I know, I know - it's been forever! Please accept my apologies (again).

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter 7: Oh Brother

"She's right, you know. You're going overboard."

Edward eyed the man leaning cross-armed against his front door with resignation. Was it only two days ago I was wondering what I'd do with myself outside of my residency duties? Now I'm involved with four other vampires, two of whom were trying to eat the human I'm falling in love with. Fate definitely has one hell of a sense of humor.

"Let me guess. Alice sent you."

The tall, honey-blond vampire grinned. "Well, hello to you, too."

Jasper's thoughts were a mix of friendly and curious, in direct contrast to the web of vampire bite scars covering his arms and neck. Clearly he was an extremely good fighter…dangerous. Edward stiffened, his self-preservation instinct kicking in.

It's wise to be wary of me, Jasper thought mockingly. I don't entirely trust you either, in spite of what Alice says. No slip-ups, Cullen. Otherwise I may need to literally tear you limb from limb.

Edward rolled his eyes at Jasper's tone, but his response was serious. "Believe me, I'd want you to."

Jasper merely nodded once. Glad to see we understand each other. Then he smiled.

"So, let's get started on that audio system."

The men chatted amiably for some time, debating the finer points of various home audio systems. Of course, the conversation invariably turned to Bella. Edward was encouraged by Jasper's military approach to the situation of James and Victoria.

All the while, Edward was monitoring Bella. He was able to identify her voice from among dozens of his fellow apartment dwellers, even from this distance.

"Jealousy, Edward?" teased Jasper. "Really?"

Edward offered an apologetic shrug. "She's on the phone with someone named Domen."

"Ah." Jasper nodded in understanding. "He's like a brother to her, and it's mutual. No need to worry about him."

"I'm gaining a deeper understanding of how my family feels when I read their thoughts," grimaced Edward. Having someone knowing how I'm feeling at all times is unnerving. My constant mind-reading must be a royal pain in the…

Suddenly Angela's thoughts reached him. As usual, they were uncluttered by self-interest. Hers was a pleasant mind to be in.

"She WHAT?" he muttered, horrified.

"Who what?"

"Angela and Bella are discussing Bella's mother. How can any mother destroy her daughter's self-confidence like that?"

Jasper hesitated, debating how much he should tell Edward without Bella's permission. The bronze-haired vampire wasn't even paying attention to him now. He was completely focused on Angela and Bella's conversation. The sudden wave of love and possessiveness that Jasper perceived decided him. He wouldn't actually tell Edward, he would show him. If Bella was unhappy about it, he could always blame Edward's nosy telepath tendencies.

Edward's mind was abruptly assaulted with images of an older woman with medium-length brown hair and child-like blue eyes. Shooting a startled glance at Jasper, he concentrated on the scenes playing out before him. Renee charming a policeman out of a speeding ticket. Renee resplendent in huge earrings and Bohemian-style skirt and blouse, standing next to a hunched, jean-clad Bella. Bella trying to distract her mother from a debate about cryptids and the paranormal.

The two men shared a smile at the last one. "Renee would have gone into spasms of joy if she'd met an actual telepath and empath," commented Jasper ironically.

The images in Jasper's mind were becoming darker. A tall man with black hair and a mustache, pounding the kitchen counter and yelling at Bella that she was trying to starve him. Renee walking out of the room, declaring that it was Bella's turn to deal with him.

"Her father?" whispered Edward. The man's eyes were a faded version of Bella's warm chocolate ones. Jasper nodded.

More images, this time of the same man….Charlie…patiently playing with a young American Indian child. His face was kind and alive.

"His friend's grandson on the reservation," Jasper supplied quietly. "Charlie was a good man."

Edward watched Jasper play his memories of a funeral, no, three funerals. Jasper was careful to show the other vampire details of the obituaries, along with the names and dates on the headstones, and the emotions Bella was feeling as she read them. Each memory became more and more painful, until Edward felt as if he would double over with the anguish of them.

"She tried so hard so put up a strong front, but it was eating her from the inside. At one point Alice had a vision of Bella deliberately accelerating her car toward a huge tree, then changing her mind at the last minute."

Edward swallowed heavily. The thought of Bella dead felt like someone was stabbing his silent heart.

"So first her cousin Anna went into mental health ICU, then the next day Charlie found Renee dead from an amitriptyline overdose." His mind buzzed through the possibilities. "Renee was depressed? Bipolar? Suffered from anxiety attacks?"

Jasper nodded. "She would make up stories of a vague background of nobility, and all of the famous people she knew. She also believed that she had psychic powers of some sort."

"Hmmm…Given that I can't read Bella's mind, the latter part may actually be true. There is certainly enough evidence of mental issues."

Grimacing, Jasper agreed. "Schizophrenic cousin who made Bella's life a living hell …"

"And who jumped from the roof of a twelve-storey building seven months after Renee died," added Edward, recalling the news post from Jasper's memory.

"Father with dementia, going in and out of hospital for five months after her mother passed away, finally succumbing to congestive heart failure," Jasper continued. "I don't know how she handled it. It was as if she gradually numbed herself. By the time her cousin died, all I could get from her was the occasional sharp jab of pain. It was if she'd wrapped her mind in a shield to protect…"

He halted abruptly at the expression on Edward's face. "What is it?"

"A shield! Jasper, I think you've come up with the answer. What if Bella is a mental shield?"

"But Edward, she's human! If she were a vampire, sure, but seriously…"

"Can you control her emotions?"

"Yes, but not easily. My gift works mostly on the body, not the mind."

"Shit, if Aro found out about this…"

"Edward, if the Volturi found out about Bella at all, we'd all be dead. You know that."

Aro, leader of the Volturi, was a collector of talented vampires. He'd already tried to coerce Edward into joining them. Goodness knows what would happen if he discovered Alice, Jasper, and a potentially gifted Bella.

He shook his head, willing the thought away. As if she didn't already have enough to worry about, with hungry, sadistic vampires after her, intent on torturing her before they have their meal. Oh yeah, and some creepy 100-year-old blood-drinker who happens to be falling in love with her. Don't forget that little issue, Cullen.

Bella's history struck a chord with Edward. His own parents were carried away by Spanish influenza when he was about Bella's age. He remembered the disbelief that they were gone, followed by his anger with God for letting them die and the terrible grief that followed. Back then, with friends and neighbors all around him dying, he learned to live life moment-by-moment, dealing with each attack as it came, not thinking of the future. He focused only on what had to be accomplished, numbing his emotions. It dawned on him that this is what Bella must have done as well.

Jasper was watching his soon-to-be-brother carefully, trying to understand the complexity of sensations he read. Bella wouldn't want Edward to know the details of her recent life, wrongfully assuming that he would pity her. However, even with everything that Edward felt now, pity definitely wasn't there. Thank God he didn't "tell" Edward about Bella selling blood plasma to pay her bills. That would have sent the poor guy over the edge.

A couple of hours later, armed with a bottle of Pinot Grigio, Edward tapped on Bella's door. He could hear Bella, Angela, and two men and a woman inside, laughing about an exam. Ben, Manoj and Carissa, he gathered from their thoughts. Manoj brought a CD of Indian pop music, which now played in the background.

A short young man with black hair and friendly dark eyes opened the door. This must be Bella's knight in shining armor, the man thought, assessing the taller stranger in front of him.

"Hey Bella," he called, shooting Edward a mischievous smile. "There's a guy here with a bottle of wine. Should I let him in?"

Edward heard Bella walking quickly toward them. "It depends," she responded cheekily. "What kind of wine?" Her heart rate picked up when she spotted him at the door, and her face broke into a welcoming grin.

"Oh, it's just Edward," she teased. "If he has pinot grigio, he's in."

Edward smirked as he handed her the bottle and she glanced at it in surprise.

"Did Alice…?"

"No," he grinned, "I just made an educated guess."

Bella shook her head. "You're incredible. Come in and let me introduce you to everyone."

For the next several minutes, she stood in the kitchen and watched Edward charm Manoj, Ben and Carissa. Bella marveled at how easily he fit in with her friends. Carissa, of course, was making every effort to keep his interest. She was used to men dancing attendance on her. And why not? Beautiful and statuesque, with hazel eyes and curly blonde hair that cascaded down her back, no one was surprised that she modeled to help pay her way through grad school.

Watching Carissa flirt with Edward, Bella could see that he looked slightly uncomfortable. When he flashed her a desperate glance, she decided to take pity on the poor vampire and save him from Carissa's beautifully-manicured clutches.

"Edward," she called him, "Would you mind helping me get this chicken out of the oven?"

He was at her side in a flash, the unnecessary oven mitts on his hands before Bella had a chance to blink.

"Careful," she joked softly, knowing the others wouldn't hear her. "You moved so fast that you almost gave yourself away."

Edward rolled his eyes and grinned at her. "Thanks for rescuing me, although a little warning would have been nice!"

Bella couldn't resist teasing him. "Why? From how you reacted to the nurse at the hospital, I thought you liked blondes."

"Bella," he friend growled, carefully retrieving the chicken and placing it on the stovetop. He stepped closer to her. "Don't you realise that you shouldn't tease a vampire?"

She feigned indifference, although she knew he probably heard her heart rate pick up. "Pff, I'm not scared of you."

Edward's lovely amber eyes narrowed playfully. "You're lucky we're in a room full of people." He reached around her to replace the oven mitts, his arm brushing her hip. "And for the record, I prefer brunettes."

Bella wasn't sure if she welcomed the knock on the door or not. Domen entered, late as usual, bearing plastic litre bottles and ice.

"I'm here," he announced, grinning. "The party can start now."

"Too late with the drinks, man," retorted Manoj. "The party started when Edward brought the wine."

Domen moved toward the kitchen, catching sight of a tall, bronze-headed man standing close to his "little sister." Uh-oh, thought Bella. If he starts harassing Edward, I'll kill him. Or take away his blueberry muffins.

The tall Croatian plopped the ice and drinks on the counter, then gave Bella a quick, gentle hug. "How are you feeling?" he asked with concern.

Bella shrugged. "I'm fine. Better than yesterday."

Domen turned to Edward, extending his hand. "I'm Domen Kresnik. Bella told me what you did for her after she crashed her truck. Any time you need anything…" He paused suddenly as Edward returned the handshake. Bella thought she heard him say something like "Kudlak."

It was Edward's reaction that worried her further. He stood motionless. The two men faced each other, dark grey eyes challenging amber ones. She was struck by the similarities between them. Same height and build, similar skin tone and bone structure.

"Istria Peninsula?" asked Edward, breaking the silence. His velvet voice was slightly tense.

Domen nodded shortly. "Yes, Pula."

"It's a beautiful area," Edward continued in a more normal tone. "The Roman ruins there are fascinating. Perhaps we can discuss them in depth later."

"So who's up for the Broom Dance while we're waiting for the rice to finish?" Carissa suddenly asked brightly.

Just like that, the party atmosphere reappeared, and everyone scrambled to find the broom and move furniture. Domen busily filled plastic cups while Bella reached up for the wine glasses in the cupboard above her head.

"Let me do that," offered Edward, deftly choosing four glasses. "No stretching for you yet."

Bella sighed, knowing her was right. No sense in aggravating her bruised ribs without a good reason.

"What happened with Domen?" she whispered. "It was almost as if he knew you."

Edward looked down at her with a wry smile. "You are too perceptive. Domen and I hadn't met before, but he had some interesting thoughts regarding me…and you. Nothing to worry about."

She wasn't buying it. "What are you hiding from me, Edward Cullen?"

"I'll tell you later."

"Promise?"

He lightly touched the tip of her nose. Although she knew Edward couldn't mean it in that way, that small gesture somehow made her feel…cherished.

"I promise, Bella," he smiled.

"OK everyone," announced Carissa, remote in one hand and broom in the other. "Here's how we play. There are seven of us. Everyone grabs a partner, and whoever is the odd one out dances with the broom. I'll start the music. When it stops, you switch partners." A mischievous grin lit her carefully made-up face. "If you are stuck with the broom three times, you have to sing a song of our choice."

Everyone groaned.

"Let's hope Domen doesn't get the broom three times," remarked Ben. "I don't think our ears could stand it."

Domen grinned good-naturedly. "I'll have a special serenade just for you, Ben. I'm sure Angela won't mind."

"Not if you let me get my earplugs first!" Bella's mild-mannered friend retorted.

"Babe, you would let me suffer?" mock-whined Ben. Bella couldn't help smiling. He had come a long way from the shy, insecure boy she and Angela knew in high school.

"I'll make it up to you later."

The resulting chorus of "Wooohhhs" had poor Angela's cheeks flaming. Bella exchanged laughing glances with Edward as they joined the group. He answered with his crooked smile and a subtle wink. Oh geez, now I'm blushing too. Stupid sexy vampire.

Much to her relief, Carissa switched on the music, and Bella found her hands caught by Domen. Carissa, surprising no one, immediately snatched Edward. Angela and Ben were together, leaving Manoj laughingly doing the cha-cha with the broom.

"I'm not so sure I approve of that guy, Little Sis. There's something off about him."

Bella rolled her eyes, hoping that Edward wasn't paying attention. "He's a good man, Domen. Besides, there's nothing for you to approve of."

Her friend frowned and bent a little closer to her. "Just be careful, OK? If he does anything to hurt you, I'll rip off his…"

"Shh!" she admonished. "Quit worrying. I'm a big girl, you know."

"A big girl with an even bigger heart." Bella looked up at Domen in astonishment. In spite of their close friendship, he rarely made comments like that. "What? Can't a brother say something nice about his sister?"

The sudden silence saved Bella from answering. "Bella!" Angela called out. She and Bella ran to each other while the others scrambled to find new partners. Carissa grimaced when she found her partner was the broom, but jokingly curtsied to it before starting the music again.

"OK," whispered Angela. "On the next round, I'll grab Manoj and you go for Edward. Agreed?"

Bella grinned. "Done!" She knew he'd heard the plan when she saw him say something quietly to his partner Manoj, and they both looked over at her and Angela.

"Hey, hey!" protested Domen, "No collusion, girls!"

"Like you don't do it too!" Carissa mocked. "Ben, you're with me next. There's no way I'm getting this broom again!"

When the music stopped, Domen tried to get to Ben before Carissa did, but almost knocked Bella over when she accidently crossed his path. Cool hands grasped her waist from behind to steady her.

"Gotcha!" Edward declared softly. Domen, with an anxious apology to Bella, reluctantly picked up the abandoned broom.

When Carissa restarted the music, Bella took Edward's proffered hands. Warm tingles ran up her arms at his touch. Damn, she thought irritably, why can't I control this idiotic school-girl blushing?

"I like it," her partner responded with a heart-melting smile. Now he's dazzling me. Perfect, just perfect. Get a grip, Bella.

Almost in response, Edward tightened his gentle grip on her hands as they swung to the eighties pop music that blasted from Carissa's iPod. Gathering her wayward thoughts together, she commented, "We need to make sure that Domen doesn't dance with the broom again. You really don't want to hear him sing."

"No problem. I can tell when Carissa is about to stop the music, and who plans to go with whom."

"Cheater," scolded Bella teasingly. Edward only grinned, unabashed. "How do you feel about the party so far?"

"It's fun. Your friends truly care about you, even Carissa." Edward's golden eyes twinkled. "I've heard at least three mental death threats toward me if I do anything to hurt you. Those, and two verbal ones."

Bella grimaced. "I'm sorry for Domen's reaction. He's very protective of me."

"With good reason. As we already established, you're a magnet for trouble."

Bella felt the sudden need to switch to a lighter topic. Summoning a teasing smile, she inquired, "So how long has it been since you've danced with a human girl?"

"A little over ninety years," smiled Edward, leaning closer so that he could speak more quietly. "The last time was in 1918, at a school dance."

A loud crack startled everyone into silence. Looking behind her, Bella spotted an bewildered Domen holding two broken pieces of the broom.

"Oops, sorry Bella. I'll buy you a new one."

What the heck? How did he snap that thick wooden handle? "Better make it steel next time," she responded lightly.

"Well," Angela interjected into the awkward silence, "This looks like a good time to start the food." Bella shot her a grateful look.

The rest of the evening was relatively uneventful, thank goodness. As Bella anticipated, Manoj couldn't resist a good emotionally-charged atmosphere. Tonight he was in his element.

"Your Edward has had his eyes on you all evening," he teased Bella gently, helping her load plates into the dish washer. "Anything you'd like to tell me?"

"No," she responded shortly, softening it with a small smile. "There's nothing going on, Manoj. Now that you're happily engaged to the girl of your dreams back home in India, you're seeing romance everywhere."

Manoj's bright white smile flashed against his dark skin. "You're falling in love with him," he whispered in a sing-song tone. "By the look of him, it's mutual."

"It's not," she whispered back.

"Ah-ha! So you are in love with him!"

Bella glanced at Edward, hoping that he hadn't heard her , he seemed to be in deep conversation with Domen. "Manoj, you and Alice would get along beautifully."

His suspicions confirmed, grinned at her. "Evading the topic. It's a good sign."

Bella sighed. Of all her friends, Manoj was the one with whom she could freely discuss her emotions. Although it was mainly because he wouldn't let something go until he fully understood it, he also had a way of putting things in perspective. She also remembered when, a couple of years ago, before he met his fiancée, he'd become infatuated with Carissa. Now that was a mess. Manoj was not the type to hide his feelings. Thank God he found his Priya.

By 1:00am the party was winding down. Angela decided to stay at Ben's apartment so that they could drive to her parents' house in the morning. Domen was the last to leave, exchanging a few words with Edward in Croatian.

The apartment seemed strangely quiet. Bella slowly packed the left-over chicken into the 'fridge while Edward moved the furniture back onto place. Her adrenaline high from the party came crashing down, leaving her exhausted and achy.

"So you speak Croatian?" she spoke up, a propos nothing. "Is there anything you can't do?"

"Get pregnant?"

Bella sighed. "You could probably figure out a way to make that happen too," she grumbled. "What were you and Domen talking about for so long?"

Edward fluffed one of the sofa pillows at an uncharacteristically human pace, frowning. "Domen cares for you very much. It took quite a lot of convincing for him to trust me with you." He abruptly picked up a piece of paper that rested face-down on a side table, and looked to Bella. "I showed him this sketch I drew of James and Victoria."

Bella nodded, walking over to him and studying the sketch. Her tired mind still managed to process the details of pony-tailed blond man and flame-haired woman. She repressed a shiver.

"What did you tell him?"

"That these two may be stalking you, and to keep his eyes open but not to go after them."

She nodded again, stifling a yawn. "Are you…where are you staying tonight?" Although she wouldn't admit it to the ridiculously attractive man next to her, his mentioning James and Victoria suddenly made her very nervous of spending the night alone in her too-quiet apartment. Edward noticed.

"My place still has no furniture. Would it be alright if I stayed here again tonight?"

Relief washed through Bella. "Of course."

Edward released the breath he didn't even notice he was holding. "There's something else I need to tell you." He moved slightly closer. Bella's own breath hitched, her imagination running away with her.

"I think I know why I can't hear your mind."

Oh.

"Why?"

He took her hands gently in his. "I believe you have a latent talent, probably inherited. A mental shield. I felt it slip slightly while we were dancing."

Great. Now he could read her mind after all? No, he was frowning. Good.

"Hmm. I thought it may have been because I held your hands, but now I still can't hear you." He didn't let go of her hands, however. "Maybe it had something to do with you feeling relaxed and secure with your friends – secure enough to unconsciously let it down."

This was getting to be too much for her tired brain to handle. She pulled away from Edward and sat down on the sofa, staring at her lap. What did this all mean? Hereditary? From whom? Renee? Or Charlie? Renee had always been testing her "psychic" abilities. What if they were real?

And what does this mean for you? a meek inner voice queried. Your parents and cousin were all mentally unstable. Will you become that way also?

"Am I going to go crazy, like them?" She didn't realize that she'd asked that aloud until Edward sat next to her and wrapped a cool, comforting arm around her.

"No Bella. In fact, it's probably protecting you. It's a gift, not a curse."

A slightly hysterical laugh escaped her. "Edward, I'm not sure I can process all this. Next you'll be telling me that I'm actually a witch. Maybe Manoj is a werewolf! Oh, I know. Angela is really Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Is that what you're going to tell me?"

Edward's golden eyes bored into hers. He looked…worried? "Actually, no. Angela isn't Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He hesitated before adding, "Domen is."