Quick Author's Note: Wow... I log onto my e-mail and see all the wonderful reviews, adds, favorite(s), etc.
It really, really blew me away. Thank you guys so much, you have no idea how much your kind words
mean to me. They make me day :) Thanks again, Elizabeth.
Disclaimer: To my own disbelief and pure greediness, I sadly don't own Twilight/New Moon characters, Miss Stephenie Meyer does.
He kept coming towards me, I started to lean down to reach my shoes, maybe if it was a person with the wrong mind-set, I'd have a chance at running, maybe screaming. I knew Edward or at least Alice would know.
"Bella?" the stranger's voice said with a musical note.
I squinted to try to look at the stranger; then I finally recognized his face…
"Ian…?" I asked in a hushed whisper.
"Yes, its Ian, what are you doing out here…?" He looked around.
I looked around again, "Uh," I paused…" Just talking a walk, clearing my head." I said.
"Hm," he said, "And do you do this often, in front of the uh… Cullen household?" he looked suspicious.
Before I could answer, he interrupted, "Ah Carlisle, Edward it's wonderful to see you two again."
I turned around, seeing Edward and Carlisle there, Alice, Esme, Jasper, and Emmett behind them. Rosalie wasn't there though.
I looked back at Ian, who was smiling with golden eyes.
"Ian Van Dell good to see you as well." Carlisle answered, "Like before, my family, my wife Esme, and children Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Edward, as you already know. Rosalie is inside."
I breathing became uneasy, my chest rising up and down; I saw Edward's eyes move to me as I was in the middle.
I wasn't worried, I knew the golden eyes meant he was a 'vegetarian', but the Cullen's were still protective, something I'd never grow to understand.
Carlisle paused, "And this is…" he moved his arm towards me…
"Bella Swan, yes we've met before, "Ian answered, my face must have been tattooed with worry, my breathing still uneasy.
Edward's lips were together, he was thinking, Carlisle was patient, eyes following Ian.
"Yes and how did you two… meet, exactly?" Carlisle looked at Ian, then at me.
Edward answered as I breathed in, "Apparently Ian was the one that Bella was taking the witness statement for…" I heard a rumble in Edward's chest, did he also see that Ian and I had gotten together that morning and talked?
Ian smiled, "Yes, so intriguing you are Miss Swan, I forgot that you mentioned you knew the Cullen's, a family friend I suppose?" Ian looked over to Carlisle and Edward.
Carlisle nodded, "Yes, well we can talk history inside, shall we?" Esme, Emmett, Jasper and Carlisle ran off, Ian looked surprised that they had just run in front of me, a mere human.
I looked over at him, Edward and Alice just glared at me, "Uh well…" I said.
Edward breathed out, "Ian, Bella knows what we all are, there are no surprises to her."
Ian nodded his head, "I see, well then…and Bella, did you know that before you met me?" he looked at me.
I smiled, "Well, not before, but I could see it in your eyes when I first met you." He smiled again.
I heard a rumble in Edward's chest, "Please Ian, stop thinking that way…" He hissed.
"Please forgive me Edward; I forgot you could read others' thoughts." He winked at me.
I felt like I was in the middle, Alice just staring at me.
"Well shall we?" Ian faced the house, and looked at me.
"Oh there's no need Ian, I'll take her." Edward interjected.
I rolled my eyes, Alice came to the rescue. "No need boys," she spat, "I'll take her."
Alice held her arms out for me and I looked at her, Edward and Ian had already left, it was just Alice and I.
I shook my head, "It's a good thing nothing feels heavy to you, because I've gained quite a bit of weight." I smiled as she picked me up, she smiled as well.
"Ha! Yes well Bella you still feel like a feather to me!" I rolled my eyes as I closed my eyes; I felt the wind fly my hair back.
The next thing I know I was in the Cullen's living room, TV off, everyone either standing up or sitting; Ian was sitting down.
I went and sat down on the loveseat opposite of Ian, no one was sitting on it. I felt like standing, but my heels were killing me, I limped over… hopefully no one noticed.
"So may I ask how Miss Swan came to learn this… this fact?" Ian finally asked.
Edward looked up at me, guilt was in his eyes, I breathed in and out, Carlisle answered in the distance, but I was still holding his gaze.
"Well Ian, if you must know, Edward and Bella were in a… relationship a few years back. We ran into a few problems of ourselves, and she discovered our secret, though she's had more of her fair share with vampires." Carlisle said, "We left but came back, and now I'm Bella's doctor." He smiled.
I stopped looking at Edward and looked to Carlisle, smiling back.
"I see, "Ian said, "yet Bella married another man and has three children?" he asked.
I could tell Edward was reading his mind, "Its complicated Ian, please don't bother asking."
Ian nodded, "Hm, yes well." He breathed in.
Carlisle interrupted, "Ian, may I ask why you were here in the first place?"
Immediately after I heard a growl coming from Edward's chest, it startled me.
"Ian," Edward hissed, he tightened his hands, his veins popping out.
"Edward, I had no idea, you must give credit to a man, and keep your mind out of other's thoughts." Ian stated calmly back.
"I'd love to Ian, but there is no 'turn off' switch, as much as I'd love there to be one." Edward stated back, like a fact.
Alice interrupted, "And I'd love to understand what the meaning of all of this is Edward."
Edward grumbled, "Ian came here to ask me how it was, controlling a human relationship, for so long, because he was interested in a human, in a form other than thirst…" Edward darted his eyes toward the guilty looking Ian.
Alice looked stern, "You mean Bella, Mr. Van Dell? You were interested in Bella?" she asked.
Ian looked at me, I looked away, "Yes, I was interested in Miss Swan, and I recalled Edward here being in a human relationship, controlling matters, I had no idea Bella was the same woman we were dealing with." He sighed, "But as defensive as Edward is, I can see that won't be possible, the man is obviously still in love with Miss Swan." He looked again at me; I turned my head to look at him, too.
I looked at Edward, his lips were tight, a questioning look on his face.
I saw his eyes look toward Carlisle; he must have been speaking to Edward. Edward loosened his grip then nodded, looking down after that.
I already knew what Carlisle had asked; no words could have replaced that.
I could imagine the conversation, "Edward, is that true, do you love Bella?"
He was frustrated, I could tell, but he was. He was still in love with me. A question I hadn't bothered to think to ask him, one that could have made a difference…
Yet, he nodded, he was in love with me, a fact I didn't realize or know. How stupid of me.
At that moment, all heads turned up the stairs, at the top was Mason, scratching his eyes.
He looked at me, and I smiled, getting up from the couch. He started down the stairs, everyone watched. I couldn't walk as fast as he could, he ran and hugged my legs, I bent down and kissed the top of his head, everyone stared.
"Mommy, who's that?" He whispered to me.
I looked up to meet Ian's gaze, "That is Mr. Van Dell, Mason. But there's no matter, you need to get back to bed, ok?" He looked up into my eyes as I gave him a warm smile.
"Oh." He said as he yawned. "Mommy can you carry me?" He asked.
I hesitated; I really couldn't carry him, especially in these death traps.
Edward walked over, getting down on one knee to Mason.
"Would you like me to carry you Mason?" He asked with a crooked smile.
He nodded his head 'yes'. Edward picked him up and looked at me, "Shall we?" He asked.
I walked towards the stairs, heading up, as Edward carrying Mason followed. When I got to the top, I let Edward and Mason pass, Mason's head was on Edward's shoulder, I smiled at Mason as I walked behind them.
We got to the door and Edward opened it, walking to the bed, and tucking Mason in. His eyes fell back asleep as soon as Edward rubbed his cheek, the way he use to with me. I smiled as I watched from in between the couch and bed.
Edward looked up at me, the bed in between us.
I shied my eyes away, "What are they saying downstairs?" I whispered.
He sighed, "Ian is saying how we… we look like a family." I looked up to see Edward staring at me.
"Oh I…" I stopped, yawning.
He smiled, "Maybe you should get some sleep as well Bella."
I shook my head, "No, I'm fine, really."
He sighed, "Don't be difficult, you've slept on the couch before." He said.
"Yes I have, but I'm not tired, really." I yawned again, he wasn't buying it.
He walked over towards me, "Really? You aren't tired?" He whispered. Somehow he had taken off my shoes, something that amazed me.
I looked down, "How did you…?" I whispered, amazed…
"No matter," he paused, and then pushed me down on the couch with a force.
"Pushy," I retaliated, whispered.
He smiled, "I've been known to be pushy, yes. Now sleep, I know you're tired."
I let my eyes wander, and then rolled my eyes. "Fine, but in the morning, I'll have a strong, very strong word for you."
I was still sitting, not laying down, Edward's face a few mere inches from mine, his finger brushing my cheek, "I'll be waiting." He smiled and breathed into my mouth, I could feel his icy breath as he dazzled me… He smiled, as he probably heard my heart beat, and then pulled away, moving quickly as he left, cracking the door.
Author's Note: Well, thanks again guys, it really means a lot to me :)
Now that this story is over... I've been so hooked to it, I... I just can't believe it.
But now I have my own mind wrapped around another story, so hopefully
that can take place someday, very, very soon. Hopefully you can all enjoy that one as well.
As I said, I'm working on my FAQ, so that will be up after this story it done.
The final chapter count... well, you'll have to wait and see. Not that many more though,
then I can mark this complete :)
PS: Don't worry, I'm still posting chapters...ha!
Till Then, Elizabeth
