I lay with my head in Esme's lap on the couch downstairs. Alice was sitting on the floor at Esme's feet and her cheek was resting on the couch as we discussed the graduation party. I had told Bella about it last week and she had been excited until Alice told her it was as much her party as ours. Which meant presents and attention. Bella really didn't like presents and she hated attention. I had threatened not to accept the gift she'd bought for me if she wouldn't accept ours to her. She had grumbled about it, but had otherwise acquiesced. In return, I had promised to share all the attention by staying beside her all night.
"Do you think they will come?" Alice's question was wary, but I loved her for asking it. It meant that she wasn't going to fight my intent to invite Adam, Jacob and Sarah to the party. It was as much for Bella as for me. Well, at least it wasn't entirely for me. They were Bella's friends too.
"If they can convince Sam it's not a violation of the treaty," I said quietly. Esme brushed the hair away from my face and sighed.
"I do hope so. I know you've been dying to show him your room. As for the treaty, they seem to be more receptive to working together since that horrible day in Seattle," Esme said, her voice carrying an angry growl beneath the words. It wasn't nearly as angry as it had been that day when I'd come home with new scars. It was rare to see her in Mama Bear mode, but it served to remind me that Esme was as much a vampire as the rest of us, even if she was the most loving creature I knew.
"Well, please don't invite them until tomorrow. I need to finish up plans and I want to know how it all looks," Alice said sourly. I reached out and patted her shoulder.
"I'll ask Adam to pass along the invitation tomorrow," I said happily. Alice sighed softly and squeezed my hand before going still as she checked into the future for something or another.
"Edward's bringing Bella over. Evidently she's taking an unofficial field trip to the Whitlock School of Vampire History instead of regular school today. Seems he thinks it's the best way to help her understand exactly what's going on with the newborns," Alice announced after a few minutes. Upstairs, I heard Emmett chuckle.
"I win. Pay up, Jazz." I heard Jasper's annoyed sigh and then the sound of a book closing with a decisive thud. My brothers had bet on whether or not Edward would let Jasper talk to Bella about his past. Jasper still didn't really trust himself around Bella, so he projected that mistrust onto everyone else, especially Edward.
"Don't be so surprised, Jasper. Bella is going to be part of this family so she needs to know what she's getting into. I doubt he just wants her to understand what's going on in Seattle, though. He's hoping a lesson in typical newborn behavior will scare her into agreeing to remain human," I said, grumbling the last. I heard Rosalie sigh from out in the garage. I knew she was hoping the same thing, but I knew how futile it was to hope Bella would change her mind. As frightening as spending time as a newborn vampire might be for her, she was more frightened of what would become of our family if we didn't meet the Volturi's demands. Not to mention her desire to be Edward's equal. No, Bella wasn't going to change her mind.
"It doesn't help you've been filling her head with the idea that she'll be more like you were as a newborn. Your case was extraordinary," Jasper said grumpily. I smirked.
"I'm with Dad. I think making an informed choice to accept this life cuts down on a lot of the craziness. And Bella will be even more informed than I was, if I have anything to do with it. I'm expecting her to make it through her first year with a spotless record," I said smugly. I had heard Jasper's stories myself, so I knew what he expected a newborn to act like and what my experience had been were two completely different things. Yes, I'd had trouble controlling my emotions and the thirst sometimes, but I had never been completely feral.
"Care to make that a bet, Lei-lei?" Emmett asked with a wicked chuckle.
"What, offering to let me join you and Jazz in your pointless obsession with gambling? Dad will be shocked," I said with a laugh. Emmett snorted.
"He's always expecting us to corrupt you, so I doubt he'll be surprised at all. Maybe you're just too scared to back up your convictions with a little wager."
"Not in the least. If you're so keen to give me your money, I could use a contribution to my college fund," I said with a giggle. Esme rolled her eyes, making my view of the front room spin crazily for a moment.
"You really shouldn't let your brothers drag you into such bad habits," Esme said, amusement sparkling in her voice. "But in this case, I think your money is safe."
"Thanks mom. I'll let Bella know you're on her side, too," I said happily. Esme pulled me up into a quick hug before slipping off the couch. I bounced into Alice's vision as Esme headed up the stairs.
"Please do. And tell Edward to call me and I'll bring Bella some lunch. I'm going to go visit your father at the hospital. It's almost time for his lunch break and one of the nurses has been stalking him this week." Esme sounded resigned, but I knew she enjoyed the chance to 'rescue' her husband from awestruck co-workers.
"She must be new. Go stake your claim, mom. Oh, and Bella and Edward will be here before you leave. You can ask her about lunch yourself," I said cheerfully as I heard Bella's truck on the highway.
"She's going to insist on making a sandwich, Esme. Oh, wear the new dress I bought you last weekend! It will make that nurse so..." Alice stopped abruptly mid-sentence. She stiffened and our shared sight glazed over in the odd way it did when Alice was having a vision. It would be something serious this time. It always was when the vision came without her consciously looking for it. Jasper must have been tuned into his wife's emotional state, because I sensed his presence beside us. I knew the minute the vision was over because Alice's eyesight cleared.
"What is it, Alice?" Jasper asked quietly. Alice was still tense, so I doubted it was good.
"The decision has been made," she said ominously. Around the house, the small sounds that heralded my family's everyday tasks stopped. Rose stopped tweaking some fitting or another on Bella's bike, Emmett stopped channel surfing and Esme stopped changing her clothes.
"What decision, Alice? Did the Quileute's finally decide something?" I asked, my fingers lingering over my cell phone. Adam would have called if the elders were planning a meeting.
"We don't have to go to Seattle. The newborns are coming to Forks, for Bella. One of them carried her red shirt." Alice's voice was filled with horror. I shuddered at the thought of the nightmares that stalked Seattle coming to this small town. If they came here, the names in the papers could be people I actually knew. I opened my mouth to ask a question but Jasper spoke over me.
"They won't get anywhere near Bella, Alice. We'll stop them before they get anywhere near the town," Jasper said, obviously trying to soothe his wife. Alice whimpered about the time the truck pulled up outside.
"There are too many, Jasper. We won't be able to stop all of them." Alice's voice shook with despair. I could only imagine the horrible pictures running through her head to cause such a reaction. I pulled my cell phone out and sent Adam a text to call me. The Quileutes needed to know about this ASAP.
"Too many? How many, Alice?" Edward asked sharply from outside. He scooped Bella up in his haste, running her into the house. His expression was grave as Alice undoubtedly showed him what she had seen. I could see Bella's confusion and the wince of pain when Edward squeezed her too tightly against him. He immediately released her, setting her down on the couch.
"Eighteen," Alice said dejectedly, for the sake of the rest of us. I sat down next to Bella and she reached out to wrap her warm hand around my fingers. No doubt she was clutching them, but I only felt a gentle pressure.
"When, Alice?" I asked.
"Eighteen of what?" Bella asked at the same time, concern obvious in her tone. Alice pursed her lips and Edward threw a dark glance at her.
"No sense in sugar coating it, Edward. Better she find out now. She has a right to be a part of this conversation," Alice said firmly. I agreed with her completely and I was glad when Edward nodded sharply. He came to settle on the other side of Bella on the couch and she leaned against him as he tucked her against his side. Alice then proceeded to answer our questions. "Eighteen of our kind. Victoria's bringing her army to Forks in the early morning five days from now if things hold as they are now."
Bella went from concerned to panicked in a split second.
"They're coming for me, aren't they? I have to get away from here! I won't have anyone hurt because of me," she said frantically, pulling her hand away from mine to clutch the front of Edward's shirt. He gathered her close to him with a weary sigh.
"It won't matter, Bella. They'll come looking for you either way. Best to stop them before they get here."
"At Eighteen to ten odds? That's insane," she said, her voice shrill with panic. I felt the wave of calm that Jasper threw out and Bella's eyes went to my empathic brother. I couldn't tell if she was annoyed at him or grateful.
"Ten?" Esme asked from the top of the stairs.
"All of us and Adam," Bella said firmly. "I'm not stupid enough to think he'll let Leia fight without him."
"Us? There is no us. You'll be on a plane to Florida until this is resolved, Bella Swan. Escorted by Leia if I have anything to say about it." Edward's tone was fierce. Bella shook her head and I snorted softly, actually amused that Edward thought I was leaving my family to fight the newborns alone. Enh, wrong answer.
I saw a rapid, angry flash of hands in Bella's vision.
Sure, bring up the fact that I lost a limb last time. I wasn't prepared. This time will be different. Edward growled something not even I could understand and glared at me. Bella glanced at me briefly before facing Edward again.
"I know Leia won't go anywhere, so neither am I. You're going to change me so I can help." Bella said, her tone nearly a match for Edward's. She lacked the ability to add a perfectly gutteral growl at the end, though, so Edward was kind enough to punctuate her sentence for her. I wasn't concerned about her plan. I knew that no one in my family would give in to her on that point.
"That's not an option right now, Bella. You wouldn't be much help in a fight as a newborn," Jasper said quietly. Bella looked at him, then, her expression no doubt frustrated.
"Then what can I do? I'm not going to sit by while my family and friends face the galloping horde. Because of me." Her voice was pleading now, desperate.
"It will be a fairly even fight, Bella. Newborns are strong, but they're erratic and sloppy fighters," Jasper said softly. Bella groaned.
"Fairly even just means there's a chance nobody will survive on either side. That's not acceptable." She buried her face in Edward's shirt and I reached out to touch her back.
"No, it's not acceptable and I intend to do something about it," I said before anyone else could chime in. As if on cue, my phone rang. It was time for the Quileutes to stop playing the victims in this situation. They were so determined to 'protect the humans', well this was their chance. I knew most of the pack would love to actually fight some vampires. Adam had mentioned most of his brothers were jealous of Jacob, Seth and him for their role in the fight in Seattle.
"Adam, tell Sam we need to talk to him and don't take no for an answer."
"Excellent. Things just went completely blank." Alice crowed happily, probably the first time she had ever been glad to not see something. Evidently our talk with Sam would go well. I could literally feel the relief of everyone in the room...except for Bella. She was crying quietly into Edward's shirt.
One week later
"Do I look alright?" I asked frantically. I heard Emmett snicker downstairs and had to resist the urge to run down and slap him on the back of the head. I heard a deep thud and then a grumble. I managed to smile.
"Thanks, Rose."
"Anytime, baby girl." Rose sounded amused, probably finding my sudden preoccupation with my appearance to be as amusing as Emmett did. She was just nicer about it. The fact that she was amused instead of angry was fantastic since the reason for my current state of crazy was because I wanted to look good for Adam. Of course, two early morning meetings with the wolves to discuss strategy and fighting technique had helped to ease some of her fears about the wolves. Not that she would ever admit it, nor would she get within twenty feet of any of them for fear of 'catching their stench'.
Since the night Alice had seen Victoria's decision to send her army to Forks, Sam and the rest of the wolves had grudgingly agreed to work with us to protect not only Bella but the unsuspecting humans of Forks. Most of the pack was excited about the upcoming fight, eager to get their teeth into vampires that weren't protected by a seventy year old treaty. Bella had insisted on coming to both meetings and she had actually helped come up with a workable strategy for luring the vampire army where we wanted them. We were going to use her scent as bait and then run her out of the fight area in the arms of a wolf to cover her trail. She would be tucked into a tent away from the fighting with Seth and Edward standing guard. I still wasn't sure how she'd talked Edward into staying out of the fighting. She had tried her best to convince me to sit out with her as well, but Adam and I had been working with Jasper on a fighting style that worked well for us as a pair.
Adam and I had been practically been attached at the hip of late whenever I wasn't in school. I hated that I hadn't been able to go to his graduation on the rez, but was thrilled that he was going to be at mine. Alice had primped all morning and I was wearing a white silk dress with a full, knee-length skirt, angel style sleeves and an emerald green corset bodice. Alice had almost refused to put me in white, but I had put my foot down. Fashion faux pas or no, this outfit reminded me of my relationship with Adam. I tended to wear green more often than not and Adam's wolf form was pure white. It was a very subtle reminder, but it meant something to me. I was delighted with it, but Alice tried once more to change my mind about my outfit.
"Are you sure I can't put you in the red and blue wrapdress? You'll look stunning." I raised an eyebrow at her and she sighed. "Fine, you look stunning now. But you promised. You'll wear the other dress for Bella and Edward's engagement party," she said, finally giving up on the idea. I grinned.
"Of course. It's on the Fourth of July, Alice. I'll even add a couple of white accessories and be perfectly patriotic."
"Okay, girls. Stop planning wardrobe choices for the next decade. We need to go." Carlisle's voice came from the bottom of the stairs. I giggled happily and kissed Alice on the cheek before bounding out of her room and down the stairs to hug my father. He picked me up and swung me around before kissing me soundly on the cheek.
"Happy Graduation Day, my girl," he said brightly. I laughed.
"Thanks, Dad. First of many, I hope."
"Yes, but the first of anything is always special." Esme chimed in as she came down the stairs.
"Yeah, which means you actually get presents. I still say we should always get presents for graduating high school. Kind of like the 'lovely' parting gifts you give the people that lose game shows. It'd be appropriate," Emmett said from his room. Jasper chuckled across the house and I smirked, rolling my eyes.
"Comeon, we need to go if you want to see Bella and Edward before the ceremony. Where are your cap and gowns?" Carlisle asked. Alice danced down the stairs then.
"Already in the car. If we go now, we'll show up at the same time as Adam, Sarah and Jacob."
And so we did. After a brief kiss from Adam, a hug from Sarah and an awkward pat on the arm from Jacob, Alice and I had just enough time to find Edward and Bella before the ceremony. I grabbed Bella into a hug, borrowing a pair of eyes from the crowd to see how she was doing. I was glad to see a genuine smile on her face. The last week had been rather tense for all of us, but especially for Bella. She was terrified by our plans to meet Victoria's army head on, worried one of us would get hurt or killed in the process. I was glad I hadn't told her all the details about the fight in Seattle. She really didn't need to know I'd lost an arm, did she?
"That's a pretty dress, Leia. Too bad you have to cover it with this thing." She held up her yellow robe before pulling away to slip it on. Edward helped her zip it while Alice bobby pinned her cap on. I grinned.
"Yeah, well, I'm wearing it to the party tonight, too. Besides, the yellow's not too bad. Reminds me of sunshine."
"Ironic school colors in a town that doesn't see more than a handful of sunny days a year," Bella commented sarcastically. Edward snorted softly and kissed her forehead. She looked up at him and her smile returned, a half dazed, love filled expression that made me sigh happily, linking my arm with Alice's for a moment before Ms. Cope came to shoo us towards our places. Alice, Edward and I shrugged into our robes and settled our caps before we found our places in line.
"Poor Bella. Jessica Stanley has decided that they're best of friends again," Alice commented. I rolled my eyes, listening as Jessica babbled on about how much she was going to miss Bella. She was probably just grateful for the party invitation. Everyone in Forks was curious about the mysterious Cullen home. As much as I was looking forward to the party tonight, I was both excited and nervous about having Adam in our home.
'Well, that explains why you were willing to annoy Alice with your clothing choices tonight. Looking for a little courage?' Edward had looked away from the back of Bella's head long enough to show me the flash of hands in his lap. I grinned wryly.
A little, maybe. I really like this dress and it reminds me of us. Me and Adam. So, yeah, maybe I'm using clothing as a confidence booster. I'm planning to tell him about Italy tonight. I knew my thoughts were hesitant because Edward reached over and grabbed one of my hands, squeezing gently before signing again.
'After the party would be best. In case he overeacts. Just be careful what you tell him. We do not want the whole pack knowing some things.'
I know. No doubt some of them would jump on the fact that I've killed innocents. It wouldn't just be the newborns they'd happily rip into tiny little pieces. I tried my best to keep my thoughts free of self-loathing, but no doubt he heard it. His grip on my hand tightened and he looked directly at me. No doubt he was frowning as he signed.
'I wish I could tell you differently, but you are right that some of them would jump on that. But a few would actually commend your choice as they would have done the same thing in your place. And in the technical sense, there was no breech in the treaty. There was no biting involved.'
I doubt they'll take the time to discuss the technicalities. I'll just avoid the need and leave that particular detail out of my tale of woe. I'm not going to mention Bella's change either if that's what you were worried about. I know the pack suspects that's the plan, though. It's going to come up if we can ever convince them to renegotiate the treaty.
'Between Adam's imprint and learning to work together to dispatch the greater threat, I am hopeful they will be willing to talk.'
Maybe. I need to tell Adam something, but I'll be careful about it. Ooh! Our turn. I put aside my concern about the upcoming talk with Adam, determined to enjoy my graduation. We quickly made our way up to get our diplomas. I couldn't keep the grin off my face, walking across the stage without using anyone's eyes. I had Edward humming softly for my benefit in front of me, so I knew when to pause and when to move forward. I did borrow Mr. Greene's eyes so that I didn't miss his hands when he handed off the faux leather folder that held my very first diploma. I heard my family cheering from the stands. The boys, even Carlisle, were whistling and hooting while Esme and Rose clapped and called quiet congratulations.
Across the auditorium, I heard Adam let loose what could only be called a victorious warcry that nearly drowned out Sarah's shout of happiness. Beside them, I heard Jacob chuckle at Adam's enthusiasm. He added a quiet 'Grats' of his own, knowing I would hear it. I was over the moon that he didn't seem to be here against his will or just because Sarah had come.
"Way to go, Lei-love!" Adam yelled as I moved the rest of the way across the stage. I thought I would explode from the joy I felt. Edward caught me up at the edge of the stage and swung me around, planting a kiss on my forehead. Alice was waiting to add her hug and congratulations before we headed back to our seats.
"Congratulations, Leia." I heard Bella's whisper and aimed a smile in her direction. The rest of graduation passed without incident. I clapped and yelled for Bella and for Angela Weber as well, but then it was time to throw our hats. I clutched mine to my chest, unwilling to lose my first addition to the Cullen family graduation cap collection. I heard Edward chuckle softly as he kissed my forehead again and then moved through the crowd to find Bella. I darted through the crowd myself, beelining for Carlisle and Esme.
"Dad!" Carlisle caught me as I literally jumped into his arms. Esme wrapped her arms around both of us and I enjoyed the snug embrace. I sighed happily. Behind us, I heard Jasper and Alice kiss briefly while Rose lectured Emmett in a vampire only hiss about carving his initials into the wooden stadium seating with his fingernails. She seemed to soften a little when he leaned down and from the sound of it, carved something else. Esme was kind enough to glance down for me. I giggled. There was a tiny heart with 'EC + RH' inside it etched into the worn wood.
"Who knows, maybe it'll still be there in fifty years when we decide to come back," Emmett whispered softly. I didn't want to ruin the sentiment, so I didn't say anything about the fact that, if the Quileutes had anything to do with it, we would not be returning to Forks as long as La Push belonged to the tribe. It made me worry about how my relationship with Adam could work, but I was putting off that conversation until a later date. Like the one about how he wasn't immortal in the strictest sense of the word.
"Why the long face, Lei-love?"
Adam had come over with Jacob and Sarah tagging along behind him. Carlisle and Esme released me for a moment so I could hug him. I snuggled for a just a moment into his chest and he kissed the top of my head.
"Nothing. Just a random sad thought. All gone now."
"Better be, my girl. No room for sadness today," Carlisle said gently. Adam looked up at him and Carlisle gave him a half smile. Emmett snorted.
"Of course not. Today you get presents. Save the doom and gloom for tonight in the meadow."
"Might help if you didn't mention it," Jasper hissed softly, no doubt sensing a surge in unease amongst the group of us. Rose took Emmett by the hand then and tugged.
"Let's go to the car." I could hear the tension in her voice and sighed as both she and Emmett disappeared from the auditorium. I smiled apologetically up at Adam and he stroked my cheek.
"It's okay, Leia. So, what plans?" he asked, looking up at my family. Alice bounced on her toes as she began to outline the party details and such. Adam just let her ramble as we followed Rose and Emmett out of the auditorium. Edward joined us outside. Charlie was taking Bella to the diner for a celebration dinner. I knew she would have preferred cooking something, but I had heard Charlie insist. He'd seemed a little too relieved that Edward wouldn't be joining them.
"One of us should keep tabs on them until the party," Jasper said quietly. Edward nodded.
"Of course. I was just coming to tell you I'll see you at the house later." Not like he couldn't have told us without coming over. When he reached out to pull me into another hug, I realized he was apologizing for not being part of our little mini-celebration at home before the party. I really was expecting you to stay with Bella, Edward.
"Edward, why don't you stay with your family. Sarah, Jacob and I were going to get a bite to eat before the party. We can keep an eye on Bella and Charlie," Adam suggested softly. I watched Edward's thoughtful expression through Adam's eyes and eventually he nodded with a grateful smile.
"Would you mind? We have a little something planned at home for Leia," Edward said, flashing a grin at me. I grinned back and then gave Adam a quick peck on the cheek.
"I can't wait to show you my room tonight. No more trips into town for the studio," I said excitedly. Adam hugged me one more time before the Quileutes took off so they wouldn't be far behind Charlie and Bella. Alice squealed happily and grabbed my hand, running us to the car. I laughed happily. I was determined to enjoy the rest of the night. Who knew when we would get another moment of levity after the party was over?