Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
A/N: Sorry for the delay. There was a death in my husband's family recently and I didn't have the time to update my story. Here's an extra long chapter, though. It's MUCH longer than the others. I was going to break it up into 2 or 3 separate chapters but it didn't feel right breaking it up. It flows better as one. Hope you enjoy. There should be about 2 more chapters after this one and then the epilogue, or maybe three more chapters and no epilogue. I haven't decided which way I'll go yet. :D
Thank you, as always, to icrodriguez. She's AMAZING!
Chapter 6 - Soul Mates
Edward entered his house with his arm firmly around Bella's waist. She was still rather nervous and Edward hoped the contact would ease any worries she had. He could feel her apprehension and it was beginning to make him a bit nervous as well. He knew Bella didn't think they would be any better off going to his family with her predicament, but she was willing to give Edward the benefit of the doubt. She seemed to have reconciled herself to the fact that there was no hope for her at all and this upset him.
Edward wasn't a fool. This was a strange situation he found himself in and he had no idea how things were going to end. He knew his family wouldn't even be able to see Bella, but he hoped that perhaps they could hear her like he could. He was willing to try anything. He would leave no stone unturned.
But what if they couldn't hear her? Would he be the only one who could make any kind of contact with her? If so, then why? Could all this be fixed in some way? Did his connection to Bella mean something? More importantly, did it mean what he hoped it meant?
Edward let the door close softly behind them as he looked for his family. To a human, the house would seem quiet. Empty even. But as Edward listened, he could hear the turning of pages in Carlisle's study, his father no doubt reading another medical text. Esme was dusting one of his bookshelves, quietly humming a tune, while the usual bickering of Rose and Emmett could be heard from their room at the far end of the second floor. Pieces of the chess board located on the other side of the house were being moved by Alice and Jasper, the felt on the bottoms of the pieces gliding smoothly across the marble surface.
Alice would win. She always did.
"Edward's here now," Alice said softly to Jasper in the other room. Their chairs scraped against the wood floor as they rose from their seats and padded to the front of the house.
Edward knew that she would most likely have warned the family of his impending arrival with a guest, but was unsure as to how much she would have seen of their time together. From her difficulty at seeing any of Bella's future at school today, he doubted she would know what was going on or about anything of what he had learned.
"Mom, Dad, Rose, Emmett?" Edward said, his voice never rising. "I have someone I would like you to meet."
At his words, Bella sunk further into Edward's side as he tightened his hold on her to quell her nerves. "Everything will be alright," he assured her, leading her into the adjacent room.
He heard the faint sound of her heartbeat picking up in time with her rising anxiety. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Just relax, Bella. I'll be right by your side the entire time." It seemed to do the trick because the tension in her body eased immensely and she let out a soft sigh. He kissed her hair and took her hand in his.
The rest of the Cullens strode into the living room just seconds later, all dong their best to move at human speed. Edward stood by the window, smiling timidly at all of them, fearing their reactions. They stood in the center of the room, their eyes only on Edward. He could already tell from their thoughts that they saw no one else but him. But as their noses twitched imperceptibly, picking up Bella's scent, a tiny spark of hope erupted inside Edward. He was well aware that their ability to pick up on Bella's scent could be chalked up to their keen senses, but he kept an optimistic outlook that it might mean they'd be able to touch her as well.
Who does he want us to meet? Carlisle thought in confusion. His eyes scanned the room, picking up no other living soul, even though his other senses told him there most definitely was another person with them somewhere.
"You can't see her either, can you?" Though Edward already knew this, he couldn't help but feel slightly defeated. Of course they wouldn't have been able to see her. He couldn't, why would they? It was foolish of him to hope otherwise.
"See who?" Rosalie asked, looking around.
Her eyes danced suspiciously over the length of the room until finally landing on Edward. She eyed his hand where it dangled at his side. The way he held it was odd to her, as if his hand were holding something in his own, cupping it gently. It was peculiar. And it wasn't just her thoughts focused on Edward's odd behavior.
"I don't see anyone," Emmett said. But I smell someone, he thought to his brother.What's going on, Eddie?
"Okay, well, we were prepared for this," Edward said, watching Jasper from the corner of his eye. Edward was sure Bella's smell would affect him the most. He was the newest to their lifestyle, and if her blood drove Edward mad the moment he smelt it, it would be agonizing for Jasper.
Edward could easily see that Jasper was already getting worked up. He could tell from his brother's mind the moment he picked up on her scent, and it was the instant he and Bella had come into the house, but it was more powerful to Jasper now that he was in the same room with it. It had overwhelmed him immediately upon entering the den, dazing him for a brief moment as the scent washed over him. He had since been trying his best to fight his urges, but it was obvious that Bella's aroma was becoming too much for him.
He could see the slight darkening of Jasper's eyes as he continued to breathe in the scent wafting throughout the room. Though Bella's smell barely whispered to Edward now, he knew that his brother would not be so lucky when it came to control. Not only was her scent strong and intoxicating, but not knowing where it was coming from was making it twice as difficult for him to reign in the need to feed off the source.
"Jasper, please calm down," Edward said desperately. "I haven't told Bella about us yet."
Edward's instinct to protect Bella had him bracing his arm in front of her and pulling her behind him. He didn't want to risk leaving Bella unguarded on the off chance that Jasper threw their moral code to the wind and began tearing the place apart in order to locate the origin of the smell. He didn't want her finding out what he was by way of Jasper losing control.
What is he doing? Carlisle thought as he watched his son take a protective stance like he was guarding someone.
Esme watched the peculiar movements of her son and cast him a worried gaze, but his eyes were focused on Jasper, who at the current moment was looking pained and conflicted. She knew it must have been the smell permeating the air that was causing this reaction. They had all detected it the moment Edward arrived home and everyone was curious as to the source. No one knew where it was coming from and they had hoped he would enlighten them.
Edward's actions had startled his family and they were all wondering curiously what he was doing. His arm swept slowly behind him as he eyed Jasper with caution, as if he were brushing something behind him, protecting something even. He was hunched slightly, his shoulders up, his body tense as he watched Jasper.
Bella was startled by Edward's sudden movements. She watched from around him as he eyed the blonde standing across from them. Her fingers wrapped around Edward's arms where she could feel the muscles move under his hard skin, see them twist and turn beneath his shirt. His entire body was on edge, coiled and ready to spring into action at any moment. She knew she should have been frightened, he was clearly trying to defend her from something he perceived to be a threat to her safety, but she couldn't help but be a little thrilled by his protectiveness.
Edward's strange comment startled Jasper and he looked at him sharply, forgetting for a moment the tantalizing smell that was Bella Swan.
"Who's Bella?" he asked warily. "Is she here?" He looked to Alice for an answer. His wife shrugged as a tiny smile graced her face. She didn't know much, but she knew enough to expect the unexpected.
Edward nodded his affirmation. "She is here. I brought her here because she needs our help."
Alice smiled and stepped closer to Edward, her eyes twinkling with excitement and pure curiosity. "Is Bella the person you were looking for earlier today?" she asked. Her entire body practically vibrated with anticipation.
Edward smiled warmly as he took Bella's hand in his, bringing her back to his side. "Yes. Her name is Bella Swan."
"I'm sorry," Esme interrupted, her voice soft, her finger raised in question. His mother stepped forward, her brow scrunched in confusion as she gazed at his hand and then back to him. "But who is Bella and where is she?" She glanced around the room, finding no one but the family. "Clearly we can smell someone, Edward, but we don't see anyone."
Bella was baffled. They could smell her? Bella quietly lifted her arm and smelled herself. She had taken a shower this morning. Surely her stench couldn't be that bad. Her clothe were clean too. After taking a small whiff of her shirt, Bella shrugged to herself, satisfied that she didn't smell. What in the world were they talking about?
She looked at Edward's family, taking the time to gaze at each one of them. She knew they were different, any fool could tell really, but had Bella not been able to spend all her time watching them completely unnoticed at school today, she wasn't sure she would have been able to pick up on the family's oddities as quickly as she did.
Their beauty, the strange grace with which they walked, their alluring voices; these things were all abnormal is so many ways. Everything about them was overly appealing and engaging, more so than anyone she had ever seen before, but it didn't seem to Bella that these were things that should be so concerning to her.
And they weren't. What had piqued Bella's curiosity the most was the hard texture of Edward's skin, the coolness of it like ice. It wasn't unpleasant, mind you, far from it in fact. But it wasn't normal. Neither was the shade of their eyes. She had never seen a color like it before. And the fact they didn't eat was alarming to her as well. But then again, Bella didn't eat either.
But they could smell her. How was that possible? What were they that allowed them to pick up on her scent? Bella remembered the fear in Edward's eyes whenever she mentioned the peculiarities of him and his family. The way he spoke of the rules that wouldn't allow him to get close to her. Whatever they were, he clearly expected her to be afraid of him. Why wasn't she then?
"Edward." Bella's gentle voice pulled all of Edward's attention to her. He gazed down at her. "This is going to freak them out." Even if they were different, her situation had to be worse.
He shook his head at her and smiled affectionately. Edward's eyes scanned the space where he knew she stood. "No it won't, love," he assured her, bringing her hand to his lips and kissing it tenderly. The endearment slipped out again of its own accord, like the word had a mind of its own, but Edward couldn't really bring himself to feel ashamed at the moment. He liked how it felt saying it.
There were a few noticeable gasps throughout the room, mostly from the women. No one had ever heard Edward refer to anyone in such a way. To say it was odd would have been putting it lightly. Not to mention their reactions to him nuzzling his face against Bella's hand. To them, it looked like he was interacting with no one, and this was something that was causing them the most unease.
But even if there was no one there for his family to see, they were still elated by the affection Edward seemed to be showing. Edward never so much as exhibited even the fleeting bit of interest in someone in all the years he had been in the family, so for them to hear him speak, to interact with someone in the way that he did, it was simply mind-boggling. They didn't know whether to be overjoyed or worried.
Bella blushed, relishing in the tender gesture, the caring affection he showed her. Her eyes flashed to his family and the concerned looks they were giving Edward had her feeling anxious. She cleared her throat awkwardly and looked up into Edward's eyes.
"Edward, what did your mother mean when she said she could smell me?" she asked uncomfortably. She was hoping to at least get an answer on this matter, since his family had raised the issue. He couldn't just expect to discuss things in front of her without any explanation, especially when they were searching for a solution to her problem.
Edward swallowed and licked his lips nervously. His smile was tense and awkward. "I'm afraid that's just another thing to add to the list." He laughed, but the sound was forced. "Like I said, all will be explained in time."
"Who are you talking to?" Carlisle interrupted, his eyes holding uncertainty as he looked to his son. "Edward, what's going on?"
Edward could sense the confusion that was rolling off his family, aside from Alice. She did not have any more insight into the situation than the rest of the family, but she knew that whatever her bother had to say was going to be extraordinary and truly amazing. He didn't need Jasper's ability to know that everyone was at the tipping point.
A tiny gasp suddenly left Alice, her hand flying to her lips as she stared wide-eyed at her brother. "Edward, you're not serious."
Everyone looked to her in surprise, their eyes meeting Edward's with her question. Edward nodded, shocked that she had managed to see anything at all. Reading her mind before she could even speak her thoughts he said, "Yes, Alice. Bella is invisible." He struggled to say the word. It sounded absurd and utterly silly rolling off his tongue, but there was no other way to describe her fate. That is what she was; invisible.
Everyone was stunned into silence, each member of the family looking at each other and then back to Edward. They kept replaying his words over and over in their minds, Bella is invisible. Bella is invisible. But no one was able to form a rational enough thought to speak.
Emmet addressed Edward with his mind. Dude, who the hell is Bella? Emmett's curious gaze was pinned on Edward. Edward held up his hand to his brother, indicating that he would answer his question in time.
Edward knew the notion was laughable. He knew it would be difficult convincing his family that Bella was invisible. He didn't fool himself into believing that this would be any easy task.
"Alright, joke's over, Edward," Rose said aggravated. "What's really going on?" She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, not in the mood for jokes. She was never in the mood for jokes.
Edward held her gaze firmly. "I wish it were a joke, Rosalie, but I'm afraid it's the truth."
"You can't be serious," Emmett laughed, his large body shaking with his convulsions. But once he saw the look of horror on Alice's face, and Edward's stony expression, he fell silent. "You are serious. This girl, whoever she is, is really invisible?"
Edward nodded despondently. "Can anyone hear her?" he asked, a small surge of hope rising within him. He knew it was a shot in the dark, but he needed to know.
They all looked at each other and then shrugged. "Is she speaking?" Jasper asked hesitantly, looking at Edward guardedly.
"No. Just a moment." Edward held up a finger as he turned his gaze in Bella's direction, wishing desperately he could see her. How he longed to see her at that moment.
"Bella, would you say something?"
She clutched at his arm like a lifeline and took in a breath. "Hello?" She couldn't think of anything else to say. Did he want a monologue, maybe recite some Shakespeare?
Edward turned to his family expectantly. "Did you hear her?" he asked again.
They all shook their heads, looking at Edward as if he were crazy. He could tell they didn't believe him. Who would?
"Edward." His father spoke gently, as if he were addressing a rabid dog. "You can hear her?" He stepped closer to his son, his thoughts disbelieving that he was somehow in contact with a girl who could not be seen, but his common sense telling him he had never known his son to be a liar.
"Yes. And I don't know why I'm the only one who can." Edward felt his shoulders fall in defeat. They were getting nowhere, and everyone thought he was insane. Even Carlisle, the man he had come to think of as a father, the man who had changed him and taught him everything he knew, the man that he respected more than any other, thought he had lost his mind.
"Can you see her?" Carlisle implored further.
Edward looked down at the floor, his earlier hopefulness fading swiftly. "No," he whispered softly. "But I can feel her." He looked up with his answer and brought Bella's hand to his cheek, needing the comfort of her touch to keep him grounded. She opened her hand and laid her palm gently against his skin and her warmth radiated through him. She slowly trailed her hand down his arm and weaved her fingers through his, giving him a gentle squeeze.
"You can?" His father's tone showed his surprise, but there was still a tinge of disbelief ringing through in his voice.
"This is just too weird," Rosalie piped in. "How do we even know he's serious? No one else can see or hear her."
Edward glared at his sister, but understood her reasoning. This all sounded completely insane, even to him, and he was experiencing it firsthand.
"Rose," Alice chided. "He's telling the truth."
Why won't they believe him? she thought bitterly.
Edward was thankful that he at least had Alice's support and faith. He could always count on her.
"How do you know?" Rose demanded of Alice, crossing her arms and falling onto the couch behind her. Emmett landed beside her, throwing his massive arm over her shoulders.
"Yeah," he said. "How can you be so sure, pipsqueak?"
With some difficulty, Alice ignored the pipsqueak comment.
"I can't believe you're doubting your brother; doubting Edward." She gestured to him with her tiny hand, an appalled and disappointed look on her face.
Jasper put a soothing hand on her shoulder and her demeanor relaxed. "Alice is right. He's telling the truth. He believes what he is saying. I can feel his sincerity."
"He can still believe what he's saying even if this isn't actually happening to him," Emmett reasoned. He directed his next question at Alice. "Have you seen anything?"
She shrugged. "Sort of. I can't see Bella, but I keep getting bits and pieces of things. I know she's real, though." She looked at all of them with a quirk of her eyebrow. "And as Esme said, we can all smell her."
Each family member looked at each other and nodded their heads in agreement. They could. There was no denying that pungent aroma. But that seemed to be all they could detect of Bella.
Bella was more than a little confused with all the back and forth and she had absolutely no idea what any of them were talking about. This encounter with his family was only succeeding in giving her a headache, and their reactions and comments were only adding fuel to the fire that the Cullens were in fact different. But Edward had promised he would explain everything in time, so she would not bombard him with questions now. She would wait for him to open up to her.
Edward felt Bella sink into his side and on impulse wrapped a comforting arm around her. "I'm so sorry, Edward," she said apologetically. "Now they think you're crazy."
He smiled down at her, imagining her delicate features in his mind. He was picturing her biting into her bottom lip, her gentle brown eyes looking up at him uneasily, as her cheeks dusted a healthy pink. He wanted desperately to touch his lips to hers. And it took everything he had in him to hold back. Now was not the time.
Edward didn't care what his family thought. He was not concerned with how he looked to them at that moment. He was just desperate for their help, for Bella's sake.
"It's alright. We know I'm not crazy. And so does Alice," he said gently, consolingly. He looked up at his sister and smiled. She returned it before her eyes suddenly lost focus. Edward watched the vision, a small laugh escaping him as it unfolded in her mind. Alice soon snapped back to reality.
"That's a great idea, Bella," she said enthusiastically, bouncing lightly on her toes.
Bella frowned. "What is?" she asked Edward, not following his hyper sister.
"Your idea. It's brilliant," he said.
"What idea?" Clearly they were not on the same page.
Edward quirked an eyebrow at her, his lips curving into a crooked smile as a small laugh left him. "You were thinking of moving something, weren't you?" he asked. The idea was so brilliant yet so simple, it was a wonder he hadn't thought of it before, especially since they had just discussed that very topic moments ago.
Bella smiled to herself, knowing no one else could see it. "Maybe," she mumbled. "Do you think I should?"
Edward nodded at her, his family watching him suspiciously. They were hesitant to believe him, as he knew they would be. They couldn't imagine Edward lying about something like this, but his current behavior was just too odd to believe such a preposterous idea. If he were human, they would have thrown him into the car and taken him straight to the nuthouse, but as it was, he was a vampire who was immune to such human illnesses like dementia or hallucinations.
"Wait," Bella said, suddenly realizing something. "How did Alice know what I was going to do? And how did you know? She didn't say a word. You've all been communicating silently with each other in some way, haven't you?"
Edward ran a nervous hand through his hair, realizing far too late that this would seem extremely odd to someone who didn't know what they were. "Um…..I'll explain that later." He was deflecting again, but Bella had faith he would stay true to his word and tell her when the time came.
"Uh, huh," she said, her curiosity growing exponentially. "You better, because now I have too many questions."
He swallowed thickly. "Don't worry. I promise I'll tell you everything." He grimaced, not looking forward to when that time came. "After all," he continued, his voice sounding strangled. "It seems more than likely that you'll need to know. What I am, what we all are, it may be the only thing that can save you."
Bella mulled that over, watching Edward as many emotions flickered across his features. Fear, guilt, longing. What were the Cullens, exactly?
"Okay," she said slowly. She turned to the room then. Everyone was staring at Edward, except Alice, who was actually looking directly at her. That surprised her, but more than anything, it kind of freaked her out.
Bella averted her eyes from Alice, her gaze making her uncomfortable. "What should I pick up?" she asked off-handedly, surveying the room.
Edward swept his arm in front of him grandly. "Whatever you'd like," he answered kindly.
"Edward," Carlisle interjected, stepping closer. "What's going on?" He could see the worry on his father's brow, concerned that he had finally fallen off the deep end.
Edward smiled, knowing that after Bella did this his family would have no choice but to believe him.
"She's going to lift something. Then you'll see that I'm not lying; that she is not a figment of my imagination." He paused and gave them all reproachful looks. "Like you all are thinking right now."
"Seriously?" Alice exclaimed, disgusted by her family's lack of faith in Edward. "You all should be ashamed of yourselves."
Esme looked positively shameful for thinking such thoughts about her son, who had never given her any reason to doubt him. Rosalie simply snorted, feeling no embarrassment for her thoughts whatsoever. Emmett only shrugged in response, while Carlisle and Jasper cleared their throats uncomfortably, mortified with themselves for doubting Edward.
Edward felt Bella extricate herself from his arms. He followed the path of her scent and the sound of her footsteps as she made her way over to one of the end tables near Alice. His eyes would occasionally look to Jasper who seemed to be holding himself together a lot better than he thought he would. The peculiarity of the situation seemed to help in making him forget about Bella's scent, as well as the fact that he had distanced himself considerably since the initial shock of her aroma.
Bella's aim was for the vase resting on the mahogany table. But as she reached out of for it, the toe of her shoe caught on a bump in the rug and she catapulted forward, slamming into the table and sending the vase over the edge, the delicate object shattering into a dozen pieces on the hardwood floor.
A collective gasp was heard throughout the room, the only ones who were silent and still were Edward and Alice. Bella was mortified at what she had done. She had always been a klutz, a danger magnet even. Her father had said so on more than one occasion, finding joy in her embarrassment at regaling guests with her many accidents. He openly teased and mocked her in front of others, and each time it hurt a little deeper. And now she went ahead and broke what she was sure was a very expensive vase.
"Edward, I'm so sorry," Bella apologized. "Please tell your mother I'll pay for it. I'm such a klutz. I should have known better than to try and touch something so breakable." Bella was almost on the verge of tears as she rambled off her apology, bending toward the shattered remains of the beautiful white vase. How could she be so careless?
Edward reached out for Bella and found her bent over trying to clean up the shattered pieces. He immediately pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Bella, it's alright. Please don'tworry."
Alice had foreseen this, and as badly as he felt for not making Bella aware of the impending incident, he was grateful that it had happened. Because now his family knew that she was real, that she existed, and perhaps now they could focus on helping her and not on the question of his sanity. And Edward certainly didn't need her cutting herself on the shards. Edward may have found an odd burst of control over the past few hours, but he couldn't guarantee that his family would remain calm if her blood were to hit the air.
"But, Edward, I feel terrible. It must be expensive."
Her distress was palpable and he hated that she was getting so worked up. He gently cupped her face in his hands lifted it gently to his, his nose barely touching hers. He sighed as her heat, the blush of her cheeks, scorched his palms. Her touch awakened something inside him every time and he knew he would never tire of it. It set his soul on fire. He wished desperately that they were alone so that he could hold her in his arms more intimately and kiss her fears away.
Edward closed his eyes as he held her and whispered his assurances. "Please don't worry yourself. It is nothing." He kissed her lips reverently, breathing in her wonderful scent.
His family was silent as they watched Edward murmur soft words to the woman in his arms. The tender gentleness with which he held her, the ease of the way he kissed her, as if it were so natural for him, floored his family. They were silent but their thoughts were loud. They were apologetic for not believing him, they were delighted for him that he finally found someone, and more than anything, they were relieved. Edward was no longer alone. Their family was, perhaps, finally complete.
Edward's words were comforting to Bella, but she still felt awful. "At least let me pay for a new one."
Edward shook his head, but Bella persisted. "Please."
"We'll see," he finally relented, pressing his lips to her forehead. "But for now we have more important matters at hand." Edward looked at his family as his arms coiled around Bella. Their awed expressions made him smile.
Carlisle turned his stunned gaze from the pieces on the floor to Edward. "I'm sorry we doubted you, son." His tone was entirely apologetic.
Edward nodded, smiling widely. "It's alright. At least now you know I'm telling the truth."
Carlisle sunk slowly to the loveseat, a very shocked Esme already occupying the spot next to him. "I've never witnessed anything like this," Carlisle mused to himself, his hand stroking the back of his neck gently.
Esme broke out of her trance, her thoughts consumed with despair for Bella. She couldn't fathom how a young girl could deal with something so life changing, and clearly all on her own.
Esme turned to her husband and touched his hand gently. "Are you sure, dear?" she asked softly. Her eyes flickered over to Edward briefly, glancing at the spot beside him where Bella was standing, indicated by Edward's arms hovering in mid-air. She lowered her voice enough so only the family could hear. "I mean, you've lived a long life, a few lifetimes to be exact. You've seen many things, met many people. Are you certain that you've never come across this before?"
He nodded his head, his movements sure and positive. He looked up to his family. "I don't believe so. This is something I surely would have remembered." His eyes scanned the room and rested on Edward. "Edward what exactly happened to Bella?"
Edward's heart fell to his stomach. If Carlisle had never seen anything like Bella's case before, then it would make the problem that much more difficult to solve. Was it hopeless?
Edward could hear Rosalie's worried thoughts. She was genuinely concerned for Bella. She kept glancing next to Edward, trying to imagine the girl that rested in his arms. Emmett sat wide-eyed as he gazed at the floor. His thoughts summed it up perfectly.
Damn, this is some strange shit.
Edward couldn't agree more.
As Edward tried to dip into his last sibling's mind, he came to a wall. Jasper was working feverishly to block him. Edward pulled his mind back and looked at Jasper pointedly, extremely confused by the sudden barrier. His brother refused to meet his gaze but seemed to be working something over, even as he kept up the barricade. He was hiding something from Edward.
Edward let his gaze fall from his brother to Carlisle. "Well," Edward started slowly. "Bella said that it happened approximately six months ago. One day she just disappeared. No one has seen or heard from her since."
Carlisle looked contemplative as he processed this information. "You said you can feel her, but can anyone else?"
Edward looked to Bella and squeezed her hand. He shook his head, sadness darkening his features. "No. No one else." His eyes remained fixed on Bella and he hoped she was meeting his gaze. He wished desperately that he could see her warm, chocolate eyes.
Carlisle got up and walked slowly up to Edward. He held up a hand and looked to his son. "May I?" he asked.
"It's up to Bella," he shrugged.
Bella understood what Carlisle was asking. He wanted to see if he could touch her as well. "Yes, please. We need to know."
Edward nodded to his father and Carlisle slowly and cautiously reached his hand to toward Bella. Bella held her breath and closed her eyes as she waited, but there was nothing – no contact. Carlisle's hand passed right through her. His hand came into contact with nothing. His father shook his head and let out a low breath.
"It seems you may be the only one, Edward." If Carlisle couldn't, then it seemed to reason that the rest of the family would fall under the same category.
Carlisle began pacing the length of the room, mumbling to himself incoherently. Edward caught the words 'unbelievable' and 'extraordinary' fall from his lips, but nothing more.
Emmett blew a low and long whistle, gathering everyone's attention. "Damn, this is strange." He shook his head in disbelief and ran a hand through his curly hair, scratching the back of his head. His thoughts were that of genuine concern for Bella.
Rosalie inched closer to the edge of the sofa, staring at the empty space where Bella stood. "Don't you have any family that realized you were missing?"
Edward appreciated that she was acknowledging Bella's presence by addressing her, though he could see the awkwardness she felt at talking to thin air.
"No," Edward replied remorsefully as he smelled a tear fall down Bella's cheek. "She's been on her own for a while now. Her parents set her up with enough money to be without them while they traveled." Edward reached over to Bella and wiped the lone tear from her cheek tenderly.
Esme's head shot up instantly, her expression one of utter disbelief. "But don't they check in on her?" she asked quickly, her thoughts frantic with worry for Bella. It was beyond her comprehension how any parent could leave their child on their own to fend for themselves. She was just a child, after all.
Edward shook his head regretfully. "No. Unfortunately, they were never very close."
As Bella began whimper and her tears continued to tall, he pulled her into his arms and held her close. She sobbed into his chest, the pain of never being wanted by her parents, by the two people who should have loved her above all else, had become too much to bear. It was even more difficult hearing it out loud.
"I'm sorry, Bella. Please don't cry," he whispered, placing a soft kiss into her hair.
Rosalie softly voiced her apology at bringing up such a sensitive subject, but Edward shook his head, hoping to dispel any worry his sister felt for upsetting Bella. It was not her fault. How could she have known?
Bella's quiet cries continued, her body shaking in Edward's arms. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice muffled by his chest. At least no on else could hear her. Breaking down in front of Edward's family would have been mortifying. It was bad enough she had to do it in front of him. "I just don't know why they never cared. It hurts to know I wasn't good enough to be their daughter."
Edward touched her chin and guided her face to his. "Don't say that," he said sternly. You are good enough; much too good for them. They didn't deserve you." She buried her face into his chest once again and Edward could feel her tears beginning to saturate his shirt, seeping through to his skin. "Forget about them. You have me now." He began rocking her body soothingly with his and the movement was comforting to Bella; calming.
Edward heard Esme's thoughts first.
Oh, my word. Could he be…..No…..So soon? She smiled as she watched Edward, and then her thoughts continued. Yes, his mother thought confidently. He most definitely loves her.
This startled Edward, and he would have objected, seeing as how it was impossible to fall in love after one day, but he decided just to ignore the statement instead. There was no arguing with Esme.
I've never seen him so attached to anyone, Rosalie thought, a giggle sounding in her head. I wonder if he's falling for her. It's about time. I just assumed he was gay.
Edward rolled his eyes and continued to hold Bella as her sobs subsided.
Halleluiah! Alice yelled in her head to Edward. I knew you'd find your mate here.
Edward tried to fight the notion that he was in love with Bella. He cared about her deeply, that much he was certain of, but love? Though he had never had the pleasure of experiencing that kind of a connection with someone, he knew love was inevitable for them. The way he felt around her, and the emotions she conjured up in him made him realize that this was the beginning of something powerful; something truly great. He had hoped beyond measure that what was happening between them, his ability to notice her when no one else could, meant that he had finally found her – his mate. But he just couldn't believe that he had fallen so quickly. It was illogical, inconceivable. Love takes time to grow and blossom. The seed of their love had just been planted. The roots hadn't even sprouted. It was absurd to think otherwise. Wasn't it?
Jasper looked at Edward and smirked. I know you're reluctant to believe it, but you do love her, he thought. All you have to do is accept it. Edward was about to speak up when Jasper stopped him with a quick shake of his head. Don't try and deny it. I can feel everything you feel, remember?
Edward sighed and simply held Bella tighter as he continued to rub soothing circles on her back. Maybe he was in love with her. Maybe it was possible. These things that he was feeling, he had never felt them before Bella came along. Perhaps the myriad of emotions coursing though him all added up to love. Even if it was faster than he thought possible.
Edward cared about Bella more than anyone he had ever known – even his family – and that was a startling realization. He would die trying to protect her, if it ever came to that. He couldn't bear the thought of being away from her for even a second, and he had only just met her. He found himself wanting to hold her always, and to kiss her every chance he got. If it was love, who was Edward to fight something so big that it allowed him to hear her when no one else could? If this was love, then fine, Edward was in love. He would let this feeling lead him to wherever it took him, as long as Bella was at his side.
He smiled to himself and kissed the top of Bella's head. Maybe I am in love, he thought to himself proudly. He tried the words out for size. I love Bella Swan. He liked the sound of it. It felt right to love her, and he felt quite liberated coming to terms with it.
Ah, Jasper thought. Resolve. At least you've accepted it now. His brother smiled and nodded at him. I'm happy for you, little brother.
Edward rolled his eyes at the little brother remark but nodded in return. Indeed he had accepted it, and he felt lighter now somehow.
"Is it just me," Emmett broke the silence. "Or does Edward look ridiculous holding thin air? Man, I wish I had my camera right now." Emmett jumped to his feet, but before he could make one move toward the stairs, Rosalie had pulled him back down to his seat. The sofa creaked as his large frame fell back down.
"You get that camera and that's the last photo you'll be taking," she threatened.
She gave him a meaningful look. Emmett's brow rose and he pouted petulantly. Edward caught flashes of Emmett snapping provocative photos of his wife and he recoiled from the images.
"But babe," the large vampire whined. "You wouldn't."
"Try me," she fumed, crossing her arms.
Bella giggled into Edward's chest and he too began to chuckle. Ordinarily he found his brother's behavior crass and rude, but he was glad for it today as it seemed to help in cheering Bella up. And though he was permanently scarred by what he just saw in his brother's mind, it seemed the bickering had alleviated the dour mood that had descended upon the room.
The rest of the family snickered a bit, Rose slapping her husband upside the head, a smile of her own on her face. As much as she tried to act annoyed, secretly Rose loved Emmett's playful attitude. Even she couldn't deny his humor. Bella withdrew from Edward's strong arms and rested into his side. She breathed deeply, her breathing still a bit shaky from her crying.
"Edward," Jasper began. "What was Bella like before she vanished?"
Edward cleared his throat and held Bella snuggly against his side, letting the warmth of her body seer him. "She said she was very quiet and shy. She usually kept to herself." He once again tried to dip into Jasper's mind, but once again he came to a wall. This irked Edward. This was not the time for Jasper to be playing games.
"Did…um…did she have any friends?" he asked hesitantly, afraid this question would upset Bella again.
Edward did not think she had, but he didn't want to assume as much. He turned his gaze on Bella then. "Bella, did you?" His eyes remained on the angel in his arms but his mind was still trying to reach out to Jasper's. Again there was nothing.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "A few people tried to befriend me in the beginning, but they weren't really the type of people I like to associate with. They were very petty and obnoxious. I knew they only wanted to be my friend because I was the new girl. So I chose to stay on my own." She was silent for a moment. "After all, I was used to being alone."
Edward leaned down and whispered into her ear, "You're not alone anymore; never again." She smiled and sighed softly in contentment.
Never again, she thought.
"Well?" Jasper prodded, Edward momentarily forgetting that they could not hear Bella answer the question.
"Oh." Edward shook his head. "Sorry. No, she wasn't friendly with anyone."
Jasper began walking around the room, his fingers playing with his chin as he concentrated. His thoughts were going a mile a minute and Edward had to use all of his focus just to keep up. He finally caught a flash of a male face and one quick thought that gave him hope.
"Jasper, I know you've been hiding something from us. What do you know?" he demanded.
Jasper stopped his pacing and faced his brother. "You may not like the solution, Edward."
"Just tell us." Edward sounded desperate, and he knew he would beg if he had to. "Please." He could feel Bella's body tighten, feel the muscles in her body go taut with anticipation. She unconsciously stopped breathing, waiting to hear what Edward's brother had to say.
Jasper sat down and Alice followed him, placing a hand on his thigh and nodding to him in encouragement. "Back when I was living in the South," he began, pausing as his eyes flickered over to Bella. "With Maria and the others, we came across a young man in the similar situation as Bella here."
Edward narrowed his eyes, wary of what Jasper had to say. Anything involving the vampire wars was never good. "What happened?" Edward asked.
Jasper cleared his throat, his eyes sliding to Alice's. Her reassuring smile comforted him. He turned his gaze back to Edward and relaxed his shoulders.
"One of our, ah, followers was able to hear him like you can Bella. When she told us we all thought she was crazy, much like we did you." Jasper's face contorted in shame and for a split second he could not reach Edward's eyes. "But after some convincing, and a similar display like the one Bella put on for us, we had no choice but to believe her."
Edward could feel his eyes narrow further. He knew the words that were sure to follow his next question. "How did you help him, Jasper?"
Jasper eyed him, raising a blonde eyebrow at him. "How do you think?"
Edward closed his eyes and nodded, taking in a cleansing breath. He was ready for this. He knew this would be an option. He was prepared to do whatever it took to help Bella…..even changing her. But would she be willing?
"Is there any other way to help her?" Edward didn't want to change her if he didn't have to, at least not if she didn't want this life. He would respect her wishes, whatever they were.
His brother shook his head regrettably and Edward could feel his sorrow. "I'm afraid not. You see, after the young man, after we helped him, we came across someone else like him. It was a young girl. And a man in my…..group had fallen for her, but he refused to…." Edward could see that Jasper was trying to mask his words, not wanting to inadvertently alert Bella to what they all were before Edward had a chance to explain.
He was grateful for that.
He decided to help his brother out. "He couldn't do what needed to be done, could he?" Edward asked.
Jasper shook his head miserably. "No, he couldn't. He didn't want her living the way we lived. He thought she was too good for such a way of life."
Edward could relate to how the man must have felt. He had the same warring feelings right now, but Edward knew the side that wanted Bella for eternity was winning out against his better judgment. And he was afraid of what Jasper might say next. If this man he spoke of was against changing this girl, who he cared so deeply for, what could have happened to her? Jasper's thoughts filled Edward's mind before the words reached his lips. He could hear the regret in his words even through his mind.
"She vanished completely?" Edward asked in horror.
Jasper's body stiffened as he felt his family's concern. They were all horrified by the news as well and their emotions were making Jasper edgy.
"I'm afraid so," he said with a nod as he tried his best to relax. Jasper's looked over in Bella's direction. "We tried other ways to bring her back," he said to her. "Even though we couldn't hear her, we thought talking to her would help. We tried acknowledging her, discussing her with others, hoping that if she was once again noticed, that her body would appear again." Jasper paused and looked away, and Edward began to feel the effects of his guilt. "One day she was eventually just gone."
Edward felt his fear begin to take over. He didn't know how he'd survive if Bella was gone. He couldn't imagine his life without her in it. She had become such a huge part of him. He knew it would kill him to have to live without her now that he found her.
"But couldn't she have just left? Moved on?" Edward asked.
Jasper shook his head and sighed. Edward could see how much this upset Jasper to discuss. "The young man was certain that she didn't leave. He was positive that she was gone, that she had finally just disappeared completely."
"I don't understand. How could he have known?" Alice asked the question before Edward could. Worry creased her brow.
Jasper looked over at his wife and smiled grimly. "He could feel it. He was connected to her in a way that allowed him to feel when she finally slipped away for good."
Edward's grip around Bella's waist strengthened. He knew he would not allow that to happen to her. "How?" he asked, his jaw clenched. "How could he feel her leave?"
Jasper shrugged as he looked up at Edward. He could see the thoughts filtering through his head; feel his remorse at having to deliver this sort of news to him. "All we have are our theories," he answered.
"And…" Edward implored.
Jasper sighed and fell back against the couch. He looked tired. "These people that I came across, they were a lot like Bella. They were withdrawn from the world, had no real relationships with anyone." Jasper couldn't even look at Edward when he continued. 'They were basically invisible to everyone around them that they eventually just disappeared from sight."
"So he's saying I did this to myself?" Bella asked timidly. Had she really caused this? Was she to blame?
Edward shook his head. He wouldn't let Bella carry the blame for this. "Are you telling us that this is Bella's fault?" Edward growled.
Jasper held up a hand and shook his head. "This is no one's fault. I'm simply saying that because she lacked any real connection with anyone around her, this caused her to fade from existence." He shrugged. "At least that's the theory we came up with."
Edward let this news sink in. Bella had basically been alone her entire life. She had no links to anyone in Forks, no friends or family in town, which was made clear by the lack of knowledge Angela seemed to have about her. Her parents practically ignored Bella her entire life, more so these last couple of years, and the only living person to show her any sort of love had died – her grandfather. Perhaps because she was practically non-existent to those around her, she finally became what others perceived her as - invisible.
"Why can't she eat or drink? She told me she has no desire for food, she doesn't get thirsty. She cannot sleep either. Why is this?" Edward needed answers and he hoped Jasper could give them to him.
Jasper looked just as unsure about it as Edward. "I don't know. We never understood that either."
"Ah, perhaps I can propose a theory," Carlisle offered, raising a finger, every eye turning to him. "I believe it may have to do with the fact that she is slowly fading from the world." Carlisle nodded over at Jasper. "Jasper said that the young woman they came across had eventually disappeared all together. It seems that Bella's body is growing accustomed to being unnoticed. It is becoming used to not existing - in the technical sense that is - and she does not need sustenance to keep her alive." Carlisle looked at Edward sadly, seeing in his eyes the feelings he carried for this girl already. He didn't want to say his next words, but there was no other explanation for it. "She is dying, Edward."
Bella drew in a sharp breath and her hand tightened around Edward's, her mind suddenly becoming dizzy. Had she just heard that correctly? Was she really dying? How much time did she have? Bella couldn't believe that not only was she not the first for this to happen to, but there was a possibility and that she would fade to absolutely nothing altogether. This frightened her. She didn't want to die. She didn't want to leave Edward. She fought back the tears that began to pool in her eyes.
Edward shook his head fiercely, trying to push the theories from his mind. He kept a firm hold on Bella as he felt the tension in her body escalate. He could tell that she was on the verge of tears. This all sounded so absurd. It terrified Edward. Edward drew in a deep breath.
He would not lose Bella.
Shit! Emmett thought. Just when he found her.
Rosalie cleared her throat. "But I don't understand. She can touch things, she can move objects. That has to mean something," she said.
"Yes," Edward said hopefully. "And she works in the garden. That has to mean something for her. It has to mean she exists in some way. I mean, I can feel her. I hear her. Please, Carlisle, doesn't that mean anything?"
Carlisle looked over at his wife and he grabbed her hand. Her face was sad, her features heavy, mirroring his own feelings. They both feared for Bella, this girl who had captured their son's heart so completely.
Carlisle didn't want to be the one to dash Edward's hopes. He wanted his son to have what he had with Esme, what his children had found in each other; the one thing that seemed to elude only Edward all these years. He didn't want to be the one to tell him that the woman he loved would be gone forever unless he did the unthinkable.
If what Jasper was telling them was the truth, then there was no other solution but to change her. And if Bella meant to Edward what Carlisle thought she did, it really was the only option for them. He understood why Edward wanted another way. He was the one who had the most trouble with what they were. He understood why he did not want her to become one of them.
Carlisle hoped that Bella could be the thing that brought Edward happiness in this life. Because it was clear to him that his son had found what he had been missing, what the rest of the family had found years ago, what he's been needing; his mate.
"I honestly don't think it means anything, Edward. Now, this is only a theory, but it stands to reason that I might be right about it."
Edward closed his eyes and sighed. "Which is….?" he asked.
"That aside from the plant life you speak of," he began to explain. "These things she is touching are basically inanimate objects. She doesn't need to make a significant, emotional connection with them." Carlisle glanced in Bella's general vicinity, not wanting to ignore her when she was clearly there. "They're not human. They're not real. They don't have souls to connect with. Bella is been unable to connect with anyone who can connect back."
Edward's shoulders fell. He felt like he had been hit by a ten ton boulder. All the air left him, his heart feeling as if the life was being squeezed right out of it. So there was only one option for Bella.
Was it really such a terrible alternative?
"But how come I'm the exception?" Edward asked weakly.
Edward caught a sly smile from Jasper. The blonde vampire tilted his head at his brother and raised his brow. "Why do you think?"
Edward had an idea; something he didn't need to think too hard on. He had hoped that he was the exception for one reason and one reason alone. He hoped this meant that Bella was his mate; that they were destined to be together for the rest of eternity. Surely that had to be why.
Edward swallowed hard. "Please," he begged. "Just say it." Anticipation surged through him, a light at the end of the tunnel, a ray of sunshine in a life of darkness; a happy ending to a lifetime of death and despair.
"Edward, you and Bella are soul mates."
My wonderful beta, icrodriguez, has created a banner for this story. I only just uploaded it to Photobucket, which I am only just now learning to use. I'm giving you the link but I'm not even sure that's how this works. Let me know if it works for you or not. I think something gets lost with fanfic when you paste a link, so take out the parenthese and the spaces to use it. :)
http:/s1202 (.) photobucket (.) com/albums/bb366/JK5959/?action=view¤t=BYI-Banner (.) jpg