Uninvited Guests

Set one year after BD

Chapter 1

Bella POV

My first hint that something was up was the way Alice was acting even more excited – if such a thing is possible – than usual. Her face was positive delighted every time she looked at me until I finally asked.

"What have you seen?"

Alice gave me an innocent look. "What do you mean?"

"Alice!" I whined. I hated it when she kept me in the dark.

She grinned cheekily. "You'll find out soon enough, Bella, trust me. Oh, and don't bother asking Edward, 'cos he won't tell you either."

Annoying little psychic! I cursed mentally. I groaned and turned away.

"Edward!" I called and he appeared at my side in an instant.

"Stop teasing her, Alice," Edward muttered.

"Edward, can you tell me?" I begged.

"No," he said at once. I pouted and he stroked my cheek with a gentle smile. "We're going to be late for Charlie."

As if. The way Edward drove we were never late!

"Are we visiting Grampa?" squealed Renesmee, bouncing into the room. Although she hadn't reached her second birthday yet, Nessie was approximately the size of a six-and-a-half year old. "Is Jacob coming too?"

"He's going to meet us there," Edward told her, smiling. Over the past year, the Edward/Jacob relationship had improved enormously, only partly so as to not upset Renesmee. They could almost be called 'friends' now.

"Oh," Renesmee muttered, looking somewhat disappointed. She didn't like going anywhere without her Jacob, even if it was only going to be for a couple of minutes. She brightened up after a second. "What about Alice?"

"Yes, sweetie, I'm coming with you!" sang her aunt, spreading her arms out for Renesmee to leap into.

I stared at Alice. "You are?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm coming! The invitation was for the whole family. But since Carlisle is at work and the others are hunting, I'm the only one free."

"But I didn't think you'd want to come," I pressed, "I mean, it's just lunch, and we won't be eating anyway, so…"

"Are you trying to uninvited me, Bella?" demanded Alice, but I saw her exchange a glance with Edward and mouth "just lunch!" I looked between them, losing my patience.

"Okay, what is going on? You saw something about Charlie, didn't you? Tell me!"

"Come on, Bella." Edward took my hand. "We need to go. Renesmee's getting more and more impatient by the second."

I obviously wasn't going to get any answers from these two, so I ran to my car with a huff. I heard Edward chuckle before he joined me.

I crossed my arms and sunk low into the front passenger seat. Alice and Renesmee were already chatting excitedly in the back as Edward started the engine. He kept glancing at me while he drove, but I stubbornly remained silent.

Charlie was in an extremely happy mood when he answered the door.

"Hey there, kids!" he greeted us, pulling Renesmee and I into a hug.

"Hi, Dad," I said, returning the hug as gently as possible so as not to hurt him.

"Grampa!" squealed Renesmee.

"Hi, Charlie," smiled Alice, dancing forward to peck him on the cheek.

"Hello, Charlie," nodded Edward, shaking his hand formally.

"Come on inside! Jake and the Clearwaters are here!" Charlie told us.

"Jake?" repeated Renesmee excitedly. She ran inside, almost too fast, to find him.

"She sure likes the kid, doesn't she?" commented Charlie.

"Jacob's like a big brother to her," I said, walking inside.

I was surprised to see Leah sitting beside Seth on the sofa. She had been getting better since she had joined Jacob's pack, but she was still very anti-vampire. She scowled at me with her nose wrinkled up when I took the seat opposite her. Jacob was in the seat next to me with Renesmee on his lap.

"Where's Sue?" I asked Charlie, even though I could hear her in the kitchen.

"She's in the kitchen, finishing lunch," Charlie replied, "She'll be out in a second."

I heard footsteps approaching the living room.

"Hi, Sue," I said, raising a hand to wave.

"Hello, Bella," she replied nervously.

Charlie went over to Sue and took her hand. I had to smile at that. Charlie and Sue were perfect for each other; the mother of two werewolves and father of a vampire.

"We have some good news," began Charlie.

Oh! I knew immediately what he was going to say. Edward had used those very same words almost two years ago.

Charlie took a deep breath. "Sue and I are getting married."

There was a second of silence before we reacted.

"Are you serious?" I shrieked, jumping to my feet so I could hug them both.

"What?!" exclaimed Leah in shock.

"Yes!" shouted Seth, punching the air.

Renesmee just clapped with excitement. Both Edward and Jacob offered their congratulations.

"Please let me do your wedding!" squealed Alice.

Sue laughed. "We'll think about it."

"Yay!"

"This is seriously awesome, guys!" said Seth as he hugged his mother and shook Charlie's hand. He grinned at me. "You'll be my new step-sister, Bella!"

I hadn't thought of this and neither, apparently, had Leah.

"What?!" she shouted again, this time in anger. She started trembling violently.

"Leah! Calm down!" ordered Jacob, and Leah had no choice but to obey the leader of her pack.

She glared at me. "I don't care what my brother thinks, but you will never be my sister!"

I met her furious eyes and nodded once, accepting her words. It was really only to be expected. Even before the whole vampire/werewolf business we hadn't gotten along as well as we could have.

Edward growled quietly at the way Leah spoke to me, but I held him back with a gentle hand on his arm. It's okay, I thought to him.

"Relax, Edward!" exclaimed Alice, "We should be celebrating, not ripping each other to shreds!"

Jacob laughed loudly, lightening the mood. Who needed Jasper around when you had a werewolf with a sense of humour to brighten you up?

"So what now?" asked Jacob, "Bring out the champagne? Maybe a few bags of bl-"

"Balloons?" I interrupted him before he could say blood. Jake raised his eyebrows at me.

"Balloons?" chuckled Edward under his breath.

"It was the first thing I thought of!" I countered defensively.

Charlie looked at me, bemused. "Maybe not balloons, but champagne, certainly!"

"I'll go get some," offered Jacob, sliding Renesmee off his lap so he could stand.

"Try the top cupboard," suggested Charlie.

Jacob was back in thirty seconds, a bottle of champagne in his hand. He poured a glass each for Charlie and Sue. He held the bottle out towards the vampires.

"You know I prefer red," I joked.

He shrugged indifferently. "That is so not funny, Bells."

"Yeah, whatever."

Alice took an empty glass and raised it up high. "To Charlie and Sue!" she declared to the room.

We echoed her and the humans drank, smiling with embarrassment.

"Can I see the ring?" I asked Sue politely. She held her left hand out proudly to show the sparkling ring off. It was nothing next to the ring Edward gave me, but still very beautiful.

"Nice one, Dad," I commented, beaming at him.

"Ooh! It's so pretty!" squealed Alice, rushing forward to examine it. "You're so lucky, Sue!"

"Thanks," smiled Sue, blushing.

Alice wasn't done yet. "I'm taking you dress-shopping on Saturday! You've got nothing on then, except for a silly dentist's appointment, but I can easily reschedule that for you. Ooh! This is going to be so much fun!"

"Not so fast, Alice…" I began, glancing apologetically at Sue.

"Oh, it's okay, Bella, you're coming too. Right, Sue?"

"Of course!" agreed Sue at once, "We can find the bridesmaids dresses at the same time!"

Bridesmaids? "Um, who did you have in mind, Sue?" I asked carefully.

"I'm keeping it in the family, so Leah, Emily, and yourself would be perfect, if that's okay with you?"

"I'd love to!" I exclaimed, hugging her again. Leah looked even more disappointed in that we'd probably have to spend even more time together over the next few weeks.

"Back to the important business of shopping," interrupted Alice loudly.

"I don't know, Alice," began Sue, "We don't have to have the wedding immediately."

Alice gasped as though she'd been slapped.

"Uh oh," muttered Edward.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Alice, "Of course you should! What am I supposed to do for the next few months if I don't have a wedding to plan?"

"Really, Alice, you don't have to!" protested Sue.

Alice looked genuinely offended. "Saturday. Nine o'clock."