lessen. I needed to allow myself time to grieve because it was an important aspect in my healing. But I felt like if I did embrace these unknown feelings, I would gradually let go of him. That was one of my biggest fears.

For a year, I was unbearable to be around. I was physically drained and don't even mention my emotional control – or lack thereof. One moment I could be joyful, and the other I would cry my eyes out. I was a ticking bomb. Alice and I helped each other, while Carlisle and Esme helped each other as well. I had never known that when you let somebody get too close – you'll forget how it feels inside. We were depressed, lonely and left alone – although Alice and Jasper had found each other. I regularly visited Carlisle and Esme and I guess they were happy to see me as well. They were my second family and I wouldn't trade them for anything else in the world.

Even though I wasn't the biggest shopping fan alive, Alice, Rosalie and I were having a great time. They were the sisters I never had.

"Look who's here!" a female voice said as somebody approached us. We all turned to see Emily walking over to us with the most adorable baby in her arms. Alice and Rose squealed when they neared us. Emily's face was glowing – and I totally understood her. I reached my arms out and Emily immediately placed the baby in my arms. I eyed her in my arms, her petite form and the peacefulness adorning her pretty face.

"Hey Isalena…" I cooed as I nuzzled her cheek with my nose. Emily was beaming so much I almost had to get a pair of sunglasses.

"She's so adorable…" I whispered, as she was still sleeping.

"So is her godmother" she whispered back and smiled at me. I just had to smile back. Her last comment triggered a small trip down memory lane. Before I had time to reminisce about the past, Emily broke my chain of thoughts.

"Oh, it's gorgeous! I can't believe you're finally done!" she exclaimed as she took in the façade. She sighed appreciatively and held her hand in front of her lips, as if she was in awe.

"Café Lettuce Meat and Rock" she said and laughed.

"Clever one! Let us meet and rock!" she continued and then smiled at the rest of the gang.

"Sam's in the apartment, why don't we head up and celebrate there?" she suggested. Alice squealed again while jumping up and down and clapping her hands. Jasper let out a sigh in exasperation.

"Yeah, let's go" Rosalie agreed and we followed Emily to her apartment.

I loved the décor of the place – partly courtesy of Esme and Emily herself. Emily and I had known each other for years, as we met at the reservation when I still lived in Forks before Charlie and Renee split up. I missed the old times, but I finally realized that they were never to return again and I should just make the best out of what I had. In fact, I had enough. I couldn't ask for more, but one figure from the past would always linger on my mind. Sam immediately greeted us when we entered the apartment. He was well-trained as usual, and he was quite handsome. Then again – most from the La Push crew were handsome, even Jake. I couldn't help but to notice that Jake had showed some interest, but I couldn't find myself to return it. Just yet.

"Here, Bella, couldn't you please hold her while I get some refreshments for us?" she asked as she handed me Isalena. I sat down on the couch with her in my outstretched arms. She was beautiful, perfectly healthy and lacked no curiosity. I leaned back and brought her closer to me. She looked up at me with beautiful brown eyes and her gaze was curious and adventurous. As it should be. I nuzzled her soft cheek again and she yawned. I knew I was boring, even a baby could tell. I giggled to myself and just had to smile at her. She yawned again and made some funny noises. I remember seeing Emily for the first time.

FLASHBACK

We drove home from the funeral in an unnerving silence. I still didn't want the radio on. All forms of music would be a painful reminder of him. I wasn't ready to expose myself to music. I could only hear Charlie's breathing and still everything was black. I had yet to remove my blindfold. If I don't see it – it wasn't real.

Charlie stopped and killed the engine. It was eerily silent and I took it off. I went out of the car and squinted my eyes at the sun. Too bright and shiny. I turned to Charlie and the cruiser.

"Dad, you should go and be with Carlisle and Esme…" I said and he nodded. He turned the cruiser on again and sent me one last, lingering look. I watched with sad eyes as he drove away. Truth to be told, I needed some space to… deal with this. I entered my room and made sure to open the window. Maybe this was all a joke and he would teasingly climb through my window again. Like he had that night… Where he first sang to me – my favorite song of his "Picture Perfect", I remembered the feeling of content he gave me. I felt beautiful and he made me feel perfect. Yes, he would climb through the window, laughing over something, take me into his arms and kiss me as if there would be no tomorrow. I waited for hours. The sun had slowly sunk, leaving behind the redish-pink hue in the evening sky. It was twilight. Our favorite time. He never came. My hand shook slightly as I reached out for the only remnant from our love. Our picture. It was almost out of this world. It was heaven. I still had that white dress somewhere. We looked so happy and carefree. My stomach churned as I remembered the sensation that was hidden behind the passionate kiss. I took off my sweater and threw on his t-shirt. It still smelled like him. I then made my way over to my bed and lied down, clutching the photo to my chest. I sobbed. It would never be the same again. I turned on my iPod and found the song, I downloaded for fun some years ago. I never knew that I would put myself in the singer's position. I put the song on repeat and leaned onto the side and closed my eyes.

"Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images

You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick

I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do"

Somebody shook my body, trying to wake me up.

"I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy
To walk right in and out of my life?

I opened my eyes and saw a girl hovering above me. No, she was a woman. I removed my earplugs and sat up.

"Who are you?" I asked drowsily.

"I'm Emily" she said and smiled a sad smile. Then it dawned on me. She was my first friend at the reservation.

"Oh, god!" I said as I threw myself at her. She immediately hugged me back and whispered soothing nonsense into my ears.

"I'm sorry about Edward" she said as she ran her fingers through my hair. I cried even more.

END OF FLASHBACK

Isalena's hic-cupping brought me back to reality. She was still staring at me as if I was the most peculiar creature on Earth. I kissed her small nose and she squealed.

"Who's a beautiful girl..?" I cooed.

FLASHBACK

"Bella, we need to talk" Emily said as she sat next to me. We agreed on meeting at the diner for some lunch. She told me it was urgent so I had no choice but to show up.

"Spill" I said as I took a sip of my coffee. She looked as if she was about to burst from happiness.

"I'm pregnant!" she squealed.

"NO WAY!" I said as I grabbed her hands.

"Yes, it's true! I got a test and it was positive! I'm having Sam's baby…" she whispered with tears in her eyes.

"Congratulations…" I whispered back and hugged her tightly.

"Bella, I want you to be its godmother…" she said.

"You mean as its legal guardian?" I asked and she nodded.

"Of course" I said and stroked her back repeatedly.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Come on, Bella! Cheers for Café Lettuce Meat and Rock!" Sam said as he handed me a glass of champagne.

This was going to be my new beginning. We all clinked glasses and downed them in one go.

"Congrats Bells! It was your idea, you know" Emmett said and clinked my glass once more. I laughed at him.

"Come on, I wouldn't have been able to get this far without you all, so stop putting this on only me" I said and Emmett's smile widened. He wrapped one of his arms around Rose's shoulder, and she unconsciously leaned into him. I had to say that I did miss that sort of contact with another human being. Don't get me wrong – it wasn't that I felt socially isolated, but it was more the fact that they had a "significant other" whereas… mine was quite absent. I often woke up, with my arms wrapped around myself. Somehow I felt cold in my warm bed.

"Emily, could you take her again? I need to go home for a bit" I said as Emily leaned over to me. She took Isalena out of my arms and cuddled her in her own. I had to smile at the sight – this was pure love. Unconditional and it was there. Sam leaned in to his two beloveds and kissed them both. I got up to leave, but Alice immediately stopped me. She grabbed my arm and intensely studied my face before speaking.

"We should go out tonight, Bella" she suggested and offered a small smile.

"Yeah, I believe a celebration is in order" Rose backed her up, cornering me up. I was trapped, and there was no way out when they ganged up against me. I sighed begrudgingly and nodded. Alice smiled in triumph and high fived Rose.

"Let's go home to Rose and pick outfits! I even let you veto…" Alice begged and I just couldn't resist her.

"So where are we going?" I asked – perhaps I should place a warning for the security of other party-goers. If you spot a dancing Swan, or attempted dance, you should stay away as she is dangerous to those within a radius of 2 meters. I chuckled at the image and waited for their answer. They had been discussing for a little while.

"How about Contour?" Rose finally asked. I nodded. This would be a first. I wasn't much of a party person. I was Bella Swan, the silent girl sitting in the corner. And for a good reason indeed! Unfortunately, I was quite accident prone and would likely stumble over thin air. Add a pair of stilettos and you'll have my funeral. If you wish, you could add some alcohol and you'll have the apocalypse.

"Will you join us, Sam and Em?" Jasper asked from the couch next to me. Emily seemed to consider it while cuddling Isalena.

"If we find a baby sitter, we'll join you" she said. That was understandable. We all got up to leave after saying bye to them. Alice, Rose and I walked hand in hand while discussing dressing tactics. We've sent Jasper and Emmett away for the time being. I don't know why, but they have been dying to set me up with someone. I was grateful for that, but I just had no urge to date. I must admit that I hated being the third wheel, but they tried with all their might to not make me feel awkward. But then again, I was Isabella Swan. Awkward was my second middle name. I looked up at the sky and was met with grey clouds. Would I ever learn to appreciate the sun again? I wasn't a religious person, but I couldn't help but wonder if Edward was up there, looking down at me. I wanted him with me. I wanted to laugh, cry and just be with him. There was so much I wanted to do with him, and even though we were young, I felt like he was my soul mate. I felt a silent tear running down my cheek as the skies opened up and the rain poured down, mixing with my lone tear.

"Oh, not again!" Alice screeched and we hurried to our apartment. Alice hated the rain with a passion, especially after having done quite a number on her hair today. For Alice, the rain was only enjoyable if you were inside, bundled up, reading a fashion magazine with a cup of Starbucks' finest. I guess I felt the same way with coffee: fine for own enjoyment, but consumed by Alice you would have a pesky pixie for hours.

"Run, run!" Rose urged as she finally reached our door step with Alice and I lingering behind.

"Girl, in these shoes, this IS running" Alice said as she jogged in the most comical way ever.

"You too Swan!" Rose chided.

"Rather wet than end up with no face at all" I said calmly as I walked with my normal pace. We scurried up the stairs to our apartment and immediately threw everything we had in our hands away.

"Coffee!" Alice yelled.

"Or the alternative also known as hot chocolate" Rose said as she got out three mugs. I went into my room and looked at myself in the mirror. There looking back at me was a woman. A woman, whose eyes had seen nothing, yet seen it all. Chocolate brown, some would say, but to me they were just… brown. Dull, boring and lifeless. Some say that the day Edward walked out of our lives the light disappeared from my eyes. Maybe they were right, I didn't know. I sat down on my bed and looked at the pictures on my night stand. They were all sweet memories, but what's in the past remains in the past. I could do nothing about it. My eyes lingered on my favorite photo of them all. The one with Edward and I at the concert. I sighed as I studied it closely.

"Bella?" Alice's voice came from the door. I looked up and saw her standing there with a hesitant look. I moved a bit and made room for her on the bed. She took that as an invitation. She saw the picture in my hand and smiled sadly. She wrapped her small arms around me and rested her chin on my shoulder. I could feel something wet hitting my skin, but I didn't mind. She began sniffling and I just had to hug her back. I ran my hand up and down her back, soothingly, trying to give her some sort of comfort in this pain we shared.

"I'm sorry" I sobbed and my arms around her tightened. She shook her head against me.

"Don't be… I tend to look back myself…" she whispered and her small body shook. Losing your twin brother was like losing your other half. Alice hadn't been the same since then. I missed the old, vibrant and bubbly Alice. We weren't the same. We were only fractions of what we would be, all we could do was making the best out of our situation.

"Bella… The main point here is that we have to move on… But that doesn't mean that I don't think back and of what could have been…" Alice reasoned and pulled back a bit. I could see she'd been crying as well. Her eyes were painfully red and swollen as evidences.

"What if I don't want to… move on?" I asked in my broken voice. She gave me a sympathetic smile.

"You have to… Edward wouldn't have wanted you to end up alone… Someone has to give you the wedding, Edward couldn't give you… You will find someone, Bella" Alice continued. She sounded so smart, and the prospect of finding someone to share my life with was soothing.

"And besides… I know for a fact that you do have an admirer…" Alice giggled silently. I blushed.

"See now this is a good sign! You're blushing and not grimacing- as you've been doing for a while now…" Rose said as she emerged from the door.

"Care to share with the class?" I asked Alice. She needed to spill about this admirer.

"Aww, come on Bella, are you blind?" she asked and gasped as the words left her mouth. She covered her mouth with her tiny hands and her eyes were wide with shock.

"I can never get used to it!" she hissed and hid her face in my shoulder. I laughed.

"It's okay, Alice" I said and hugged her awkwardly.

"So… Let's pick dresses!" Rose said enthusiastically. I never understood why jeans weren't classified as party dressing, but NO! According to Alice, I had to show my wonderful legs. Why don't we just chop them off?

Rose found a black strapless dress that hugged her curves just the right way. She was divine, every man's wet dream. With hair most supermodels would envy and the smile every toothpaste commercial would die to have in them, she ruled the dance floors out there. She was elegant and poised. She was Rosalie Hale. She was the definition of pure beauty and she walked with the grace of a thousand Julliard dancers. Her staggering beauty was second to none.

And there was Alice Cullen, petite and bubbly. Her radiance on the dance floor was electrifying and she would never hesitate to show how to strut in front of an audience. Don't let her size fool you, she can be a deadly bomb. She had chosen and red dress, halter neck and it stopped above her knees, accentuating her legs as well, even though they weren't as long as Rose's. Her makeup was subtle, but her hair was wild. I could only look at them with envy in my eyes as they tried to beautify me. As if that was possible. I began mumbling the theme to Mission Impossible as they did my hair. My boring brown, messy and good for nothing hair. Alice told me she would die for my hair, but I simply didn't see why. Yeah, why don't we just chop that off also?

I had agreed to a midnight blue strapless dress. Mainly, because it was Edward's and my favorite color. He was right… The color just seemed right and it really complemented my skin tone. Alice gasped as she stood back to appreciate her work. I looked in the mirror and thought: Heh, not bad.

"Come on, Bella, you can do better than that! Smile!" Rose chided and playfully hit me. I forced a smile that said: Happy now?!

"Get a grip, Swan" she answered and turned me to her.

"Listen if it makes you feel any better: I would totally do you, if I was a guy or lesbian" she said seriously.

"No, it just made me feel more awkward" I said. She began laughing and I just had to join in the madness.

"There, there, be kind to each other" Alice scolded as she put on her earrings.

Somebody knocked on the door. I turned and exited my room to open.

"Gosh, Bella, you look dazzling!" Jasper said in his southern accent as he entered the apartment, with Emmett behind him.

"Looking good, sis!" he said as he gave me a huge, bone crushing bear hug.

"Thanks! You too" I spluttered for air as he sat me down. There was another person waiting behind Emmett. He entered as well and it took me a minute to recognize him.

"Guess who's back in town!" Emmett said as he patted the man on his back. He sent me an awkward smile.

"Jake!" I squealed and hugged him. He laughed and swung me around in the living room. He sat me down and kissed my forehead. He handed me a bouquet of roses and I had to marvel at the beauty of them.

"Thanks" I smiled and sat them in water.

"No problem" he said.

"Haha, guess who's back, it's Black" Rose said as she and Alice emerged from their rooms. Their guys sent them appreciative looks.

"Emily and Sam will meet us there" Emmett said as he read a text from his cell phone.

"So they found a sitter?" I asked. Emmett nodded. I smiled – maybe this night wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Yeah, Carrie, a sweet girl. She actually asked me if she could be a waitress at the café" Emmett said.

"Sure, we could always use a pair of hands here and there" I nodded.

"Contour it is!" Jasper said and we dialed after cabs. Seattle was a big city and I had yet to see it all. We had all moved here after Alice, Jasper, Rose and Emmett finished college. Forks wasn't big enough for us and we needed more opportunities out there. We settled for Seattle, but we knew that this wasn't going to be our final destination.

Alice had gotten a job as an intern at a fashion house. She really liked it there, so that was great for her. Rose was designing clothes for another store, while working as a receptionist at a car dealership. They just couldn't refuse her face for the store. And besides that, she had knowledge about cars most guys would envy her for.

Jasper, Emmett and I opened our café down town Seattle, and we were hoping for something good. Who knew what the future had in store for our small café. We had grown to be mature people and Forks was our fundament.

We got out of the cabs and saw the huge line. We saw Sam and Emily waiting and they were almost at the door. They waved us over to them. I always felt bad jumping lines, but when Rose was in charge, you'd better follow her. We entered the clubs and the dance beat washed over us like a tsunami.

"Why don't you find a table and we'll get the drinks" Jake yelled over the music and we the girls found an empty table close to the dance floor.

"So… Jake's got it bad for you, eh?" Emily asked me as I got seated next to her. I blushed.

"Yeah, you should totally give him a chance" Alice winked at me. I sat there contemplating on what to say, but I came up with nothing. I just sat there. The boys returned and Jake sat next to me, handing my drink. I mouthed a silent thank you to him and he just nodded smilingly. We were all drinking, besides Sam. He and Emily came here on his motorcycle, so he had to stay sober.

"Did I tell you that you look absolutely stunning?" he leaned into my ear and asked.

"Not the last 5 minutes, no" I smiled and he rubbed his head nervously.

Cobra Starship's Good Girls Go Bad were on now and Alice and Rose forced me onto the dance floor. I must say that I put up a good fight, but again, when you were up against Alice and Rose, you were fighting a lost battle.

"Just feel the music and dance, Swan!" Rose said as she wiggled her hips to the music. She gained a lot of attention, but she blew it off. I just moved around awkwardly and wanted to get off the dance floor as quickly as possible. But hey, one song wouldn't kill me, right? I might have thought that a little bit too early; another person became a little bit too pushy and sent me stumbling across the dance floor with my stilettos. Somehow somebody grabbed me before Bellatornado could wreck havoc in this place. I looked up and saw my savior. It was Jake in all his glory. I had failed to notice how well-built he was and how manly he had grown to look. He wasn't the boy from La Push. He was a man now. I blushed as I noticed our proximity.

"Can I have a dance?" he asked and I just nodded numbly, throwing all kinds of inhibitions out of the proverbial window. He held me close and wouldn't let me go.

We danced like that for a while before we've had enough for tonight. We had to open the café tomorrow and we had to look somewhat presentable. I was stoked to say the least. We agreed on finishing the night at Sam's and Emily's. We took a cab while Emily rode with Sam on his motorcycle. I must say he looked quite cool riding it. We sang out loud in the cab, much to the cabbie's dismay, but hey! We were young and happy. And a little bit drunk, but who cared? We reached Sam's and Emily's apartment and knocked on the door, waiting for them to open.

It was Carrie who opened up for us. Hmm, shouldn't Sam and Emily be here already? I mean they left before us because we had to hail a cab. We sat in their living room and waited. I was holding Isalena in my arms. Somehow, holding her gave me a calming effect and I couldn't bring myself to let go of her, just for the sake of my sanity.

We waited for hours and they didn't show up. The phone began ringing on the kitchen counter and I moved Isalena to her room, not wanting the shrill of the phone to wake her up from her peaceful slumber. I sat in the rocking chair with Isalena close to the door, which I had partly closed.

"Uley residence" I heard Jasper say, answering the phone. It was silent after that and I had to strain my ears to make sure that I didn't miss anything.

"That's terrible… We'll get there as soon as possible" Jasper said and hung up. I got up, still cuddling Isalena, and entered the living room. I was expecting the worst.

"Sam and Emily were killed in a drunk driving accident" Jasper sighed as he looked down.

My heart broke. It broke for Emily and Sam who were just getting started with their lives and it broke for the child in my arms, which fate had thrust upon me.

AN:

I know I can be quite angsty and you hate that about me, but I promise this fic doesn't have that much angst as BLAM!

Hope you liked it and please review.

Now, what kind of Ben and Jerry flavor do you like? Personally, my favorite has to be Chocolate Macadamia!

Love you all!

Anne