A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews. I really appreciate them. I'm getting really into writing this. I've got a few ideas that are brewing inside my head. It's just a matter of trying to make them all make sense. Leave some reviews, good or bad. I appreciate the feedback.
Chapter 8
The night was very long. I decided that we should wait until morning to go hunting, hopefully the rain would stop, or at least slow down. Emmett and I saw the sun rise over the horizon and we smiled at each other. At this time I would have attacked anything because I was so thirsty. I smiled towards him and we got out of his Jeep. I wasn't even paying attention to Emmett as I let my senses take over me. It felt like my first time hunting again, except this time I was very weak. My body wasn't allowing me to catch much. I came across a herd of elk and took a leap for the first thing I could see. It wasn't the biggest elk but it did help restore some energy. I needed to really hunt something that I wanted. I caught up to Emmett, who was antagonizing a bear, what else. The guy had a vendetta that would never go away. I laughed loudly and he looked questioningly to me, apparently not noticing me standing and watching him. He then got swatted across the face and fell to the ground. This made me laugh even harder, almost to the point of rolling around on the ground, holding my stomach. After the bear had a little fun with the still stunned Emmett, I decided to intervene for the sake of my brother. Emmett then tackled the bear with one fair swoop. I left him alone and went off on my own. I hunted a pack of deer, three of them, and I felt almost fully satisfied. But I knew that I would have to face Emmett eventually. It was going to be weird talking to him about Rosalie but I knew that he would appreciate it.
Emmett was already leaning against his Jeep when I emerged through the forest. I was going to start laughing but he knocked into the back of me before I had a chance to. I jumped up to my feet from my back and ran after him. When I was a few yards away from him, I dove into his legs, knocking him to the ground and using Jasper's move to be on top of him in a second. I lightly bit his neck, not leaving a mark, and he flung me off of him. He jumped up, not quite as gracefully as I did but still fast nonetheless. I sprinted into the forest, trying to outrun him. If my running was any indication, I could just run away from the fight. I didn't have surprise on my side this time and I knew that the Volturi would attack me first for being able to block out Jane and Alec's attacks. I jumped up into the green trees that hung overhead waiting for Emmett to run by. When he did, I leaped out and landed on his back, lightly biting his neck again.
He then flung me from his back to the ground, with a little bit more force than necessary. It actually sent a jolt flying through my back. He was getting frustrated, I could see that. So, not only did I need training, but it seemed that he did as well. He came lunging at me to the ground but I used both my legs to kick him away. It took a few kicks but I was back on my feet in no time. We both eyed each other, unsure of what the other was going to do. We stared at each other, both estimating one another and I started laughing, standing up out of my crouch and looking at Emmett. It didn't seem like I could stop. When he joined in, I started walking towards the clearing. I gently climbed onto a rock and waited for Emmett to join me.
A few minutes later, he came out of the forest with his arms raised in the air.
"Alright sis, how did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"You could have killed me twice. Why do you need practice?"
"Just in case. You had me on the ground."
"And you got up without much effort."
"That didn't look like much effort," I laughed a little bit. "Are you kidding me?"
"Well it usually takes people just a little bit longer to be on their feet again is all I'm saying."
"Did you really need to slam me that hard?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. Are you alright?"
"I should be fine, just a little bit of pain," I smiled towards him. "No biggy. Like you said I could have killed you." I laughed quietly to myself again.
"Oh Bells, I'm so happy you're back. I've really missed you you know."
"Well I've been here a few weeks and you're just saying this now."
"You've been here physically but not emotionally. You're back to acting like you're dorky self again."
"Oh I hadn't noticed," I lied. I hadn't been myself all week but when I first came back I was fine. Emmett looked at me and smiled, though there was questioning in his eyes.
"Of course you have sis. You missed Jake way more than you are willing to admit and more than you should and now that you've seen him, here you are, constantly joking with a smile on your face. It's all because of that mutt isn't it?"
"Yes Emmett, the reason that I am happy is because of Jake but he's not the reason why I haven't been the same."
"Then what is it?"
"My dad," I barely whispered. It was hard for me to admit that I missed my dad. That I hadn't gotten over it yet. "I don't think it's right for me to still be upset by it. I'm supposed to be stronger than that."
"You are strong Bella. You just need to believe it. You are very strong physically, everything seems so natural to you, and you just need to have more confidence. And nobody expects you to be over Charlie's death. He was a huge part of your life and ours that is not an issue. Sometimes we just miss the old Bella."
"I'm still here Emmett."
"Yes now you are."
"I thought that we were here to talk about you, not me."
"Sorry, it's a reflex to protect you and make sure that you are okay. It seems easier than dealing with my own problems."
"What's going on with you and Rose?"
"I don't know. I love her to the end of the earth but everything between us is just physical. I want to have intellectual conversations, not just ones about how pretty she is and how her outfits look. She knows that she looks good in anything and I feel like I'm just an item to look at. Something that just looks good standing next to her, like an accessory. It normally doesn't bother me but lately it's been getting on my nerves. Carlisle and Esme have intellectual conversation, Alice and Jasper, you and Edward. All of you actually talk. Even couples that I see in town, they talk, even if it's about pointless babble. I'm just so sick of not having that."
"Have you talked to her about it?"
"Not really but I haven't been physical with her quite as much lately. I'm just hoping that she'll figure it out."
"You just can't expect her to know what you're thinking. Not everyone is a mind reader. You've got to talk to her Em. You want to talk to her more, then you've got to make the first step."
"And I'm afraid to talk to her. She chose me, she carried me a hundred miles for Carlisle to save me, she picked me out of everybody in the world that would love to be with her and I'm lucky to be with her. I don't want to lose her."
"You won't lose her. Rosalie loves you. You both belong to this family and neither of you is going anywhere. We are all bonded together by the same blood so to speak and you just need to talk to her. You know what she is interested in. Maybe tell her something you read, teach her something and maybe she will surprise you and already know what you are talking about and then you can have a discussion about it. You just have to take baby steps."
"So what should we talk about?"
"You know her interests. Talk about cars, music, maybe theater, and architecture. I can't do all the work, you've got to do some too."
"I know but I'm really nervous."
Emmett was nervous. It wasn't his usual attitude. He was the joker, the fighter and always up for anything. But for some reason, when it came to his wife, he didn't have any clue. Calming Emmett down wasn't easy, a time where Jasper would have been a great asset. Dealing with Rosalie, though, I understood his frustration. Rose was not the easiest person to get along with. She was very stubborn and controlling. She always got her way, no matter how sill the situation was.
On the way home I was in a much better mood. This time would be critical for my family. We had time incase we did end up in a battle with the Volturi but I hated that couldn't at least go a decade without having to deal with them. Maybe with the Volturi gone everybody would get some peace and quiet and not have to worry about them anymore. I was even more excited when we were driving back into Forks. I started thinking more about seeing my family and it felt like we were away a lot longer than we actually were. I missed my daughter, my Edward and all the rest of my family.
When Emmett and I turned into the garage, I almost hoped out of the car before it stopped moving. I ran into the house and the first person that I saw was the one that I was hopping to see. Edward was sitting at the piano, just as elegant and graceful as ever. I smiled and sat down next to him. It felt like I hadn't seen him in so long, like every part of him part of him was a brand new experience. I laid my head on his shoulder and took a deep breath. His scent was so overpowering and unlike anything else in the world. It still sent a shock pulsing through my body. I felt perfectly content to close my eyes with Edward so close to me. A familiar tune then filled the room. It was one, that no matter how old I got, I would never forget from my human life. It was the lullaby that Edward had wrote for me, the one that he hummed me to sleep with every night and the one that made me feel safe no matter where I was. It calmed so much that there was no need for Jasper to even use his powers on me. Edward kissed my forehead and smiled. I didn't notice anybody else in the room. They could all be staring or talking or fighting but it was all insignificant to me at that moment.
Edward got up and went upstairs without one word. I followed him without thinking twice about it. The king size black iron bed was covered with new bright white linens. He lay down and motioned for me to join him. The silence with Edward never seemed to matter; there was no such thing as an awkward silence. I cuddled up into his chest and he wrapped his arms around me, placing his head on top of mine. We were a puzzle, fit together perfectly, like a statue not moving for what seemed like no time at all but the sunset made me realize how late it was getting. Nobody seemed to be near us. I closed my eyes and remembered my fuzzy human memories. We were back on Isle Esme, completely secluded from the world. This bed felt exactly like that one, big and soft.
There was then a soft knock on the door. Edward didn't move and neither did I. Who could possibly be knocking on my door when I was in such perfect peace? Who would bother with my motionless state and try to get me to do anything? The knock repeated itself at that moment, a little bit louder than before.
"Alice," Edward whispered. He sounded just as disappointed as I was. I hadn't heard him speak all day and it as wonderful, just speaking one name. She opened the door slowly, unsure of what to find hiding behind it.
"We're decent," I said as my voice chimed through the room. It surprised me more than it should have. Alice then gracefully opened the door and sprung up onto the bed sitting Indian style at our feet. She looked over to us and sighed.
"Is this all that you guys have being doing all day," she sounded disappointed with her statement.
"What's it to you," Edward said rudely.
"Nothing, I just figured that you guys would do something more exciting. However, it was quiet so I shouldn't have expected anything else."
"Is there a point to this Alice or are you just trying to annoy us?"
"Well, we are getting a chess tournament together downstairs and if you join us then Bella can practice her shielding."
"Oh so you get the unfair advantage."
"No that's what Nessie is here for."
"So just a normal like chess tournament."
"I guess it really is. It's amazing what us vampires can come up with that can also be training."
"How does this help," I asked quietly.
"Well Edward can read minds and all, and if you can block his opponent's thoughts then he may actually lose his first game of chess. It's never happened before."
"Really?"
"No, it's never happened. You know that Edward can just read an opponent's mind so it's not fair no matter how you look at it. And he has more patience than I do so he's never forfeited, only me."
I sat up now and stared outside. It ended up being a beautiful night. It seemed like we should be outside doing something but there really wasn't much that we could do anyways. However, we still were trying to find more stuff to do as a family, anything normal at least. I hoped out of mine and Edward's bed and grabbed his arm. He wasn't budging.
"Come on Edward, I need you to help me. I need to train."
"No."
"Please?" I puckered up my lips, making my sad face so that I could get anything that I wanted. But obviously that wasn't enough.
"Sorry love, no."
"Alice a little help."
She was already at one of his legs, with her hands gripped around his ankle. I went down to join her. It was absolutely hysterical. Edward wasn't budging as Alice and I pulled with all our mite. It could be that he was holding onto the bedposts for help.
"Emmett," I yelled down the stairs trying to hold my laughing composure for a minute. "Help."
He was up in a second and stopped dead in the doorway, not knowing what to make of the scene. He was on the ground in a split second, laughing and holding his stomach.
"You're not helping," Alice growled at him.
"You two can't do anything can you?"
Emmett got up slowly and released Edward's hands from the now bent bedposts and picked up his upper torso. The three of us then carried him down the stairs. However, he didn't move. It seemed like he was perfectly content with me in our bed. Family time at that moment wasn't what he wanted at all. However, with help from Emmett and Alice we managed to get him into a chair. I sat next to him.
"Edward, come on, be a good sport."
He looked into my eyes and pouted.
"I am. One, I just wanted to see you make the face and two, it was absolutely hysterical feeling you and Alice trying pull me off the bed." A smile came across his face and he chuckled a little bit. I was fuming. I punched him in the arm and pouted.
"You did not do that."
"Of course I did. Come on love, it was a joke."
"No, I'm mad."
"Mom," Nessie said coming around the corner. "Stop acting like a little kid. Daddy was just joking."
I instantly looked up at her and smiled. "Yeah it was just…a…joke."
I punched Edward harder this time and walked over to Nessie.
"Give you a little secret. When you get married," I put my arm around her. "Don't ever let him see you vulnerable. You've got to hold your own weight."
"I know mom, I've seen your disagreements."
I was shocked. "When have you ever seen us fight?"
"Not often only sometimes when I was pretending to sleep. Dad never seemed to notice how blank my mind was. I'm surprised that I got away with it. You're so lucky that he can't do that to you."
"Yeah I really am. Sorry I didn't pass that along."
"Not a problem. I love the other skill that you gave me."
"We need to talk about that."
"Can we do it later? This has been a really intense discussion and I want to be a spectator in this event."
"You sound like this is some big league sporting event."
"In this household, this is as exciting as it's going to get."
"Then why don't we organize a little sporting tournament?"
"Really?"
"Yeah that will be your job, after tonight though."
"Cool."
Renesmee smiled and everybody took their positions. There was tables set up through out the room, some in every corner of the room, 4 in total. There was also a large chart on poster board hanging on one of the walls. It was set up in brackets. The first game was Carlisle and Jasper, then Esme and Rosalie, Alice and Renesmee and Edward and Emmett. I tried to keep my focus on Edward, using my shield to protect Emmett. Edward winced as he tried to remember how to play without being able to read Emmett's mind. He still, however, managed to beat Emmett. That table and chessboard were finished. Once Edward said checkmate the board was thrown across the room shattering into the wall and the table was punched into pieces. The way that Emmett reacted when he lost was absolutely hysterical. He had a huge temper, 10 times bigger than mine ever was.
In the next round Edward went up against Alice. It reminded me of the times when I had seen them play chess before when they would move only a few pieces and then give up trying. They eyed each other cautiously, wondering if the other would anticipate what the other was going to do. I looked around, stretching out my shield to the furthest reaches of the room to help Edward concentrate even more. Carlisle and Esme were on the opposite side of the room eying each other as well. I knew my shield was getting stronger and stronger every day. However, I didn't know how it might help in a battle. The Volturi knew my power now and they wouldn't think twice about getting rid of me the second that the battle went underway. I looked around and noticed that Emmett and Rosalie had left. I was wondering if Emmett was going to talk to her or if she was just calming him down.
Did Emmett go talk to Rosalie about the issues that he is having?
Edward jumped at the sound of my thoughts. He was so deep in concentration that it took him a minute to understand what I was asking. He looked up to me and nodded. I was then hoping that all went well for Emmett. However, even with my break in concentration it didn't seem to affect my shield any.
"Love," Edward spoke quietly into the dead silent room. "Do you mind returning your shield? I can't concentrate with all of your…umm…thoughts." He grinned minimally and I didn't listen.
So Edward what are we doing after this? I was thinking that maybe we could go off on our own, do something a little naughty. I think that it's about time that we let our hormones run wild again. Maybe this time we can actually break the bed. Maybe I will just take advantage of you. Am I distracting you? I hope I am. I just can't bear to see Alice lose to you. Do you know how upset she will be? I do. She won't get over it and will just ask you for a rematch over and over again. I could see Edward tremble a little bit on Alice's temper if she lost to him. I thought that it was quite funny. I was the only voice that he could hear inside of his head. So did you really not realize that Renesmee was awake while we were fighting? We are going to have to talk about this. Maybe we should take your car privileges away. Don't you remember when you couldn't wait to hear what was inside my head? Don't you wish that I could turn it off?
"Just little bit," he said under his breath. Every time he spoke it made everybody in the room jump up a little bit. It surprised me at how jumpy these vampires had become. Wasn't there supposed anything that surprised us?
Oh yeah, I lost track of my thoughts. We were talking about what we are going to do tonight. Maybe we could do some role-playing. That would be fun. We haven't done that in a while. Remember the last time when I was a nurse?
I knew that would get him thinking and distract him even more. I put my shield back to myself, as well as everyone but Edward. It was a little bit difficult to mold my shield around him but I still managed to do it, just inches from where he was sitting.
"You're mean," he said very aggravated.
"I know," I said in an upbeat sarcastic tone with a smile on my face. I sat down on the couch and relaxed a little bit. It seemed like I was tired even though I wasn't. Maybe I really did need this training. My shield hadn't failed in the three hours that the tournament progressed. After Edward beat Alice, Nessie excused herself and went to bed. Alice and Jasper went out to hunt and Esme sat with me on the couch as Carlisle and Edward continued with their game. Their game took the longest. It was an hour and half and I was feeling drained but I knew that I had to keep it up to give Carlisle a fighting chance in beating Edward. If anybody could beat Edward it would be Carlisle. He had one of the most expansive minds I had ever seen. Their battle was intense and I didn't see how they kept their concentration for so long. Esme and I got up and stood next to our mates to watch the ending moves. Edward was down to just one pawn and his king while Carlisle had just gotten his queen back. After a few moves of Carlisle chasing Edward around the board, Edward tipped his king over in defeat.
We all rejoiced in Carlisle's victory and I dropped my shield immediately. I fell to the ground exhausted. Edward came over to me and sat on the ground beside me.
"Are you alright," he asked concerned. When I couldn't answer, everybody in the room came rushing over to my side. Carlisle leaned over me on my right side.
"Bella, are you okay? Come on answer me."
I was in shock. Since I had been a vampire, I never quite felt this exhausted.
"Just give her some room," Carlisle said. "She'll be okay, she just needs to compose herself."
Edward ignored him and held my hand in-between his. He then proceeded to play with my wedding ring, twisting it around my finger. I felt every little touch that he made against my skin. It was relaxing as he stoked my hand with his thumb. It made me calm down and I was back to myself in no time.
"Love, are you alright," he asked as I sat up slowly helping me by putting an arm behind my back.
"I'll be fine. That took a lot out of me."
"Of course it did. If you were exhausted you could have taken a break."
"And let you beat Carlisle when he had a fighting chance, no way." A smile crept across my face as I looked across the room to the couch, were my father was sitting. He smiled at me and it reassured me that I would be alright.
"Well when you are back to normal, we are going to talk about that little stunt that you pulled."
"What stunt?"
"Using your mind to distract me. It wasn't fair."
"That's just the way that it would have been if you could actually read my mind. Plus, I like to see you sweat under pressure. It makes me happy."
"I'm glad that my pain caused you pleasure."
"Think of it as pay back for the bed incident."
"Fine we're even."
We got up off of the floor and I felt like my old self again. We said goodnight to Carlisle and Esme and went off to the cottage for the night. I knew then that I would have to keep my promise of role-playing. Maybe I would be a cop with handcuffs. Bad idea, considering my father was a cop and that would not be the best decision. Maybe just relaxing tonight would be a good idea. Edward could tell I wasn't in the mood, so we turned around to go back to the house. Instead of going in the front door, we went through the wide-open wall in our room and resumed the position that we were in earlier.
Remember to review. By reviewing it makes me really really want to keep writing to keep you all satisfied. Another chapter will be up probably in another 3-4 days, hopefully...
-Sabrina