"There's no use in hiding!" Bella almost growled out of frustration. "They're just like you, they know everything!"
Anthony frowned. They were sitting in the livingroom drinking tea and watching the storm through the windows. Two hours ago rain had begun pouring down and the winds weren't exactly merciful. The house was squeaky and old and now it sounded like it was crying almost. Little Ed was lying on Bella's lap covered in a blanket shaking. They had found him at the doorstep when they had gotten home after Bella's attack. How on earth Ed had managed to get there they had no idea, but it was good to have him home safe and sound.
"It's not like I have knowledge merely by wanting it" Anthoyn said seriously. "If they know anything it's because they've searched for it. They don't really have any reason to believe that you have a son, if the Volturi haven't spoken to them and somehow it seems unlikely that they'd want the Cullens to know that."
"Yeah because they want you for themselves" Bella filled in tiredly.
"And from what I've heard the Cullens don't know I exist and I haven't managed to find out why they're all back" Anthony said. "I guess you didn't ask?"
"No I didn't, but I find it hard to believe why they would tell me considering they were so secretive regarding Alice already" Bella said. "What about Edward? You know with the mind-reading? It seems unlikely that he doesn't know.." Bella mused aloud.
Forks was a small-town and gossip was always running high thanks to the one and only Jessica Stanley. Bella had a hard time imagining her mind would be a hard one to read considering her mouth constantly was revealing her every thought about everything and everyone. As if Anthony could read Bella's mind just now he grimaced.
"Jessica Stanley. It's kind of useless to read her mind when you can just as easily ask her anything and she will tell you everything" he filled in. Then he shook his head. "I'm not sure Edward's even here. I haven't picked up on anything yet, so for now I'm still a secret."
"Keeping you that way will be hard. We can't very well hide you. You can't ditch school" Bella sighed.
"Why not?" Anthony asked smiling.
Bella ignored him and continued on.
"It's not like you don't look like someone we used to know."
Anthony smiled briefly.
"Just say it out loud, I look exactly like Edward."
"You look exactly like Edward" Bella said.
"I'll put a cap on" Anthony suggested.
Bella shook her head.
"They're just going to wonder what Edward's doing with a cap on. It's not exactly his style, at least it wasn't back in the day."
They looked at each other again, both of them looking quite confused.
"Remind me again why we're even trying to hide me" Anthony said.
"Honestly I don't know" Bella admitted.
She thought about it. Would it be so awful if the Cullens found out? Sooner or later they probably would anyway, but why not sooner? Bella felt uneasy.
"I guess I'm afraid that they're going to need you for something. I want you out of their word. There's already plenty of people that want you for something."
Anthony nodded.
"Then I'm going to do my best to stay out of their sight for as long as I can."
"But your ability..." Bella said worriedly. "Edward has it too."
"From what I understand, although I can't be sure, Edward can't protect his thoughts. I have never met another mindreader, but I've managed to protect myself from the Volturi's abilites so far... Chances are I can probably protect myself from Edward's ability too."
"And if you can read all of their minds, including Edward's, you're going be able to stay under the radar a little longer" Bella filled in happily.
They fell quiet for some time.
"Rosalie was impressed by you" Anthony said all of a sudden. "Against her own will of course" he added when he noticed Bella's surprised facial expression.
"Why?" she asked.
He laughed a little.
"You came off as strong and independent. You didn't seem to need them anymore. She thought you'd be over the moon seeing them again, begging her to let you met Edward, but you didn't react as she'd expected. When you insisted upon leaving the house so quickly she was practically in shock."
He seemed to stiffen slightly.
"There's someone at the door" he said.
Bella tried to hear what Anthony was hearing although she knew it was impossible. She got up, little Ed in her arms and headed down the hall. She felt uncomfortable and had a feeling that the someone at the door was not a neighbor wanting to borrow some sugar. Which normal person would go out in a storm like this? She tried peeking through the little window on the door but the storm made it impossible to see anything but rain and darkness.
Anthony stood perfectly still. Then suddenly he looked very surprised.
"It's alright, it's..." he trailed off. "It's Carlisle" he filled in frowning.
Bella stiffened but told herself to get a grip. She's a grown woman, she can greet her old ex-boyfriend's dad. Big deal! Anthony disappeared in the blink of an eye and Bella went to get the door. She opened the door before she could regret it. Although she was expecting him now, she was still shocked as she looked at Carlisle. He was smiling carefully with a small frown on his face as if wordlessly asking if it was alright that he was here. He too, of course, looked exactly the same. Not a day older and he hadn't even gotten a new haircut. His hair was blonde and short as always and his eyes were gentle-looking and bronze colored. They still hadn't spoken. Bella broke the silence.
"You don't remember where you used to live, do you?" she asked him.
He chuckled softly and the frown on his face disappeared.
"I am so glad to see that you're well" he said.
Bella gestured for him to come inside and stepped aside to let him in. Carlisle took off his coat.
"What a storm" he commented.
Bella smiled.
"I would offer you some tea, but there's no real use" she said apologetically closing the door behind him with one hand. "And this dog is not a snack, he's a friend" she added quickly looking down at little Ed in her arms.
Carlisle chuckled again.
"Still have your sense of humor I hear" he said approvingly.
"Of course" Bella said.
Carlisle took a look around and nodded as if he liked what he was seeing.
"You've put your touch on the place" he commented.
Then his eyes met hers and he sounded very sincere when he spoke.
"I'm sorry to hear about Charlie. He was a fine man."
Bella nodded.
"I know" she agreed quietly. "I miss him very much. Of course there was an option to sell the house, but I just couldn't so we stayed." We? Oh no. "Me and the dog" she added with a nervous laugh. "What brings you here?" she asked switching the subject as she had a seat.
Carlisle did the same although Bella knew it really made no difference to him whether or not he was sitting or standing. His eyes focused intently on her and he looked slightly worried.
"I wanted to see you and see how you were doing of course. After you left the house still so wounded" he answered.
Bella had nearly forgotten about the incident although it happened just yesterday. In that same moment she realized she didn't feel her wounds or broken bones at all. Strange.
"I actually feel well, thank you for your help" she answered.
Carlisle nodded, frowning, but still he could see for himself that Bella didn't seem to be in any pain whatsoever.
"And in general?" he asked. "You know, the last time I saw you, before yesterday, I was not so sure how things were going to turn out."
"Fair enough" Bella said sighing recalling how sudden the Cullen's departure had come all those years ago. "Seeing you here is odd considering how it all went down. It would feel worse to see you if I was dissatisfied with my life."
"And you're not I hope?" Carlisle flicked in.
"Life has turned out pretty well" Bella answered lightly.
She ignored the parts of her life that she wasn't so happy with it and instead focused on Anthony and the new addition to their family, Little Ed. Bella wanted to pinch herself. Doing small-talk with Carlisle after all these years? Woah! The puppy growled all of a sudden and Bella noticed that he was looking at Carlisle.
"I'm sorry. He's not too fond of new people" Bella said smiling down at little Ed.
Carlisle chuckled.
"Or it could be that he's sensing danger" he said. "Although there is no danger" he added. "What's his name?"
"E..." Bella began but caught herself immediately and then cursing inaudibly at herself for naming the puppy Edward. "Espen" she filled in quickly. Thankfully Carlisle nodded and seemed to drop the subject.
"How is Edward?" Bella asked.
Darn it! The question was out before she knew it. She just couldn't help herself. The memories of Edward were seventeen years old. She wondered how many times he'd graduated High school since then or if he had been travelling across the world.
"The same" Carlisle answered. "You know thinking a lot, disappearing from time to time."
Bella was going to chime in that his son had some of that too, but realized that wouldn't be very wise. In that same instant she froze. Discreetly she threw a glance at the bookshelf knowing there were pictures of Anthony there. To her relief she noticed that they were all gone. Anthony had been effective with his time she noted.
"Is there anyone in your life?" Carlisle asked.
Bella didn't really want to share her failed love life with Carlisle so she merely smiled.
"Modern times I guess" Carlisle said amused probably thinking Bella had several boyfriends or something like that. "No marriage? No children?" he asked.
So they really did not know, Bella thought.
"Life didn't turn out the way I planned it in that particular area" Bella answered smiling shrewdly. She figured she wasn't lying if she was just being cryptic about the truth.
"What brings you back to Forks?" Bella asked.
Carlisle smiled somewhat stiffly and she knew that he wasn't planning on answering.
"I'll tell you at another time, as for now I have to be on my way" he said standing up.
Bella followed him to the hallway. In just a few seconds Carlisle was ready to go outside again.
"It was nice to see you again Bella. You will always be family to us" he said smiling.
Bella smiled back and closed the door after him.
Family? she thought frowning. Then she shook her head at the thought. While she appreciated the sentiment she had her own family. She went back to the livingroom and quickly put the previously hidden photos back in their rightful places. She saved her favorite for last and carefully hung it on the wall. A photo of Anthony, Bella and Charlie posing together in the garden on Anthony's third birthday. In the photo Anthony was in Charlie's arms smiling widely at the camera while Charlie and Bella were laughing about something that seemed to be extremely amusing. Bella couldn't recall what it was, but she loved the picture. She allowed herself to dream that they were all still here together. That Charlie was still here with them.
And in that moment looking at the photograph, her life felt completely full.