Edward
We made our way downstairs to find that almost everyone was there. I did not see Tanya, Rose or Esme; I could not hear their thoughts so they were not in the house either. We sat at the end of one of the couches. Alice and Jasper were at the other end, talking to Emmett who sat in an armchair next to them. They were discussing the trip back to Forks. Kate, Irina and Carlisle were talking about local wildlife. There were so many of us here at one time that we would have to go farther out on our hunting trips so that we did not impact the local wildlife in a negative way. Carmen and Eleazar were listening but not speaking.
Alice bent forward, looking around me to talk to Bella.
"Bella, we are going to have to come up with some convincing stories for you to tell Charlie when you get back."
"I know Alice. And we will have to make sure that we include Jasper in them too. Charlie thinks we were all together. And I assume that you have documents made up to prove that I was there? He'll want to see those too you know." She said meaningfully.
She is getting good that this, Alice thought. She grinned at Bella.
"Of course. I already have them. You were distributing supplies to areas that were very much in need of them. I would have had us administering vaccinations but I know how much you hate needles. And blood." She laughed. Can it get anymore ironic?
Kate and Irina were looking at Bella with curiosity and amazement.
"You hate blood, Bella?" Kate asked. Bella blushed; she hated that blood made her nauseous and hated attention more.
"Oh yes, our Bella here gets nauseous just at the sight of it. Faints dead away." Emmett pressed the back of his hand against his forehead and pretended to faint. He burst out laughing. Kate and Irina both laughed.
"Thanks Emmett." Bella said, disgust in her voice.
"It's just ironic." Irina said. "Your boyfriend drinks blood and the sight of it makes you faint." Such a paradox those two. She thought.
"Actually it is the smell, not the sight." Bella said, and then looked like she wished she hadn't spoken.
"Most humans can't smell blood Bella. It is unusual that you can. You might have better than average olfactory development." Carlisle was in doctor mode.
"I don't know about that Carlisle. I mean I know I don't have vampire senses but I don't think I smell better than anyone else." Bella looked uncomfortable so I decided to lighten the moment.
"You do to me," I said, smirking at Bella. She smiled at me and everyone laughed and went back to their conversations.
Kate and Irina looked over at Bella with curiosity. They were both secretly amused at how a simple human girl could affect me so much. I was too for that matter. But they didn't know my Bella. She had always held my attention, from that very first moment in the cafeteria.
Bella leaned over to me and spoke in a soft voice.
"I think I would like to go for a walk for a while."
I nodded and would have gotten up but she stopped me.
"No, you sit here and visit with your family. I'm not going to go far."
I didn't like the thought of Bella wandering around outside alone.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I just need some fresh air. It's good for my olfactory development." She laughed softly. Perhaps she really did need some air and if I knew Bella, some time to think by herself. I was not going to crowd her if she needed her space. I was not going to be that guy. I simply nodded and she excused herself and walked outside. I heard her walk down the steps and into the yard.
I sat there for a moment, lost in my own thoughts, when Carlisle pulled me to the present.
Edward, I would like to speak to you outside please.
I nodded and got up. Carlisle excused himself from Kate and Irina and we walked out the back door. We went about fifty yards into the trees then stopped.
"What is it Carlisle?" I asked.
There are a few things that I would like to talk to you about before we return to Forks.
"Alright, what?" I was a little wary now.
First, how are you going to deal with the Charlie situation? If what I suspect is true, Bella was not in the best shape after you left. I flinched at that. I was beginning to understand how much I had hurt her. I knew Charlie would not easily forgive me for what I had done to Bella.
"I'm not really certain at this point. I will have to explain to him why I left. Well, not the real reason I left but something close to it. Charlie is a cop and I am sure that even with my skills at lying he will see something amiss. I haven't got the story quite settled in my head yet. But I do know that he will have to accept the fact that Bella and I are together again."
Just be careful son. He is a father and they are very, very protective. Especially of their only children. Even more so when that only child is a girl.
"I know Carlisle. And I will have to make sure that I do not cause any problems for Bella as well. It is a sticky situation but I will speak to Bella about it and we will try to figure out the best approach. She knows him better than I do." Carlisle knew about my inability to read Charlie's thoughts. I was only able to get impressions. I would have to play it by ear.
Carlisle nodded. That sounds like a good plan. He hesitated before he continued.
There is something else, Edward. I know that we have had this discussion before but I think that now it is even more pertinent.
I saw what was on his mind. This was not a discussion I wanted to have.
"I know what you are going to say, Carlisle, and the answer is still no. I do not want Bella to become one of us, Alice's vision be damned."
Do you believe that Bella has changed her mind?
"We have not discussed it." I had not even thought about it again. I had not wanted to disrupt our reunion.
It is something you need to discuss with her Edward. Now more than ever.
"What do you mean?" I could not see where he was going with this conversation.
Edward, we all saw the misery that you went through when you were parted from her this time and it was your decision. What would you do if something happened to her? If she…died?
I gasped at the sudden pain that thought caused in my chest. What would I do if Bella were gone forever? These last months I had lost her but only in the figurative sense. She was still alive and I could have seen her whenever I had chosen to. Bella's description of her accident, the one that had brought her back to me, flashed through my mind. What if it had killed her? What if I never ever had the chance to see her again? The anguish that caused me had me gripping my chest and bowing my head.
I felt Carlisle's hand grip my shoulder.
That's exactly what I am talking about, Edward. She is human and with that comes mortality. She may not die for sixty or seventy years but eventually she will. You have to think about that. If this is something that Bella truly wants you should consider it.
I drew in a shocked breath andrecoiled from Carlisle's touch.
"How can you think that? Do you really think that she should be condemned to this life like the rest of us? You know how all of us struggle with what we are! You think Bella should have that same kind of torment? She doesn't even know what she would be getting into! She doesn't understand what it is like, this life of ours."
Have you tried explaining it to her? I shook my head. Then perhaps you should. It might change her mind. I have never met anyone who wanted to enter into this life willingly. She may not be as tormented as you think if it is what she wants in the first place. I do know that you cannot bear to be parted from her, even in death. I know you Edward, I know you cannot and will not survive without her.
He was right. There was no way I would be able to go on if Bella were dead.
"I will think about what you have said Carlisle. But I would rather nothing be said to her about this. She may have changed her mind and I don't want to give her ideas."
Fair enough.
I could tell that there was something else on his mind. I heard what he was thinking and gasped.
"I am not ready for that discussion, Carlisle." I said angrily.
Edward, you are going to have to face it someday. Bella is a healthy young woman and she does have physical needs. Just like you do.
I groaned. I knew I had physical needs. It was all I could do not to keep my hands off of Bella every minute of the day. More so when I kissed her. But I did not want to hurt her either.
"Carlisle, it is not safe for her. What if I were to lose control. I could never forgive myself for hurting her."
Then perhaps you need to work on it. Practice with her to build up your…tolerance.
I looked at him, shocked.
"Build up my tolerance? How?"
Start slowly and work your way through. There are many ways to give and receive pleasure that do not involve actual intercourse.
I could not believe I was having this discussion.
Perhaps just start with touching her in a more intimate way. You can always stop when you feel your control slipping. I think you will be surprised at how much control you do have. Don't be afraid to go slow. This is all new to you and I know that it will take time before you are ready to "go all the way" as it were.
"Thanks Carlisle. I really do appreciate your advice. Um, can we go back inside now?" I asked pleadingly.
Carlisle laughed. Sure.
I breathed a silent sigh of relief.
We walked back inside and I noticed that Bella was not back yet. I was becoming a little worried by her continued absence. I decided to go out onto the porch to see if I could see her. When I did I saw her walking with Rose and Rose had her arm around Bella's shoulder. I was shocked. Rosalie had hardly ever even spoke to Bella, much less show her physical affection. I wondered what had happened to change things.
"Everything okay?" I asked warily. Rosalie answered.
"Sure, I saw Bella walking and joined her. I knew you would want her to be safe. So we have just been having a sisterly walk and talk." She smiled. Just getting to know my new sister, Edward. Don't freak out.
This didn't sound like the Rose I knew at all. I would have to ask her in private just what had occurred on this walk of Bella's.
We all turned and walked into the house.