Disclaimer: Not mine
A/N: So I apologize for my total fail in replying to reviews this week. I will get to them, not to worry. Thank you all for taking the time to review! I will be re-posting chapters 1 and 2 soon since Dalloway5906 had never gotten her hands on them. The edits, oh the edits. I was embarrassed to have even posted them!
BPOV
This was heaven, pure and simple. I had a naked, breathtakingly handsome eternal being wrapped around me while we lay bathed in the sunlight that managed to break through the canopy of leaves above us. The wind danced across the bare skin of my hip, bringing with it the strong scent of cotton candy and mint… Emmett. I pushed Edward off of me, forgetting my increased strength and sending him flying into a nearby tree. I heard his laughter as I scrambled to find what remained of my clothing so I could cover myself from my brother's prying eyes.
"He is still about three miles away Bella. We have some time." He teased as he brushed bark and dirt off of his chest. I was still getting used to seeing him with my new vampire eyes, and found myself unable to tear my gaze from his body. There was a fine dusting of sawdust covering the red-blond hair on his legs. I had never thought that leg hair could be so…arousing, but then again if Edward had been able to blow his nose I am sure I would find my panties damp after watching that too. If I had ever doubted the depth of my attachment and devotion to Edward before, there was no way to deny those feelings now. I could feel my entire being intertwined with his now. Our lives were like the opposite sides of a coin, different but joined together for eternity. What scared me about that thought was that if one side of the coin was destroyed, the other would have no choice but to follow. We had managed to get away from the Volturi, but if Aro was right, Maria and her army of unpredictable newborn vampires were still headed this way. I had no idea if our family was one of their targets.
I tossed the depressing thoughts aside as Edward sauntered over to me, his iridescent skin throwing crystal-like reflections on the ground and trees. The corner of his mouth pulled up in a smirk his nostrils flaring as he noticed the all too obvious scent of my body's reaction to him. I attempted to outmaneuver him by feigning one way while going the other, but my foot got caught on a rock and I went tumbling into the dirt. I could feel the illusion of a blush covering my entire body as I heard the booming laughter emerging from the trees behind me.
"How is it possible that you are still just as clumsy as you were before you were a vamp?" Emmett chuckled as he came barreling through the trees.
This was one time when I was glad Edward was as possessive and jealous as he was, because he had me covered by his torn shirt before Emmett had been able to get a glimpse of me. A deep growl from Edward's chest informed me that Edward had not been as fast as he hoped, and Emmett was replaying his thoughts to him. I picked up a rock from the ground and lobbed it at Emmett's head.
"Cut it out you ass, you know he hates it when you do that!" I reprimanded.
Emmett snapped his feet together and stood up straight, mocking me with a salute. "Ma'am, yes ma'am."
"You know for someone who has flown through nearly every Ivy League University in the country, you sure are an idiot." I said as I got to my feet, adjusting the shirt to minimize boob-peekage.
"Don't forget about Oxford Bella. That is where I got my Doctorate in Sociology. Remember that Edward? You all bet me I couldn't finish without cheating. But I did!" Emmett preened.
"Yes, I remember Emmett. The lot of us had to wash your monstrosity of a car with toothbrushes. I really don't know how you come up with some of these punishments." Edward said as he casually located his magically unharmed boxers and pants. I will never get over how relaxed they all are about being naked around each other. I don't know if that is a boy thing or a vampire thing. Although it could be that Edward had gotten so many glimpses of his family members naked through their thoughts, it did not bother them anymore. I could not imagine that I would ever be that free.
Emmett broke free from reminiscing and turned towards me, his face serious. "Your Dad is starting to come around. We need to decide what we are going to tell him."
I sighed as I ran my hands through my hair, pulling leaves and twigs out with the tangles. I extended my hand to Edward, and we started to run, following after Emmett. I wish I could say that I had been thinking about how to deal with Charlie, but every inch of my new and improved brain had been focused on Edward since we had escaped. I was still unsure as to what he remembered, and was hesitant to share too much information, just to protect him. Edward slowed as we approached a clearing in the trees, a large house visible beyond the foliage.
"Are you going to be ok? We can go back out and hunt some more." He asked, reaching up to pull some more leaves out of my hair.
"I think I'll be fine Edward. If it starts too get hard, I'll give you a signal." I said.
"Can I give you a signal if things get too hard for me?" He smirked. I cocked my head to the side, trying to understand his meaning. He had decades to overcome his bloodlust… oh. Now I understand. I reached up and tweaked his nipple, making him squeak.
"Don't be rude. I expected better from you. That sounds like something Emmett would say." I scolded.
"It was something Emmett said. I just said it out loud." He said shyly as he ducked his head. Oh how I like shy Edward.
I pulled him up the stairs and into a large formal living room. There were huge windows covering two walls, making the room feel as if it were being invaded by the green world beyond the glass. The rest of the walls were painted a deep red with bright white trim. Alice, Jasper and Carlisle were all sitting in overstuffed leather couches. I hesitated in the doorway, remembering my inadequate attire. Alice chose that moment to jump from her spot on the couch and drag me from the room. She was suspiciously silent as she pulled me up the stairs and into a room at the end of a long hallway. I could tell immediately that this room was the one that Edward and I would share. There were floor to ceiling bookcases, filled to overflowing with CDs and books. A huge bed sat against one wall, covered in a shimmery gold comforter. Through an open door I could see the attached bathroom had a large shower, perfect for the types of water sports I was hoping to tempt Edward with later.
Alice was standing in front of a set of double doors, vibrating with excitement. I knew what was hiding behind those doors. I had never gotten to make use of the new clothes Alice and I had purchased before I was kidnapped, and I was sure that was what she wanted to show me. She threw open the doors with a flourish and motioned me inside. I had to admit, it was a really great closet. Everything had its own place and I could see she made it really easy for me to dress myself without looking like a bag lady. I gave her free reign to dress me, and I was incased in tight black pants, a gauzy red shirt and sky high red heels. She was throwing around designer's names like it would make a difference to me if I was wearing Christian Louboutin shoes. It felt like a tornado was attacking my head as she brushed and teased my hair into a style she approved of. I was finally released back downstairs after getting the Alice seal of approval. Edward joined me at the bottom of the stairs, now freshly showered and wearing a white button down shirt and charcoal grey pants. I laughed as I saw his feet were covered by black Adidas sneakers. How Alice ever let him wear them was beyond me.
My father was slumped over in a chair in the dinning room, his hand wrapped around a cup of coffee. I could smell each kind of bean that made up that specific blend and would even be able to tell you what country they were from. I could also smell the mouthwatering fragrance of the honey that was running through my Father's veins. Honey was a correct description for it, it was sweet and pungent. I instantly held my breath and reached behind me for the ever present solace I would find in Edward. He held my hand tightly and whispered encouragement into my ear. I turned my head and took one last pain free breath before I went to stand next to my father.
"Dad?" I whispered.
His head snapped up at the somewhat familiar sound of my voice. He stared at my face, no doubt noticing the crimson eyes and unearthly pale skin. His gaze moved to the person standing behind me, his face morphing into a mask of rage.
"What the fuck have you done to my daughter?" He demanded in a pained whisper. Edward moved to answer, but I turned and placed my hand over his open mouth. I pleaded with my eyes, asking him for patience and privacy to speak to my father. I knew he was looking at the differences in my appearance, and comparing them to the monsters who had abducted him. Edward nodded and moved to the doorway, giving me one final look before leaving me and my father alone. I turned back to the first man I ever loved and was horrified to see silent tears trailing down his cheeks. Charlie Swan was not an emotional man, he was steadfast and unwavering. I bit my lip and clenched my hands behind my back. I wanted nothing more than to go and comfort him, but I knew my control was not that strong. Just the blush that was now covering his cheeks in the wake of his outburst was trying the fragile hold I had on my bloodlust.
I took a steadying and painful breath and took a step closer. Charlie quickly wiped his cheeks of the traitor tears, and cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry Dad. I never wanted you to be dragged into this." I said, my hands moving in a sweeping motion, as if they could encompass all of the fuckery that had happened in the past few days.
"No apologies Bells, I just want some answers. One minute I am on a routine traffic stop and the next I am face to face with the kind of horrors they make really bad movies out of. I just want to understand what is happening." He said, his eyes searching my face for the answers I couldn't give him. The less he knew, the safer he would be.
"Can't I just tell you it was all a bad dream?" I ask, unable to keep the pleading tone from entering my voice.
"Isabella Marie, I want some explanations and I want them now." He demanded, his cop voice coming out.
Inside I cringed at the use of my full name, knowing that he was bringing out the big guns. Outside though, I was able to keep myself calm and think of some way to get out of it. I got distracted when my vampire hearing picked up a conversation from the other room involving Jasper and Carlisle. I think they were trying to give me some hints as to how to deal with Charlie.
"If she were just to let us drug him, we may be able to get him back home without having to disclose any information." Jasper said.
"No. He would never believe this was a dream. Even if it did work, he would end up so shaken that he would demand to see Bella, and then we would still have the same problem." Carlisle said.
"Well, why does she just tell him she got some weird disease that turns her pale and makes the blood vessels in her eyes burst? Then we say that as the disease progresses it turns the victims into insane monsters and that is what he saw in Volterra." Jasper tried.
"There is no such disease." Doctor Carlisle said, unable to keep his vast knowledge of medicine to himself.
"Carlisle please, I know that and you know that, but he will not know that. There is no way she can tell him the truth. The more humans that know about us, the greater the chance they will get hurt when Maria and her troops make their way up from the south." Jasper huffed.
I realized that Jasper was right. There was no way I would be able to tell Charlie the truth. So I told him a lie, and I am a horrible liar.
"Well Charlie, I mean Dad, after I was injured Carlisle and his family took me to Mexico to try some new medical procedure to heal my arm faster. It worked, but while we were down there I contracted um…. Aro's disease, which is an infection that affects the eyes and skin. As the disease progresses, it makes you go insane, which is what you saw happen to the people at that house. It was a holding facility for people with Aro's disease."
His face fell and I could tell he believed me so far. I felt bad for lying to him, but I was going to do anything to keep him safe. "Is there a cure?" He asked.
"No. There is a treatment, but I would have to be isolated for six months for it to work." I said, coming up with the perfect excuse to go missing. If anything happened to me, they would just have to tell him the treatment did not work. He was totally buying it!
"Where will you go for the treatment?" He asked. I drew a blank. The only place I could think of was Narnia. Shit that was not going to work. Think Bella, think. A whisper from the other room gave me my answer.
"Switzerland. There is a doctor there that has been working on an experimental treatment for a few years. They think it may be my only hope." I said, reaching up to wipe a non-existent tear from my eye. Good thing us Swans were not emotional people, Charlie just looked away, not knowing what to do with an emotional female.
"So is Dr. Cullen going to take you to Switzerland?" He asked.
"No, I think his son Edward will take me." I said quietly, unable to keep the love from spilling out as his name left my mouth.
"And this Edward, was he the one in here before looking at you like you were something to eat?" He demanded. I could not hold in the laughter as Charlie hit the nail right on the head.
"Yes Dad that was Edward. He loves me and I love him." I said. I could hear his sigh from the next room.
"Well, I think you should bring him back in here and introduce him officially." He said gruffly as he slowly got to his feet. Edward was in the doorway instantly, his hand extended to Charlie.
"Pleasure to meet you Chief Swan. Bella has told me a lot about you." Edward said as Charlie roughly shook Edward's hand. I could tell Charlie was exerting some serious pressure on his hand, and was thankful when Edward feigned a wince, as they released hands.
"Edward, I want you to know I am trusting you with my most precious possession. You treat her well and we will get along fine." Charlie said in his best no-nonsense voice.
Edward looked over at me, pulling me into his chest. "Yes sir."
A/N: So sweet. Had to get Charlie out of the way. More fun stuff to come in the next few chapters! See you Sunday!