Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, I'm just a very happy textual poacher playing 'what if they were a bit older ...'.
Chapter 13 refresher
"Oh," Bella's voice was soft now, her face slack with wonder as she gazed at the meadow before us. It was small but beautiful and illuminated by the afternoon sun. Bella took a few more paces forward, her face mesmerised as she stepped into the light. She stood in the meadow and turned in a slow circle as she took in her surroundings and then saw me standing in the shadows watching her. "What are you doing back there?" she called, "Come join me," she held out her hand with a smile that was as dazzling as the sun overhead.
I hesitated and took a deep breath. I could detect no humans nearby so the coast was clear. There was nothing to give me away other than the woman who stood gazing at me, her face bright with curiosity.
"Here goes," I murmured to myself as I stepped into the light.
Songlines Ch14
Bella's encouraging smile faltered as I stepped into the clearing and was illuminated by the sunlight. I kept my gaze steadily on hers as I unbuttoned my shirt and pushed the fabric aside to reveal my chest. Iridescent sparkles danced across Bella's stunned expression as I paced deliberately towards her. She licked her lips as if to say something but no sound emerged. After a long moment she extended a shaky hand to gently touch my chest, snatching it away before placing her palm flat against my skin.
"So now you know," I murmured as Bella gazed at me, still not making a sound. "This is what I am."
"It's incredible," she whispered at last pulling back to look at my face and reaching up to brush my chin, "like diamonds." I was about to speak when she happened to glance from my chest to her hand that rested against it and went pale. Stepping back abruptly she bent over double bracing her hands on her knees as she seemed to struggle for breath.
"Bella," I bent over her, anxious. "Are you-," I stopped as she waved me off.
"Just give me a minute," she said in a weak voice. She looked up at me and her knees wobbled alarmingly before she sank to the ground with a muffled thump. I immediately dropped to my knees beside her.
"What's wrong?" my hands danced over her face, smoothing back her hair and checking her pulse. Her heartbeat was skipping at a rapid pace but at my touch it began to calm down.
"I'm okay," she gulped as she took a deep breath before grasping the edges of my shirt and pushing them aside so that she could look her fill. "You're … my god, Edward." Her eyes were round with shock as she looked at me. "It's like nothing I expected. " She looked over my shoulder back at the shadowed undergrowth of the forest and to my immense surprise she began to giggle. "When I saw you standing in the shadows back there looking so worried I didn't know if you were going to burst into flames or … or-," her giggling increased until she was helpless with laughter.
I put my arms around her and hugged her carefully. This wasn't the laughter of amusement; Bella was going into shock. The afternoon wasn't going as I had planned.
"All this time I thought that maybe you and I were just a little …-," she hiccupped with laughter and waved an impotent hand as she searched for the right word, "different." She reached up to trace my eyebrow with a forefinger before regarding me with a mournful expression. "Turns out I was right but you're not just out of the ordinary, you're a different species, and we're dating? How the hell does that work?"
"I don't know," I replied as I watched her trying to process the situation and my heart sank as I watched silent thoughts flit across her face.
"You told me," Bella murmured, "you tried to tell me so many times and I guess I didn't want to believe you but seeing you now …," her voice trailed off.
I nodded. "Now you can see me for the monster I am."
Bella gave me a sharp glance and she sat up straighter to look at me, cupping my face in her hands and surprising me with her fierceness.
"You're not a monster," she said slowly, "Edward I'm not sure I've got my head around just what you think you are, but I know what you're not."
"Bella," I started but she shook her head to stop me.
"No," she said in a resolute tone, "you've saved me, watched over me night after night all at an incredible cost to yourself. That doesn't make you a monster." Bella leaned forward and pressed her lips against mine. "You're beautiful," she whispered, "so very beautiful."
I leaned into her embrace wanting to lose myself in her warmth as she wrapped herself around me but somehow I managed to resist. I pulled away with a sigh of regret and got to my feet. It was now or never.
"I'm not beautiful, Bella," I said slowly so that she could understand my intent, "my species is the perfect killing machine. My looks, my scent, my speed, it's all designed for the hunt."
Bella blinked but I had disappeared, running to the other side of the clearing before she could register the fact that I had moved, pulling up a tree and hurling it into another without any effort. Bella blinked again and I was back in front of her.
"Nothing can out run or out fight me," I said, "and the rest of my family is the same. You need to understand that, Bella. Even Esme who cooked you dinner last night is a predator just like me."
"I know," Bella nodded jerkily as she remained seated. "I know this, you've told me, and you're showing me. What do you want me to do?"
"I don't know," I sank to my knees again and ran a hand distractedly through my hair. "I just don't know," I sighed.
Bella got to her hands and knees and crawled towards me, pushing at my arms until she was straddling my lap.
"Hey," she ducked her head to catch my eyes and gave me a sweet, sad smile. "I'm not screaming, I'm not running," she said in a quiet voice. "I know what you are, and I know you won't hurt me."
"We're taking such a chance," I shook my head marvelling at the woman I held in my arms. "Surely it's doomed to fail."
"Not necessarily," she shook her head, "but are you going to deny what could be?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I've denied myself for so long, thinking all this time I was a monster."
"You're not," Bella said, leaning forward and cupping my face in her fragile, warm hands.
"I am," I said, "but you make it bearable."
"Let me show you what else I can do," she whispered as she pressed herself against me. I ran my hands up her back, fisting the hair at the nape of her neck as she tried to cover my face with kisses, running her tongue across my lower lip and giving a whimper as I moved to keep my teeth away from her softness.
"You don't know how long I've waited for you," I said in a quiet voice, stroking the pad of my thumb over her bottom lip and watching as blood pooled in her face. I moved my hand to cup it against her cheek, enjoying the rush of warmth beneath her skin. My thirst ripped and flared in my throat, but I ignored it. She lifted a hand to gently trace the shadows beneath my eyes and I leaned into her touch, marvelling at the effect she had on me. I would love her for the rest of my existence.
"Oh, Edward," she murmured before putting her arms around me and drawing me closer still. I wrapped my arms around her waist and buried my face against her neck, closing my eyes in what felt like surrender. We might have sat there for a moment or forever. I didn't know and realised that I no longer cared. I nuzzled against her neck and flicked the tip of my tongue against the pulse point that throbbed beside her ear, making her shiver.
"I'm cold," I murmured.
"And I'm warm," Bella replied as she held me closer. I touched the tip of my tongue to her neck again and I could taste the sun on her skin. She settled herself more comfortably on my lap, wrapping her legs around my waist with a small hum. The shock of my revelations seemed to have passed as Bella moved into another phase of acceptance. I wondered what would happen next to shatter our calm; it seemed that our relationship so far had been one shock after another on both our parts.
Bella's shoulders shook and I lifted my head to look at her in silent inquiry. She gave me a wide-eyed look of solemnity before she bit her lip as her shoulders shook again.
"What?" I reached up to smooth her hair with a wondering hand. Could she be going into shock again?
Bella shook her head from side to side like a drunken marionette.
"S'othing," she said and hiccupped with barely suppressed mirth.
"You're not really selling me on that one," I said, feeling my lips twitch with a slight smile out of sheer reflex in the face of her amusement.
"Just silliness," she shrugged.
"Tell me," I coaxed as I leaned forward to kiss her chin.
"Well, given our situation," Bella leaned forward to kiss the tip of my nose in return, "it's so surreal I just had a random thought."
"Which was?" I raised an eyebrow.
Bella shrugged again and ducked her head with a smile, "I was just thinking that we were like the lion and the lamb."
"Mmph," a snort of amusement bubbled out of me before I could contain it. Bravery aside, Bella's sense of humour certainly leaned towards the macabre. "Silly lamb."
"Sick lion," she agreed as she reached up to comb her fingers through my hair with a loving hand, "but I'm not sure that I'd have it any other way."
She shifted on my lap to make herself more comfortable and I bit back a groan at the delightful friction she was creating. Bella paused as she felt my body's immediate response and gave me a heavy-eyed look. "Ah," she sighed, "so it's not just me?"
"Despite what I am, I'm still a man," I managed as she gave another experimental twist of her hips against mine.
"So I see," she said as she shifted a third time with a slight catch in her voice, "maybe we should do something about that."
She was so warm and her body was getting hotter still as her arousal became more apparent. My hands had slid beneath her bottom to hold her to me and now given our position I realised I was about to become the architect of my own destruction. I moved my hands to her waist to lift her off me with an apologetic grimace as she groaned and clutched at me.
"Please, not yet," she clutched at me frantically, "I'll be good." The note of pleading in her voice stopped me and I leaned back to look at her as she gave me a tremulous smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push but could you … hold me a while longer?"
As if I could resist. I gave a slight nod and gathered her to me again. Bella rested her head on my shoulder and nuzzled into my neck. I had to smile at her instinctive snuggling gesture as I closed my eyes and rested my check against her hair.
"I didn't mean to push," Bella murmured after a brief silence. "Maybe it was an instinctive reaction to … you know."
"I know," I replied I kissed her hair and kept my face against hers. I had read medical journals in the past that had noted a propensity for humans to seek out sexual gratification after an adrenaline rush or traumatic situation. It appeared that Bella had felt the need for a similar life-affirming moment, one that I was unable to accommodate, despite my nearly overwhelming desire to do so. It was too much of a risk and so I found myself swallowing back venom again and again as she signed and nestled against me.
We sat entwined in silence for so long that I found myself drifting in a kind of reverie. My body had no need for sleep but it seemed that my mind welcomed the silence that only Bella could provide. My thoughts began to slow until I became almost mindless with relaxation, content simply to count the steady thrum of Bella's pulse.
After a time Bella straightened a little in my arms and turned her face towards mine, kissing her way along my jaw. My eyes were closed and so I found myself turning blindly towards her seeing out her lips with my own. Bella moved tentatively now, moving with a caution meant to reassure as she gave me a soft kiss. I was still drifting, smiling at Bella's gentle movements as she shifted in front of me again and cupped my face in her warm, soft hands. She kissed and sucked on my bottom lip and without thinking I parted my lips and gave her access. It wasn't until the tip of her tongue touched mine that I realised what I had allowed to happen.
I froze and leaned away from her as carefully as I could. Bella involuntarily leaned against me until she realised that I was trying to put myself out of reach.
"Sorry," I gulped, "didn't want to risk anything."
"Risk? Oh," Bella put her hand to her mouth and gave me a startled smile. "I see what you mean."
"What?" I frowned at her in puzzlement. Mercifully she hadn't cut herself on my teeth. I could taste no blood and it seemed the only other side effect of our encounter was the tightness in my groin that ached for release.
"My lips are a little numb," Bella explained. She tapped her lower lip with her forefinger and smiled at me again.
"It's the venom," I explained as she eased herself off my lap and I helped her to her feet.
Bella had been dusting off her jeans when she paused and looked up at me.
"You're telling me you're venomous as well as being a vampire?"
"Yes," I sighed as I reached for her hand. "Are you sure you don't want to start running and screaming now?"
"Sure I'm sure," Bella moved to stand in front of me and began to carefully button up my shirt. I stood perfectly still and allowed her ministrations, swallowing again as her warm hands brushed against my skin. She gave me a quick look and dropped a kiss at the base of my throat before leaving the top button undone. I moved to fasten it but she stopped me with a shake of her head. "Leave it," she suggested, "I like it that way," she winked, "makes it easier for me to kiss you there."
I left it.
Bella took my hand in hers and we began to walk back towards the forest. "This venom of yours, what's it like?"
"Very effective," I answered after a considered pause.
"Ah," Bella nodded, "so the more you bite something-," she gave me a sidelong look, "the quicker the change?"
"Something like that," I agreed, "Although it's exponentially more painful as well."
"How do you know?" Bella cocked her head as we came to a halt by the tree line.
"Carlisle," I explained, "he's done a lot of research over the," I stopped as I tried to find the right words.
"Over the decades?" she teased with a quick smile.
"Centuries," I corrected, and watched Bella's expression flicker before she composed herself again. No matter how I tried to soften the blow the shocks just kept coming.
"Mm-hmm," she nodded and pursed her lips as she stepped towards me and put her arms around my waist. "Well for a bunch of old guys you're holding up pretty well."
Once again I found myself shocked into laughter.
"Old, huh?" I scooped her up into my arms and gazed into her smiling eyes. "I don't think your average old guy could do this."
"What-," Bella began before her words were snatched away on the wind. I had run with her on my back up the mountain, but now I sprinted. It was only a handful of seconds later when I pulled up to a halt at the edge of the forest at the base. I felt exhilarated. The combination of running and Bella's company; her scent, her love, made me feel almost drunk with the enjoyment of it all.
Bella unclasped her hands from their clutching grasp on my shoulders and pulled the snarls of hair off her face as she looked over her shoulder towards the edge of the forest where we had left my car.
"Holy-," she whispered and then composed herself as she smiled at me. "You can really move." I carefully set her down and waited for her regain her balance before we began to pick our way along the dirt track towards the car. "Getting around on campus with humans must drive you crazy."
"It has its moments," I admitted, "although the benefits far outweigh the cost."
"Benefits?" Bella looked across at me and I flashed her a warm smile. A delighted flush immediately rushed into her cheeks. "Oh, right."
"It's getting late," I commented as I looked up at the fading sky, "I should get you home soon."
"I guess," Bella sighed as I held the car door open for her. I got and sat watching as she buckled herself in before I started the engine, "but just so you know I don't think Angela's going to be sitting up waiting for me."
"I know," I gave a wry smile. Angela's thoughts on campus had been positive to the point of being gleeful on her friend's behalf.
"I had a big lunch," Bella announced suddenly. "As in really big. Really," she said again for emphasis as I looked at her.
"Uh-huh," I nodded, not sure where she was going with this conversation gambit.
"So I won't be needing supper tonight," Bella went on, "if say, we were to end up back at your place."
"Right," comprehension dawned and I nodded in apparent deep thought. "Well when you put it that way I know Esme was keen to see you again."
"It'd be a shame to let her down," Bella agreed. "Look," she twisted in her seat and put a hand on my arm, "let's just pretend we've had a had a two way conversation about this, my reasoning won the day and now you're going to take me to yours."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that," she nodded.
"I can see why Alice likes you so much," I muttered in quiet amusement as I gunned the car towards home. Between the psychic and the human, I didn't stand a chance.
* * * * *
"Bella," Esme beamed as she enfolded Bella in her arms. Only those of us watching could see how carefully Esme moved. Alice seemed to be holding her breath as Bella laughed and gave Esme a quick kiss on the cheek by way of greeting. Esme looked at me over Bella's shoulder, her eyes wide with surprise at Bella's gesture. "Have you eaten?"
"Definitely," Bella nodded, "I wasn't sure what was going to be happening this evening so I took the precaution of stocking up at lunch time."
"Oh," Esme subsided for a millisecond before recovering, "well if you want something later Alice and I made some brownies."
"Really?" Now it was Bella's turn to look surprised, "they're my favourite."
"See?" Alice nudged Esme with a broad smile of delight, "I told you."
"Yes you did," Esme wrinkled her nose in fond amusement as Alice spun to look at Bella.
"I don't suppose," Bella began as she gave Esme and Alice a hopeful look.
"They're fresh out the oven, and there's a pint of vanilla ice-cream in the freezer," Alice supplied, "C'mon." She reached out for Bella's hand and began to tow her towards the kitchen.
"I thought you had a really big lunch," I followed with a grin.
"I did," Bella protested, "but brownies are different."
"Don't try to understand, Edward," Alice tossed over her shoulder, "it's a woman thing."
I bit my lip as Esme and Alice nodded in solidarity with Bella's protests. I wondered how long it had been since either of them had enjoyed a brownie if ever. As the three women laughed their way into the kitchen I paused and leaned against the doorframe watching them with a quiet smile.
Edward, have you got a moment?
"On my way," I murmured, knowing that Carlisle would hear me in his study upstairs. I crossed to the counter to brush a kiss against Bella's temple. "Carlisle needs me upstairs, are you okay here?"
"Okay?" Bella mumbled around a mouthful of brownie, "Edward, I'm in heaven."
Esme beamed with delight and I saw Bella's gaze flicker towards the brilliant smile, her fork hesitating for the barest instant before she helped herself to another bite.
She's fine, Edward, Alice assured as she put the ice cream away, and besides, we all hunted this morning unlike someone I could mention.
I snorted at her poorly concealed jibe and left the room.
* * * * *
Edward, Carlisle looked up and smiled as I appeared in the doorway of his study, come in.
"Carlisle," I nodded as I took a seat opposite his desk.
"Alice told me what you were going to do this afternoon," he leaned back in his chair and he regarded me. "How did it go?"
I raised an eyebrow at the question as the sounds of the happy conversations could be heard downstairs.
"I know it went well," Carlisle smiled, "but what was her reaction?"
"Her reaction was … unexpected," I admitted at last.
Pleased, Edward. Tell me, Carlisle prompted after I said nothing further. Carefully, haltingly I told Carlisle about my 'grand reveal' in the meadow, and Bella's shock and gradual acceptance.
"I tried to scare her," I confessed, "I showed her everything and still-," I waved a hand.
Everything? Carlisle grinned and then coughed in a vain attempt to hide his amusement. Sorry, he apologised as I huffed, Emmett's humour does tend to rub off after a while.
"Eighty years is more than a while," I pointed out, watching as Carlisle conceded the point with a nod.
Go on, Carlisle urged, so what happened.
"She didn't scream, she didn't run," I sighed.
What did she do?
I looked up into Carlisle's warm regard and suddenly all my wondering, all my questions and doubts about the situation with Bella distilled into three simple words.
"She kissed me."
Carlisle gazed at me for a long moment before his expression broke into a dazzling smile.
She's a rare woman, Edward.
"I know," I said with feeling.
We know how you feel about her Edward, which leads me to my next question. What are you going to do about this situation?
I looked down at my lap and clenched my hands against my thighs. It was a question that I had been asking myself ever since I had detected Bella's scent, every evening when I had watched her sleep. The conversation had paused downstairs and I knew that Esme and Alice were waiting for my answer.
"I don't know," I confessed at last, "but I need to keep her safe."
Agreed, Carlisle's answer was swift. And?
I looked up at Carlisle who was waiting patiently for my answer. Time meant nothing to us. He would wait as long as he had to.
"And I need to keep her," I admitted at last. "She's mine, Carlisle. Just as much as I'm hers."
* * * * *
I returned downstairs to see Bella sitting on the kitchen counter top as Esme washed the plate at the sink. Alice and Bella were talking which was no great surprise, but what gave me pause was the presence of someone in the kitchen who was unexpected. Jasper. He was standing beside Alice with his arm around her waist as he watched the women banter, even making the occasional comment of his own.
Alice was bubbling with enthusiasm as she spoke and from time to time she would look at Jasper with a smile as if seeking his response. He smiled and pulled her closer with each smile she gave him, eventually giving her a shy kiss. Esme observed this and gave me a grin.
You know what he's like, Edward. He never could resist a happy emotional climate, and Bella makes everyone so happy …
"Hey," Bella called in a quiet voice, smiling as I stepped towards her. I was going to stand at her side but allowed myself to be manoeuvred so that I was standing between her thighs. "How's Carlisle?"
"Good," I replied as she gave me shirt a small tug to pull me closer, "he's working on some patient notes."
"He brings his work home with him?" Bella arched an eyebrow at this.
"He's not allowed to," Esme answered from behind us and Bella half twisted to glance at Esme as she continued to speak, "all files have to stay at the hospital, but he likes to think about his patients and write notes to take to work, so he-," Esme broke off with a tiny sound of exasperation. Jasper released Alice to investigate and saw Esme holding the plate that had neatly snapped in half.
"I'm sorry," Esme looked stricken, "I was being so careful."
Bella made a move as if to get down and help, stopping when I gently put out my hands to hold her in place.
"Bella no," I said in a low tone, "sharp edges."
"Don't worry, Esme," Bella said as she subsided against me, "I break plates and cups all the time. My Mom didn't graduate me from plastic until I was practically a teenager."
"You had inhuman strength as well?" Esme asked with a sad smile as Jasper took the pieces from her and dropped them into a bag for disposal.
"No," Bella shrugged, "I was just a klutz, so it's good to see everyone has their moments."
Esme considered this and gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you, Bella."
"Thank you," Bella shrugged, "if being a klutz is something that can transcend species then I feel strangely reassured."
Esme laughed and Jasper flashed me a broad smile.
I'm so glad we can keep her. Alice gave me a satisfied smile. Of course I was listening in, what did you expect?
"Say, Bella," Alice turned to Bella with an artful smile, "can we play dress up some time?"
"Uh," Bella stalled as she looked at me.
"It's your call," I murmured.
"Please?" Alice ducked her head and gave Bella her best 'last puppy in the shop' expression that was, in the family's experience over the years, yet to meet with any resistance. "It won't take long, and I promise you'll have fun."
"Well," Bella gave me another look and I managed to conceal my grin in time, "go on then."
"Excellent," Alice swooped forward and began to usher Bella upstairs.
Relax, Edward, we won't be long.
Bella cast me another look over her shoulder as they began up the stairs towards Alice and Jasper's room.
"I'll be waiting," I reassured her.
Esme hesitated in the kitchen and then brushed past Jasper and myself with a smile of apology.
"I'll be with Carlisle," she said as she passed.
Jasper and I exchanged a look. We both knew that she would be upstairs ready for any comment or participation with Alice and Bella if the opportunity arose.
"Outside?" Jasper inclined his head towards the back deck and at my nod walked towards the door. He was moving at a decidedly relaxed pace, whistling under his breath.
"You seem quite satisfied," I commented as I leaned against the balcony railing once we were outside. The sun was setting now and we took a moment to enjoy the view.
"Can't help it," Jasper replied, "it's like a drug."
I nodded at this. I knew what he meant. There was something about Bella's presence in the house that felt inherently right. If I had to try and think of it in medical terms it could be likened to a dislocated joint popping back into place.
Bella and Alice could be heard upstairs and I looked up as Bella's voice raised in protest before she was over-ridden by Alice's wheedling tones. I had no idea what was happening up there but knew that Alice would have her way.
"Esme's loving this," Jasper commented, "and so is Alice."
"I know," I looked at the sky that was growing darker, the silhouette of the forest thrown into sharp relief against the sunset. The contrast between light and dark made me think of Bella and myself and I gave a quiet sigh, wondering again what on earth I was going to do.
Jasper gave me a sharp look as he felt my mood dip.
"Edward," he sighed, "don't do this to yourself. You're happy, and it makes us all happy. Don't question it."
"I don't know," I gripped the railing, jerking my hands back with a quiet curse as I felt the wood yield beneath my fingertips. "I just don't know what to do."
"You know what you have to do," Jasper reasoned.
"Perhaps not," I argued. Could I really be the one to end Bella's life? She was so warm, so vital. Could I endure watching her transition from warmth to cold?
"If you don't change her you're playing a dangerous game," Jasper cautioned.
I smiled, finding it ironic that our newest family member and self-confessed 'weakest link' should be the one advocating that I drink my fill from a human for the greater good of the family.
"All those years talking about how it would never work between us and humans," I shook my head. "Perhaps they're right, maybe it is impossible."
"Bella proves that anything is possible," Jasper reasoned.
"Maybe we shouldn't exist at all."
"Or maybe you were made for each other. Maybe the universe has a plan for us after all," Jasper said, staring sightlessly towards the woods. "You know, Edward, maybe you could stop hating yourself once in a while and see what's in front of you."
Or coming downstairs towards you, Alice added. I turned and waited, watching through the windows of the house as Bella appeared in the living room and glancing around before making her way outside. She opened the back door and stepped out with a smile.
"Well that was relatively painless," she announced as she stopped and gave a slow twirl.
Alice had talked Bella into changing shirts. I didn't follow fashion as assiduously as the women, but I knew enough to like what I saw. Alice had come up with some sort of layered effect that combined blue, brown and cream tones in a way that made Bella's skin tone glow in the warm light that spilled onto the back deck from the kitchen. Long dangling earrings had been added that swung and shimmered against her hair as she glanced from Jasper to myself.
"Wow," I breathed as I held out my arms. She came willingly.
"There's that olde worlde charm I've been waiting for," Bella teased as she put her arms around my waist, startling Jasper into laughter.
She's a firecracker all right. Can you imagine what she and Alice will be like when they're on an even footing? Jasper made that his parting shot as he went back inside to find Alice.
"You like?" Bella gazed up at me and I could see that Alice had carefully brushed on some mascara and a smudge of lip-gloss.
"You were beautiful before," I said with complete honesty.
"And now?" she asked, pleased.
"Wow," I repeated and smiled as she laughed.
I lifted my head as I heard a car approaching the house, narrowing my eyes as I tried to listen to any thoughts being broadcast.
"What?"
"Emmett and Rosalie are coming," I replied as I listened carefully. The flavour of Emmett's thoughts was the same as always: good food, good sex and a happy mate. Rosalie seemed distracted but reasonably well disposed. I hoped that disposition would continue when she arrived to see Bella back at the house.
"Where? I can't hear anything," Bella was mystified, "or is that a special vamp thing?"
"Mm-hmmm," I nodded as I leaned down to give her a kiss.
We were still outside talking when Emmett and Rosalie appeared.
"There she is," Emmett beamed, "good to see you again, Bells."
"Hi, Emmett," Bella waved and then leaned slightly to peek at Rosalie who was standing further behind him, "Rosalie."
"Bella," Rosalie inclined her head but didn't seem to be in a conversational mood.
Emmett ignored her completely as he strolled towards us, reaching up in a lightning fast move to ruffle my hair.
"Hey," I objected and jerked away.
"Ha," Emmett said with satisfaction as he turned to Bella, "he likes to think he's the fastest but I can still get him."
"Right," I scoffed.
Alice had appeared in the living room with some shopping bags and was calling for Rosalie to join her.
"I'll be inside," Rosalie said to Emmett, her gaze skimming across Bella and offering a thin smile before she turned and walked away.
"O-kay," Bella rubbed her hands on her thighs and looked from me to Emmett, "what'd I do?"
"Nothin', Bells," Emmett assured her, "Rosie just takes a little warming to sometimes."
She's fine, Edward. You know what Rosie's like with change. Give her time.
I nodded at his silent comment and moved closer to Bella so that she could lean against me.
"How long did it take for you to win her over?" Bella gave him an arch look and was surprised when Emmett sobered at the question.
"Not long at all, which I thank God for every day," he replied. "She found me all but dead after a bear attack in the woods."
"Oh, so you mean she-," Bella began, stopping when Emmett shook his head.
"No, she didn't," he said in a gentle voice. "She brought me home."
Bella turned her head to look up at me and so I took up the story.
"Rosalie has never tasted human blood," I explained, "but she brought Emmett home-,"
"What was left of me anyways," Emmett broke in with a quiet smile.
"What was left of him," I nodded my agreement and continued, "and Carlisle was the one that changed him."
Bella glanced back at Emmett. "So Carlisle is your … Sire? Is that the right word?"
"He is," Emmett nodded, "he's also Rosalie's, Esme's and Edward's."
"So he really is the father of the family," Bella said to herself. "But wait, if you hadn't met her before you were changed then how did you-," Bella stumbled over her words at this point, "I mean, you said she takes a while to warm up so-, she stopped again and looked embarrassed.
"How could I not love her?" Emmett said. "She was the first person I saw when I woke up and I thought I was looking at an angel. How can anyone be capable of anything but love for the person who saved-," he stopped. Now it was Emmett who looked a little flustered as he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand.
Bella watched him carefully, aware that she had somehow questioned Emmett's core belief in his mate without ever having meant to cause any offense.
"I'm sorry, Emmett," she began, and stopped. I rubbed her shoulder carefully in a bid to offer her reassurance. Emmett's thoughts were full of Rosalie, blurred human memories of her face as she bent over his dying body, the disbelief as he saw her clearly for the first time after he had emerged from his transformation. "That's one hell of a pedestal you've got her on there."
"She's never fallen off," Emmett said with a grateful smile at Bella's proffered olive branch, "although we've certainly had our moments over the years." He glanced through the window at Rosalie who was in the process of sorting through some jewellery with Alice, bickering over which ones to wear and shaking her head at Alice's protestations that she had 'seen' her in something else.
"My Momma told me that love was made in heaven," he said with a quiet smile.
"So are thunder and lightening," Bella observed.
Emmett nodded with a sly grin. "Well, that makes sense too."
* * * * *
And so Bella spent another evening in the company of vampires. She talked and laughed and allowed herself to be accessorised by a very happy Alice. Jasper sat on the sidelines smiling at his mate's happiness; Carlisle came downstairs when he had finished his work and took a seat on one of the couches to join in the conversation. Esme made some more hot chocolate and wrapped up some brownies for Bella to take home. Emmett kept teasing me on the sidelines about the end of my bachelor lifestyle and Rosalie watched from the sidelines.
Eventually the conversation shifted to extreme sports of all things, and Bella peppered us with questions as to which ones we had tried.
"Man, I remember my first sky-dive," Emmett said with a reminiscent smile. "I was pretty excited with my first plane ride, but sky-diving," he gave a low whistle, "now that's flying."
"No, I think that's plummeting," Bella replied, grinning as Emmett laughed in agreement.
"Maybe," he agreed.
"How about you, Rosalie?" Bella tried to engage Rosalie in the conversation. "Have you ever done something like that?"
"Not when I was human, and not now," Rosalie replied in a bland tone, "but I'll never underestimate the stupidity of what humans will do."
Emmett winced at this and I tensed in my seat as Bella blinked at Rosalie for a moment, considering her response.
"You know, Rosalie," she began, "it seems to me that you could maybe cut me some slack. I believe you used to be human before you became a vampire."
Now it was Rosalie who blinked and then to everyone's surprise, a slow smile appeared on her face.
"So the little kitten has claws after all," she commented at last. "I was wondering what it was that Edward saw in you."
I made no attempt to suppress the growl that began in my chest and Bella looked at me in alarm.
"Edward," she cautioned, reaching across to put my fingertips on her wrist. I made myself relax by counting her heartbeat and focussing on the warmth of her skin.
"Babe," Emmett cautioned as he rubbed his hand over Rosalie's back until she subsided against him. Esme had leaned forward in her seat a little, her thoughts broadcasting her distress for all that her façade remained serene.
"Just saying what was on my mind," Rosalie shrugged. She had never made any apology for being anything other than what she was. This apparent frankness had been abrasive for the intervening years leading up to Emmett's arrival. Now her blunt honesty was softened by his loving acceptance. If Emmett's ability to make friends was his gift, then Rosalie's was that of loyalty. She would do whatever she could to protect her family. We all knew that if Bella could pass the impossible test that Rosalie had decided upon then the matter of Bella becoming a part of our family would never be questioned again.
"Rosalie, can I ask you a question?" Bella cocked her head as she considered the stunning blonde that sat facing her.
"Of course," Rosalie's response was impassive.
"Have you hunted today?" The question was so unexpected that it caught all of us off guard but Bella continued. "Because you look like you need to kill something, and I've had a great day so I'll be damned if it's going to be me."
The two women sat staring at each other in silence before a slow smile tugged at Rosalie's lips.
"I'll bear that in mind," she said at last.
She's got a backbone, Edward. I think I like her.
Emmett boomed with laughter and hauled Rosalie into his arms for an exuberant kiss despite her half-hearted protests. Esme and Carlisle exchanged a smile as Alice and Jasper laughed. Meanwhile Bella shot me an amused grin and leaned against my side, resting her hand on my chest and reaching up to give me a kiss. I caught Rosalie's eye as Bella nuzzled my neck.
"Good to know," I nodded at my sister, and felt oddly reassured by her answering nod.
She's not just yours now, Edward. Alice chimed at me as she wriggled herself onto Jasper's lap. She's ours.