Arousal- 1. Awakened from or as if from sleep. 2. Stirred up, excited. 3. Stimulated sexual desire.
~*~ Chapter Fourteen ~*~
It was unusual for Carlisle to be running without needing to hunt, even more so that he was heading into town. The ground beneath Carlisle's feet seemed to give way for him as he ran. His speed was nothing more than usual but there was an extra force propelling him along. When Alice had informed him of Edward's location, Carlisle had taken off without hesitation. A part of Carlisle hadn't wanted to believe that Edward was doing such a thing, even though he never doubted Alice's word. The thought of Edward watching from the shadows while Bella was asleep in her bed made Carlisle angrier than he had felt in a long time, though he controlled it.
Carlisle didn't bother to mask his thoughts as he and Edward ran home, concealed by darkness and trees. Now that he knew Bella was safe, he could focus more on the behavior that had prompted his own moonlit run to the Swan house. Edward was both guest and family. That he would come home and treat Bella in such a way was less than Carlisle would have ever expected of him. Earlier in the evening Edward had disrespected her when she was simply trying to get to know him; now he had invaded her home to spy on her while she slept. It was aberrant behavior. Bella was not some sort of exhibit for Edward to indulge in.
Bella was special. There could be no doubt that she held a unique place in the hearts of his family. Carlisle had hoped that Edward and Rosalie would come to care for her as easily as the rest of the family had, but even before they met obstacles had fallen in the way. Honesty with Bella had prompted him to tell her of Edward and Rosalie's activities, and that had caused some distress and doubt in her, he knew. Then the revelation of Bella being Edward's singer had put one more difficulty in the path of their immediately getting along.
Though he had absolutely no intentions of hiding from Bella what had happened tonight, Carlisle was grateful that she had not woken up. Yet, somehow, she had still managed to sense his own presence, otherwise she would not have sleepily murmured his name. Carlisle found it interesting that she had sensed him outside of the house, and not Edward in her room. Perhaps it was because there existed more familiarity with him than with the vampire she had just met today.
The tree limbs whizzed by, never quite making contact with vampire skin. Edward was thankfully remaining silent as he kept pace with him. Carlisle just wasn't sure what to make of his oldest companion. Something had been broken inside of Rosalie for decades; after all these years with her was Edward also now damaged inside? The idea was disturbing, and Carlisle was not yet ready to settle on that conclusion.
The rest of the family was in the living room, waiting for their arrival. Normally they might have been spread about the house, engaged in different activities. If the couples weren't coupling, they'd be together reading, restoring or busily accessing information on the Internet. The fact that they were all assembled and waiting told Carlisle that they were taking this as seriously as he was.
As soon as he and Edward crossed the threshold Rosalie wordlessly strode up to Edward. The flashes of movement were quick, but Edward caught her hand before it could strike his face. All but Alice watched in surprise as the two of them had a silent staring contest before Edward lowered Rosalie's arm. "I'm not like them, Rosalie."
"You've made her into a victim again." The muscle in Rosalie's jaw flexed as emotions played across her face.
"That's absurd."
"'Victim' is a strong word," Carlisle said. "Yet there is no ignoring the fact that you violated Bella's trust tonight."
Carlisle watched as Edward looked around the living room, at Alice and Jasper standing by the wall, at Maggie and Esme behind the couch. Carlisle himself stood to Edward's right while Rosalie was still within striking distance on his left. Not one of them was smiling.
"I agree that I broke certain rules of propriety," Edward said, addressing all in the room.
"Is that what you call it?" Maggie's taunt rang clearly before Esme's concern overlapped it.
"Edward, why did you sneak into her room?" Esme asked.
"I was drawn to her. I was there before I knew it."
Carlisle noticed Maggie's frown and caught Edward's eyes look down to the floor before rising to meet Esme's again. There were a few seconds of awkward silence.
"Edward, are you . . ." Esme looked at Carlisle uncertainly before turning back to Edward. "Are you attracted to Bella?"
No, was Carlisle's immediate thought. Though the idea had not occurred to him prior to Esme suggesting it, Carlisle rejected it on its high improbability. Edward had barely met Bella.
Edward hesitated before answering. "I don't think that I can answer that, Esme. She certainly is attractive."
"I'll agree; Bella is very attractive for many reasons," Carlisle said, taking reign of the conversation. "Yet none of them have anything to do with your impression of her, Edward. All she represents to you right now is an appealing scent that belongs to a member of our family whose thoughts happen to be hidden from you. That's a very strong combination, and I can understand why you would be… curious about her. Yet you need overcome this sense of being drawn to her. You're better than that."
"Carlisle, that's hardly fair."
"Let me explain. Edward, using our minds and hearts is crucial to who we are. This family is about rising above our creature instincts. You know this."
"Of course I do."
"You're enthrallment with Bella comes entirely from your vampiric nature. You've known her for less than a day, and it is because you know Bella so little that you showed no respect for her privacy this evening."
"I certainly haven't been around her as long as you have, but I wouldn't say that Bella is a stranger to me."
"Describe her to me, then."
"She's beautiful and young. Her favorite color is brown, and she likes to read Jane Austen."
Carlisle simply arched an eyebrow at him. Edward's words clearly conveyed nothing but the surface of the young woman Carlisle was privileged to know.
"She sacrificed some of her own happiness for her mother," Edward spat out.
"Why did she do that?" Carlisle carefully kept his mind focused.
Edward faltered. "I don't know."
"She puts the people she loves above herself. She considers her own needs less important if she can contribute to the happiness of someone else. Sometimes that can mean that she feels that she is less important, but Bella is building a foundation of self-confidence that will counteract that as she grows into it.
"Bella also has a keen and observing mind that looks beyond what the average person might determine. She's interested in both the history and potential of things, and has a touch of appreciation for the abstract. She reads Jane Austen because she enjoys the wit and structure, and it also appeals to her more whimsical side."
"Alright, fine. I concede that you know Bella better than I do, Carlisle. I just want to know her more."
"I wish you would know Bella for who she is. Yet stonewalling her when she tried to ask you about yourself and sneaking into her bedroom while she sleeps are not the ways that is going to happen. What was going through your mind while you were in her room tonight, Edward? It obviously wasn't desire for conversation. Were you thinking of her blood?"
"No. Not entirely."
"Were you thinking of her body?" Maggie asked.
"No, not entirely."
Carlisle's expression darkened, though he was unaware of it. "Edward, I'm happy you're home and I am glad to have you here. Yet, I am afraid I have to say that I don't think you can be trusted to be alone with her."
"That's ridiculous!"
"Edward, I didn't seek to prove that I am more intimate with Bella than you are; I sought to demonstrate that her appeal to you has nothing to do with who she is as a person. Your vampire impulses are dominating when it comes to her and until you can show that you have it under control, someone else in the family will have to be around whenever you and Bella are together."
Edward turned to his sister. "Alice, tell Carlisle this isn't necessary."
Alice shook her head. "No."
"I don't trust you alone with her, either," Rosalie told him. Edward scowled at her before looking about the room. Esme wouldn't make eye contact, while Maggie's and Jasper's expressions remained stony. Without needing to be asked or told, everyone was on board with not leaving Edward alone with Bella.
Carlisle noticed Edward wince, turning his back briefly on the room. After a moment Edward turned and faced them all again, attempting to speak rationally and honestly. "I do see where you are all coming from. I think that you are right, Carlisle. I am . . . subject to a pull that doesn't come from choice. I've never felt so completely drawn to anyone as I am to Bella." This last sentence came out in a breathy rush before Edward got control of himself again. "I promise to try to know her for who she is. I do want to understand her mind."
"You will-"
"Yes," Edward held up a hand, interrupting Carlisle. "I will stay away from her unless someone else is around, that includes not entering her bedroom."
"Thank you, Edward," Esme accepted.
For now, there was no more to be said.
(~*~)
When the alarm went off Bella's arm arced out and slapped it quiet. She indulged in approximately one hundred and fifty more seconds of burrowing under the blankets before reluctantly sitting up and pulling them off of her. Since today was one of Charlie's earlier shifts, the house was quiet as Bella rose and prepared for a shower. Still foggy-headed and sleepy-eyed, Bella wished she could just stay under the soft sheets.
The water was cold when it hit her hand and made her jolt. Awake, Bella stood naked by the shower as she waited for the temperature to rise comfortably enough for her to step inside. Time to start another day. Her thoughts landed on Edward Cullen, and Bella took a second to appreciate that she actually was starting another day. Had a part of her ever actually doubted it? Ever actually accepted the fact that her father might not have had a daughter return to him last night? Doubted, yes, accepted … no.
Her reflection caught her attention in the mirror. From mid-thigh to the top of her head, Bella could see her own pale body clearly. Interesting how it was her skin that caught her attention, pale and smooth. There was only the occasional blemish, a beauty mark here and there. Her eyes followed the smooth skin from the stretch over her hips, to the indent at her waist and up to her small breasts. How would that skin look turned hard and even paler? Would it make the beauty marks and dark curls at the center of her legs stand out even more? Would her face suddenly become beautiful?
There was really nothing wrong with her face. It wasn't ugly – most of the time. It wasn't special, but it was hers. Bella tried to see it differently and just couldn't. She may have been stuck with the face she got, but after eighteen years of it, she couldn't imagine another. Even as she tried to envision what small lips or a more pointed nose might look like, steam curled across the mirror. Turning towards the hand that she still held under the water stream, Bella stepped into the shower.
(~*~)
"That's new," Jessica commented as she came astride Bella in the school parking lot. It was another overcast day, and the November chill had all the students huddled in their fall jackets and hurrying towards the buildings. Bella looked down where Jessica had pointed.
"Oh, yeah." Briefly Bella held up her wrist, showcasing the simple bracelet. "My mother gave this to me for my birthday. I'm just getting around to wearing it."
"I like it." Jessica tossed her hair behind her shoulder carelessly, causing the brown curls to bounce attractively. "You should wear jewelry more often."
Bella frowned at Jessica's hair. "Yeah, maybe. Your hair looks nice."
Jessica gave Bella a sideways glance as they pushed through the doors to Building Six. "Um, thanks, Bella." Jessica laughed and turned ahead towards class.
The school day went by fairly quickly for Bella. Even though she had never doubted, it was another day in which she found herself living and breathing. What a damn beautiful thing it was to go through a normal day. The walls were still drab, the teachers still tried to find new ways to capture their students' attention, and it was great. Each of her friends was looking good, too. Bella could see the shadow of a man's figure coming through on Eric's lean frame, Ben's complexion was especially smooth, and Angela had always had a touch of ethnic beauty in her soft features. Somehow being more alert and paying attention to her surroundings made time go by faster, and she was at lunch before she knew it.
She sat across from Alice and Jasper today, the rest of the crew at another table. Bella had taken the hint when she entered the cafeteria and saw the two vampires sitting on their own, eyes on her. Murmuring a quick word to Mike, Bella had joined them after collecting her food.
"Hello," she said, immediately beginning to dig a fork into her mashed potatoes. "How did the first evening with the full family go?"
"Bella," Alice's tone caused Bella to look up. "Listen, something really awkward happened last night that we need to tell you about."
"Okay." Bella focused on Alice. "Does this have to do with Rosalie and Edward?"
"Just Edward," Alice answered.
Calmness made Bella's muscles relax slightly, but they tensed up again after she shot a suspicious glance at Jasper, who looked unrepentant.
"I'm sorry, Bella, I don't really know how to say this," Alice began. "Just believe that I didn't see it coming."
Bella listened, her food forgotten, as Alice told her about Edward slipping into her bedroom the previous night. Bella's first reaction was surprised confusion. Edward did … what? Then the thought of him watching her while she slept made her feel exposed.
He hadn't been in the room when she'd woken up… had he? No, she really didn't think so. All the same, Bella could remember vividly the state she'd been in. Had he seen that? Had he caused that? Bella's cheeks flushed.
"Did he touch me?"
"No." Alice was quick to reassure. "Definitely not."
"He could have, though! If you hadn't sent Carlisle after him who knows what he would have done. My god, Charlie was just down the hall."
"Charlie didn't wake."
Bella's brain was firing too many thoughts at once, and she spoke not knowing if she could slow down. "What kind of person does something like that? Just who does Edward think he is?"
People from other tables were beginning to glance over. Most were dismissing, but Angela and Mike both looked a little concerned to see Bella tense and hunched over, leaning across the table towards Alice and Jasper.
"Bella-"
"Tell me Carlisle laid into him. No, forget it, I can give Edward a tongue-lashing myself. Oh no, I did not just say that."
Bella sat back down, not even realizing that she'd risen from her seat. Another wave of calm came over her and she gratefully half-smiled at Jasper.
"What did Edward want, being there?"
"He doesn't really know, Bella," Alice said. "You've rather thrown him for a loop."
"Should I be feeling sorry for him?" Bella shook her head, and picked up an apple from her mostly untouched tray. Twiddling it between her fingers, she couldn't quite make herself take a bite. "Edward Masen has got to be one of the most screwed up people I have ever come across in my life. I haven't wanted to be judgmental; I wanted to try for all of you to get to know him and Rosalie. I'm done, though." Bella set the apple back down and stood up with the whole tray.
Alice and Jasper followed, and three trays of untouched food left the table. Bella glanced behind her at the pair, relieved that she was starting her new job that afternoon. It was not Alice and Jasper's fault that she was unhappy with Edward. She wasn't really mad at any of them, outside of him. Yet, for today, she was glad to not visit the Cullen house.
"I'll see you guys later," Bella said before walking away.
(~*~)
"Were you thinking of her body?"
"No, not entirely."
Carlisle scowled, remembering Edward's words. He was alone in his office at the hospital, and not entirely thinking about his job.
Edward had admitted without outright saying that he found Bella sexually attractive. While Carlisle held to his belief that Edward's fascination with Bella was driven by his base vampire nature, this was still an added element that he couldn't afford to dismiss.
As far as Carlisle knew, Edward had never shown any interest in a female since his change. Tanya in Denali, a skilled seductress, had even tried to persuade him to think of her. Edward had politely and firmly declined. Now there was Bella.
Was the physical attraction tied in with the fact that she was his singer? Carlisle had never known before if a vampire's singer had survived long enough to awaken anything other than thirst. He had briefly considered calling Volterra and running this past Aro, but then he might arouse suspicion about Bella.
Regardless of the singer factor, the concept of vampire and human lovemaking was not unheard of. In fact, Tanya and her coven sisters frequently indulged in such relationships. Carlisle had long been accepting of the idea, even if he had never engaged in it himself. His few lovers had all been vampires.
It came to Carlisle suddenly that he hadn't had sex since before he changed Esme in 1921. That was eighty-four years ago, so how much longer had it been since he'd had a physical relationship? Nearly a century? How had that happened?
Carlisle's mind immediately clicked to an answer. His family had grown since then. When Esme turned out not to be the love of his life, he had suddenly found himself part of a family of four. A family that had grown relatively quickly. Carlisle had been happy and contented enough to no longer prioritize the occasional sexual encounter. Obviously it hadn't been a conscious decision.
This was also the first time since Esme that Carlisle found himself in the position of seeing one of his children attracted to someone. Neither Edward nor Rosalie had found love either. Now Edward was … well, Edward's situation was complicated but for the first time to Carlisle's knowledge he was attracted to someone. Attracted to Bella. The thought inexplicably made Carlisle feel lonely. Even if Edward got himself under control, he'd still be getting to know Bella better. He might fall in love.
How would Bella react?
There was a gentle knock on his office door, which he had left ajar. "Dr. Cullen?"
Seeing two of his favorite people, Carlisle smiled and stood. "Beth, come on in."
Beth Lloyd-Jenkins walked in, her son Duncan trailing behind her, hand held in hers. He smiled up at Carlisle, who hunkered down in front of him. "Hey, Duncan. Been treating your Mom right?"
"Hi," was the quiet response from the two-year-old. Carlisle looked up at Beth before straightening.
"He's unusually shy today."
"He's not the only one," Beth murmured to herself, but of course Carlisle caught it. "Oh, just give him time, he'll -"
She cut off when Duncan immediately let go of her hand and ran to the window. "Fly! See the fly!"
"Don't touch the fly, please. Flies are yuck bugs."
"See the fly, Mom?"
"Yes, I see the fly. Don't touch it."
It was hard not to be charmed. Beth and Duncan had come a long way together. The assurance with which she cautioned Duncan showed that she wasn't quite the frantic widowed mother she used to be. "How have you been doing?" Carlisle asked, leaning casually against the front of his desk. "It must be unusual for you to have a Monday morning off from work."
"Yes. Mom's caught the first round of this year's flu, so I took a sick day to stay home. I thought I'd take Duncan out of the house, give her a little quiet to rest."
Grace had moved in with her daughter permanently a little under a year ago. It had saved both mother and daughter time and expense.
"I'm glad that you've come to visit me. It's always good to see you doing well, though I'm sorry to hear about Grace."
"I'm sure she'll be over it by Thursday. Mom's too determined to let a cold keep her from Thanksgiving dinner. Duncan, don't touch, please. Are you working that day, Dr. Cullen?"
"Actually, no. I'll be able to be home with my family."
"It must be hard, raising two teenagers with your sister."
"We manage; with Maggie we have them outnumbered."
Beth laughed. "That certainly does help. Duncan, please don't try to step on that. It's not safe."
"Be careful!" sang out a little voice. Duncan clearly was familiar with his mother's cautioning.
"That's right, be careful." Beth turned back to Carlisle, and he heard her heart rate accelerate. "Listen, this may seem a little unorthodox, what with the holiday this week and all, but I was wondering if you had plans this weekend."
Carlisle was surprised. Maybe not caught completely off-guard, but he was surprised. Beth was a lovely woman in her late twenties, though she looked older. Grief and stress had aged her features prematurely, and there were even a few strands of white running through her dark hair. Thinking about it, it had been nearly three years since Alan Cockburn had died. Carlisle was pretty certain from his conversations with Grace that Beth hadn't reentered the dating scene yet. No wonder she was so nervous. His heart went out to her.
"I do have plans," he answered. Before Beth's green eyes could reflect her disappointment, Carlisle continued on. "However, I also happen to have next Sunday free."
(~*~)
He wasn't afraid of sex. He wasn't. He may have never had sex, but that didn't make him afraid of it. One hundred and four years since his birth, and not once in those years had Edward ever felt inclined to indulge in flesh.
Until now.
That moment in Bella's room, when she had moaned as he was moving out the window, played in his head over and over. Perfect memory would do that to you.
If Carlisle hadn't been outside waiting for him, what would he have done when Bella moaned? What would he have felt? It made Edward feel like a creep now, picturing himself watching Bella and feeling aroused.
He felt it now, remembering. Her dark hair stretched across the pillow. Her skin, so smooth, had been just within reach of his fingertips, looking so warm and soft.
Edward inhaled through his nose and let out a quick breath.
Bella.
(~*~)
Bella spent Tuesday home with her father planning for the Thanksgiving meal with the Blacks. It was actually rather fun, thinking of having Billy, Jake and Rachel over for dinner. Bella hadn't seen Rachel in years, and she was looking forward to catching up with her, and hearing about college life. After all, it was only a few months before she would be going herself, though to which college was as yet unknown. So it was Wednesday before Bella visited the Cullens again. However put out she was with Edward, she did want to see the rest of the family before the big holiday. The day and a half had calmed her enough that she didn't think that she would explode at the sight of him. Thankfully, she didn't, and very easily slid into Esme's welcoming hug.
"I'm so glad you came by before tomorrow," Esme smiled at her. Edward, who had opened the door for Bella, watched quietly from across the room. Bella did her best to ignore him. "How are you? How was your first day at the video store?"
"It was good." Bella sat down on the couch. "There are a few new things to learn, but for the most part it is easy and surprisingly fun."
"That's good to hear. I'm glad you'll be enjoying yourself."
"Oh, she'll love it." Alice trounced in cheerily, Rosalie right behind her. Practically bouncing, Alice plopped herself next to Bella on the couch. "I'm sorry it's just us here right now, Bella. Carlisle's at the hospital, and Jasper's out hunting with Maggie."
"Oh," Bella frowned a little, rather disappointed. "Well, tell them Happy Thanksgiving for me when they get back."
"I'll tell them," Edward offered quietly. Bella glanced his way uncertainly, and then couldn't help but be struck by Rosalie. She stood by Edward, arms crossed over her chest. Rosalie was dressed in all black, her long blond hair flowing down her back and around her shoulders. She looked like some sort of goddess that was ready to kick some ass. Bella imagined that Rosalie could probably be quite terrifying when the mood struck her – and the mood probably did often.
"It was good of you guys to drop your activities and come spend the holiday," Bella said.
"Our activities?" Edward repeated.
"Edward and Rosalie usually come home for the bigger family holidays," Esme cut in. "As well as for visits in between."
"Our last visit was too long ago," Edward said, eyes focused on Bella. "Obviously we missed you until now."
Bella said nothing. Edward held her gaze, hesitating.
"Bella, I believe I promised to finish a conversation with you last time we spoke."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not. I do owe you an apology for not being more open with you. I am sorry."
You're apologizing for the wrong thing, buddy, Bella thought. "It's okay," she said again.
"I believe you wanted to know about my 'activities,'" Edward pressed, and there was a slight flash of anger in his eyes. "Most specifically how many people I've killed?"
"No, actually." Bella could tell when she was being pushed, and she didn't like it. "I asked you about life alone with Carlisle."
"But that's not what's on your mind right now, is it?"
"Wouldn't you love to know what's on my mind."
"Will you two stop fighting?" Esme asked, a stroke of maternal authority in her voice. Bella immediately felt culled.
"I think you're going to need to let them have this out, Esme," Alice suggested. "They're not really going to get along until they clear the air."
Edward also looked shamed. There wasn't a trace of resistance or hostility when he spoke this time. "I do wish to get along, Bella. I don't know why I get so worked up when you bring up my lifestyle. I think I sense that you disapprove, and I don't like it."
Bella looked cautiously around. Esme's eyes were large and lips were tight, but she said nothing. Rosalie held the same stance as before, looking ready for action of some sort or another. Alice gave Bella an encouraging nod.
Bella spoke slowly. "Why would I approve?"
Edward seethed for a second. "We're helping people."
"You're enacting vengeance on behalf of those who have not asked you to."
"Should we wait for someone to ask us first?" Rosalie asked challengingly. "Wait until people are hurt, people who may not afterwards be able to speak for themselves ever again?"
"Rosalie, I don't think that you should-" Esme began.
"No, Esme, Bella is stating her opinion on what I do as well as Edward. I think I should be allowed to have my say as well as him."
"I'm really not trying to start a fight," Bella said. Her heart rate had accelerated, which was not unknown to the others in the room. Bella could feel her nerves beginning to act out. She really didn't want to have an argument with these two, but didn't know if she could back out safely. Honestly, she wasn't sure that she could back down at all. "Couldn't we just disagree until we know each other better and then talk it out?"
"Disagree about what, though?" Edward asked. "Tell me what you think. Please."
"I don't know what to think – entirely. I believe in the due process of the law. I don't believe that ending a life is a punishment that can be just doled out."
"We don't kill at random."
"Well, thank God for that, but it doesn't change what you are."
"What are we?" Rosalie asked, a lock of blond hair falling in front of her left eye.
Completely out of the blue, an image popped into Bella's mind of Tom Cruise, blond locks tossing as he pumped his fist and shouted: "Do not doubt you are a killer, Louis!"
"You're killers," Bella answered.
"Yes," Rosalie nodded. Bella inched back in her seat.
"Rosalie, don't scare her," Esme warned.
Bella shook her head. "I'm not scared." Liar. "But I am uncomfortable. I'm sorry, this whole…" Bella seized on the word Edward had used, "lifestyle of yours is not something I can really understand or appreciate. I'm not sure if I'm ready for this conversation."
"Not believing that you can understand is the mistake I made last time you were here talking with me, Bella," Edward said. "Let me try this time."
He really was trying. Bella could see that. Yet it bothered her that he was focusing on only the one thing that he did wrong.
"Then help me to understand why you snuck into my bedroom."
Edward looked taken aback. He obviously hadn't been expecting her to call him out, at least not this way. He stared at Bella, at a loss for words.
"We're sorry that happened, Bella," Rosalie said very gently. Bella's eyes shifted from Edward to make contact with Rosalie's golden ones. Her face was kind, and it threw Bella a bit. She clearly didn't know Rosalie at all yet.
"I shouldn't have done it," Edward said, bringing her attention back to him. "I am sorry."
Could she leave it at that? Accept his apology and move forward as if it had never happened? A part of Bella wanted to, the part that made her squirm at the idea of fighting over the vigilantism. She wished that Carlisle were there. If he were in the room, she would be able to sense how he felt about this, and somehow Bella believed that she would feel more confident. Not knowing how Carlisle felt about Edward sneaking into her room made her reluctant to just forgive and forget. Then again, she did know that Carlisle had been upset and fetched Edward himself.
Why was she thinking about Carlisle?
She should be thinking about why Edward was there. He hadn't given her a reason, just apologized.
"Edward, what-" Bella stopped, started over. "Do you spy on people like that with Rosalie?"
"We do not sneak into young girls' bedrooms." The steel was back in Rosalie's voice.
"We observe from a distance," Edward said. "I don't need to get too close to hear someone's thoughts."
"So you do spy."
"In a manner of speaking, yes, of course. How else would we anticipate and prevent?"
"'Anticipate and prevent,'" Bella repeated.
"We don't wait for a woman to get raped before we intervene," Rosalie said. "We spare her those moments of fear."
It made Bella think. Rosalie had lived through that and much worse. She had known a moment or two of that kind of fear herself. She didn't want to think on that though, had spent months not thinking about that. Unnoticed by Bella, Alice silently guided Esme from the room.
"By killing someone," Bella answered Rosalie. Her words were starting to come quicker, and she could feel the sweat on her palms. "Prevention is one thing; death is quite another."
"You said before that we enact vengeance without being asked. The state of the world makes it manifest that we are asked. All around us are people who suffer without any help or aid, without others of their own kind even aware of it. We have the ability to be aware of it."
"If you had knowledge of a crime before it happened, would you not also have a responsibility to act?" Edward asked, the emphasis in his voice a direct reaction to Bella's stress. "Your own law dictates that you do."
The law. With that, Bella found her ground to stand on, and she literally stood up. "Human law says I should call the police, not try to stop it myself – and certainly not to kill."
"If Alice had not known ahead of time what was going to happen to you and acted, you'd be dead right now."
That answered a question that Bella had been afraid to ask herself. She hadn't wanted to think about it, to know. Bella was incredibly grateful that it had been Alice to save her that night. "She didn't act all vigilante. She just got me out of there."
"Bella, you are truly absurd," Edward said.
A sick feeling began to form in Bella's gut as she stared into Edward's topaz eyes. "What?"
"Rosalie and I were there that night. Alice called us."
"No." Bella shook her head, even as her quickening heartbeat knew he spoke the truth.
Edward moved a step closer to Bella, holding her gaze. "Alice was not going to be in Port Angeles that night. Rosalie and I were supposed to get to Alonzo, the leader, before you crossed paths. Decisions changed, he left earlier. That might have saved you, but your path changed, too. It's almost as though the two of you adjusted to make sure you'd meet."
Edward was close enough to her now that their chests almost bumped. Her heart pounded. "Rosalie and I were waiting in the shadows while Alice and Jasper got you away. I heard his thoughts. I know what he would have done to you. Now he will not be hurting any women ever again."
Bella swallowed uncomfortably, the lump in her throat not going away.
Pah-puhm pah-puhm pah-puhm.
"You killed them both?"
"I'm just a killer, aren't I? It's all I do."
"Edward, stop this," Rosalie interrupted.
Edward backed up a step, and Bella used the space to turn to Rosalie. She hesitated, mouth opening as if to speak. Unable to, she turned and ran from the room.
A/N: Well, I wanted to add a story recap to open the chapter, but adding a note to the top of the page took away all the center-alignment. If you'd like to remind yourself of what is referenced in this chapter, Chapters Four and Five cover Bella's attack, Chapter Seven is the first mention of Carlisle's friendship with Beth Lloyd-Jenkins. Chapter Thirteen is Edward and Bella's first meeting.
When I woke this morning, I certainly didn't expect to have a chapter that I felt satisfied with enough to post. This chapter has given me much grief over the last two months, and I completely started over just a few days ago. It's not perfect, but I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks go out to those who looked it over and gave me feedback. I really really needed it.
Thank you everyone for sticking with this story. :)
Next chapter... Rosalie starts to sink her hooks in. Alice tells Edward to back off, and why.