A/N: Ok, so I am no student of Italian, so I totally used google translator on this one, if it's wrong someone tell me the right one...Read. Enjoy. Review.

Trip Around the Sun

Chapter Nine: L'amore Fatale

I walked into homeroom on Friday and Alice was just about jumping up and down in her chair. The agonizing pain from Tuesday hadn't really gone away, it was simply duller and at least manageable now, well most of the time. There were occasions when I would see Alice or Jasper's eyes or some blonde guy from the back within those days that felt like years and I would be devastated once again. Luckily Alice and Jasper had been grounded, so I didn't have to worry about making up lame excuses not to be over there, but that didn't stop me from seeing Carlisle. I did on the nightly basis and I didn't know what was worse; the dreams where he was breaking my heart or the ones where we were happy and together. The first I woke up crying from and the second I woke up happy, but was quickly deduced to a puddle of tears upon realizing that it was a dream.

"Bella, guess what?" Alice said happily as she bounced, Jasper and I watching her amusedly.

"What?" I asked as I looked to Jasper for some hint, but he didn't do anything as he sat down behind me, so we were configured in a backwards 'L'.

"Dad ungrounded us last night," Alice said, as though all the words were one, but I still understood her, "He finally admitted that we were right!"

"I'm guessing that's good?" I said, masking the mixture of pain and confusion at the mention of Carlisle, though it was mixed with even more love, and I felt Jasper's hand fly to rest comfortingly on my shoulder.

"Sorry," He mumbled as he pulled it back and I gave him a quick look before turning back to Alice.

"It's very good," said Alice, continuing on, "You have to come over after school to hang out."

"I don't think so," I said after a minute to register what she had said.

"Oh C'mon," said Alice and I shook my head.

"I don't think it's a good idea, Alice," I said trying desperately to come up with a reason why, "You just got off grounding. Don't you think you should take your freedom a little more cautiously?"

"Bella," said Alice as if she were talking to someone a little slow, "We were only grounded for a few days. Honestly, dad absolutely loves you, I'm sure he won't object."

If only that was really the truth.

"No," I said shaking my head, "I told my dad I would hang out with Jake after school, down in La Push."

"Jasper," said Alice, looking over behind me, at him, pouting, "I think we've been replaced."

"Sure sounds like it," said Jasper, though his tone was more teasing than Alice's pouting.

"Guys seriously?" I said, "I see you two everyday, I never see Jacob."

"Yes," said Alice, "At school, we miss hanging out with you outside school."

"You two have only been grounded a few days," I reminded her, and she rolled her eyes.

"Bella," she whined, "C'mon."

"Please?" said Jasper from behind me, and that was what got me.

I had a weakness where my quiet friend was involved. If he asked me to do something, it was a shock, and whatever it was it was probably worth doing. He never asked for much and when he did I felt that I almost always felt as if I had to oblige. They were good at getting me to do stuff all ready, I just hoped they didn't go through an alcohol phase anytime soon.

"See?" said Alice, "Jasper wants you to come too. Please?"

"Fine," I said, disgruntled as I looked down at my desk.

The bell rang to go to first period, and I was already trying to figure out how I was going to avoid seeing him. I would be in his house, that I could take, as long as I didn't physically have to see him. They didn't keep family pictures around the house, so that was going to be fine. I just had to figure out how to get out of the house before Carlisle got home from work. He got home usually around four or five, so I could announce at three-thirty that I had to go spend a little time with Jake, and leave.

I the day, to my discomfort went by relatively quickly, and before I knew it I was walking out to the cars with Alice and Jasper. They hopped into their Porsche and I into my truck so I could follow them to the house. Even though I had been there so many times, I still wasn't sure that I would ever be able to find it by myself. They went quicker than usual though, but I found myself able to keep up with them though.

By the time we pulled up their driveway and the house was within my sights I wanted to shoot myself for ever thinking that this would be ok. I parked next to thri Porsche and lookd into my rearview mirror for a double take. There it was, Carlisle's shiny black Mercedes parked out in front of the house. I wanted to bolt, my escape plan wouldn't work if he was already here.

"You ok, Bella?" Jasper asked as he and Alice stopped outside my still closed door to the truck.

"Yeah," I said, snapping myself out of it as I hopped out, "Your dad's home?"

"Yeah," said Alice, as we started towards the house, my legs felt like they were made of lead, "He had the day off."

"Oh," I said, trying to seem unaffected, but secretly cursing my luck.

"Yeah," said Alice as we entered the house, "Dad! We're home! And we brought Bella!"

Yes, Alice, why don't we just scream it from the roof-tops: "We dragged that crazy girl who has a massive crush on you and kissed you in your study home with us!" Yeah, thanks. This was definitely my worst nightmare scenario going on right now.

"Be right down," called Carlisle's voice from somewhere upstairs, most likely his study.

"Bella," said Jasper, "Why don't you take a seat? I'll grab you something to drink if you would like."

"I'm fine," I said as I sat down on the couch.

"Get her some water, at least, Jazz," said Alice in a business like manner.

"Alice, what's going on?" I asked as she sat down next to me on the couch.

"What makes you say something's going on?" Alice said, and I rolled my eyes at her, "Ok, just… we have something to tell you… just hear us all out."

"All?" I asked and she nodded as Carlisle came walking in.

He was wearing a simple blue t-shirt and faded jeans. His hair was all everywhere, it looked like he had been running his hands through it all day. I felt the pain come back in large amounts as he walked over, smiling at me and sat down next to me as Jasper returned with a glass of ice water for me. Jasper set it down in front of me on the coffee table and then sat down on the couch across the coffee table from us. I had my back to Carlisle, subtly, and all I could see in my line of vision was Jasper and Alice.

"Bella," Carlisle said, he sounded weak, sad, "Please, look at me? I need to explain things to you. Please, just listen to me?"

"I'm listening," I said and Alice moved to sit next to Jasper on the opposing couch.

"Bella," said Carlisle, he sounded just as hurt as I felt, "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry, or you're sorry you hurt me?" I asked, turning around, not able to resist looking at him anymore.

"Both," He said, and I saw the sincerity in his eyes, "I've been a fool."

"You can say that again," said Alice irritated, reminding me of their presence.

"You told them?!" I said, as everything clicked, and I glared at Carlisle.

"No!" said Carlisle, not keeping his eyes off mine, returning my glare with sorrow, "I wouldn't do that to you, Bella."

"Then how do they know?" I asked as everything seemed to fall into place, "Why did you two make me come here if you knew?"

"Because, Bella," said Alice, "We knew how miserable both of you were, well Jasper really did. And Carlisle truly didn't tell us, he didn't have to."

"What?" I said, turning my torso to look at her.

"Bella," said Carlisle, calling for my attention, "Please, let me offer you an explanation."

"Go ahead," I said, utterly confused, "I'm all ears."

"Ok, Bella," He said, his eyes sparkling as he said my name, despite his concerned expression, "First off, Bella, we're vampires. But don't get scared, we only feed on animals. I was born sometime in the sixteen-forties, and was bitten when I was twenty three, my physical appearance has changed since then. Alice and Jasper found me about a hundred years ago, because they wanted to feed of only animals as well."

"What?" I said, the legends Jake had told me nearly a week ago coming back to me, "That's crazy."

"Oh is it?" Jasper asked, before just about disappearing, then appearing next to me on the couch a not a millisecond later, I couldn't speak, my mind was going into overdrive.

"Thank you, for that, Jasper," said Carlisle, he seemed a little annoyed, "Anyways, sometimes vampires have… special powers. Such as Jasper and Alice."

"I can see the future," said Alice as Jasper reappeared at her side, and I just looked at her like an idiot.

"I can sense emotions, and control them too," said Jasper, "Sorry about that this morning, you were just so sad."

"No problem," I said, and I must have looked shocked because he just chuckled as I turned to Carlisle, but Jasper's gift kind of made sense, "Do you have any special powers?"

"Compassion," said Carlisle shrugging, "Kind of unimpressive given the present company."

"Yeah," I said, trying to process everything at once, then finally deciding to just let go.

"Anyways," said Carlisle, "I owe you the largest apology that ever existed. I am so sorry, Bella, I would never hurt you on purpose. Jasper's gift is to mess with emotions. I thought, since these two knew that I felt deeply for you, that they were forcing you to feel like you were falling in love with me. It's a lame excuse, I know, but that's what I thought. And, believe me, I wanted you, I still want you, desperately, I just didn't want it to be like that."

"Understandable," I said, not sure of what else to say.

"Bella, I am in love with you," He said, looking deep into my eyes as my heart beat wildly, "Are you scared? You look…"

"I'm fine," I said, "Better than, just processing."

"Ok," said Carlisle.

"I know I am supposed to be afraid," I said, looking at Carlisle, "But I can't find it in me to be afraid of you. Or of Jasper or Alice either, I know that you could kill me, but you wouldn't."

"L'amore fatale!" Alice squealed, "I told you, Carlisle."

"What?" I asked, probably for the millionth time that hour.

"It something that happens to us," said Jasper helpfully, "It's Italian for fated Love. It's like the vampire version soul mate, but it's so much stronger. It, once you meet that person, if you are away from them for an extended period of time, it causes physical pain. You become quickly attached to them, and you would do just about anything for them. Alice saw that you would be Carlisle's, and we tried to help. I promise I didn't make you feel like you were in love with him, I simply tried to calm you down or give you a little confidence when needed. The calm for that erratic heartbeat of yours when a certain doctor is around you."

"You guys hear that?" I said, my face immediately turning beet red.

"Yes," said Carlisle, "All our senses are impossibly keen. Bella, don't worry, I find it adorable."

"Wait, I'm human," I said, as just about all the happiness left me, "I can't be your…whatever."

"Oh, but you can," said Alice, "You see the reason he wouldn't believe me in the first place he always figured because he's now almost four hundred, he missed his l'amore fatale a long time ago without realizing that he missed her. But isn't this great, he didn't."

"But I'm human," I reminded them, "You said this happens to vampires."

"I think you're a special case, Bella," said Alice, clearly she was the one that was on top of this one, "You see, my theory was proved the other day when I went to see you."

"Hey, I told you two not to bother her other than in school!" said Carlisle and Alice just smiled like she knew he wouldn't punish her.

"She, apparently, knew I was sad and she brought me soup," I said and he just smiled sweetly at me.

"Exhibit A," Alice concluded, "And exhibit B was you being in so much pain and still wanting him to be happy. Exhibit C would be how you two look at each other… all the time. And exhibit D would be the fact that you two are like a perfect match. Seriously you two are like text book."

"Well no arguing with that," said Jasper, "Your emotions line up even."

"Right," I said, looking back at Carlisle who seemed just innocently listening to the conversation, he seemed a little zoned out.

"Why don't we leave them alone," said Alice as she led Jasper out of the room.

"Did you catch any of that?" I asked Carlisle as I turned to him on the couch and he nodded.

"All of it," said Carlisle and I cocked my head to the side, "You know, that's very cute."

"You were totally zoned out," I said and he shook his head.

"I was absorbing," He said calmly and I nodded.

"Ok," I said, "So what do we do now?"

"Well," said Carlisle, taking a deep breath and exhaling loudly before looking at me loveingly, "I am in love with you, completely, I'd understand if you never even wanted to see me again. I was a jerk, and I don't think any apology would be enough. I hurt you, and I hurt me, but what bugs me is the fact that I was stupid, and I hurt you. Something I swore to myself that I would never do."

"It's ok," I said as I scooted over closer to him, my heart pounding, "I understand why you did it. You were being noble. A gentleman."

"An idiot," He said as I leaned into him and he wrapped an arm around me, "I'm sorry."

"What're we going to do about us?" I asked rephrasing the same question, how were we to proceed was the major thing on my mind.

"Well," said Carlisle again, "We have three options, we remain friends until you turn eighteen. Then we tell Charlie and you can decide if you want to become a vampire yourself and marry me, and spend eternity with me. Option two: We can date, now. Tell your father once you turn eighteen, so he doesn't send me to jail, and then proceed with option one. But when I say date, I really mean only date, Bella. Anything more than extreme make out sessions would have to wait until our wedding night. I'm old school. Option Three, you don't take me, you date other guys, I get extremely jealous, but I let you go because it's what you want."

"Ok, definitely not liking option three," I said as I felt his lips press to the top of my head.

"Good," he said, and he sounded relieved.

"Now, this option two," I said and he sighed.

"I'm sorry, I know you're from this new age where stuff like that is low on people's list-"

"Carlisle," I said, interrupting him, "I like that you're old school. But I just wanted to clarify that cuddling was ok."

"Definitely," He said, pulling me closer and nuzzling into my neck.

"You're so…stone," I said, trying to get comfy against his rock hard cold body.

"I'm sorry," He said, as he flipped me around and held me in his arms, like a baby.

"It's ok," I said reaching up and placing my hand against his forehead, "You're warm where it counts."

He smiled as he leaned down and kissed my forehead, using another hand to brush my hair out of my face.

"Bella?" He asked in a whisper, "May I kiss you?"

I didn't respond, I just lifted my head up and pressed my lips softly to his. He pulled away momentarily and smiled at me.

"Wait," I said and he stopped leaning in abruptly, looking at me for a second, confused, "You don't have actual fangs or anything, right?"

He chuckled once before lowering his lips back onto mine. He then gently placed a hand behind my head, and moved his other had down to my hip. I felt his cool tongue brush my lower lip and I opened to let him in. All my senses started to go into over drive as our tongues danced together and I soon found myself out of breath, but I didn't want to pull away. Though, he did and I breathed better, only slightly as he pressed his lips to my neck.

"Carlisle!" said Alice as if she were telling a dog to snap out of it, "C'mon, Jazz and I don't want to see that."

"Sorry," I said, turning bright pink.

"Don't apologize," said Carlisle, kissing my cheek, "I have to see them snogging all the time."

"Snogging?" I said with a light laugh.

"Did I mention I'm originally, and I mean originally, originally from London?" Carlisle said and I shook my head.

"So shall I be calling Charlie and telling him you're sleeping over?" said Alice as she and I nodded, "Or should I make something up about you hanging out with Jake all day and we needed some Bella time?"

"How did you-"

"I don't even have to be able to see the future to know when you're lying Bella," said Alice and I rolled my eyes.

"Now girls play nice," Jasper teased as Carlisle left another kiss on my temple.

I peeled myself away from Carlisle a few moments later to call dad and tell him that I would be staying at Alice's. I then return and cuddled with Carlisle on the couch, requesting to know more about him. He told me all about his human life, and up until his present state of being.

"Wait," I said, when I was half asleep and he started to mention me, "Your telling me, that you are a vampire who has never even tasted human blood?"

"Correct," He said, "I was tempted three times, for changing purposes only, to save their lives, but I just couldn't bring myself to doom another life to this."

"What about me?" I asked, "I want to be like you and Jazz and Alice. I don't wanna leave you."

"Bella, I would really rather not change you," He said, looking me in the eye, "My choice would be to just live with you somewhere private until you pass. I would much rather that course of action, but Bella, I don't think I could deny it to you if you truly wanted it. So, I am going to tell you know. I am going to make you ask me three times before I do, that one didn't count. Three times, and I've got to know you mean it."

"Ok," I said, it seemed fair, and if I could plan this right, we could both end up twenty three together and I yawned.

"Sleep and rest well, my love," said Carlisle as I put my head on his chest and drifted off to sleep.