It's been a while, but not too long.

I actually have nothing to say, just

hope you'll like it.

Chapter 6

Family and friends

I had snuggled up in the soft couch in our living room, which was full with people.

Edward stood behind my back, his hands on my shoulders. Carlisle was the only one of the other Cullen's sitting down; they were all nervously standing in different positions in the room. The reason for the tense mood was the four strangers sitting opposite from us.

Edward and I had brought Mary-Anne to our house where Carlisle had gone after class. The others had gathered there when Alice told them about her.

Emmett's usually soft and happy face was hard and his eyes were fixed on the three women and the male. I was scared when someone like Emmett was acting weird, and if Edward's hands hadn't been on my body, I wouldn't have been able to keep it together. He probably knew that.

Mary-Anne's family had come here as soon as they figured out where their sister was. Carlisle had greeted them as politely as he would do to anyone and offered them to sit down in his house.

They were now curiously admiring our house and us. I thanked my happy star that Jacob and Renesmee was out for the evening. It seemed like she also had a talent for keeping her adorable self out of the way when there might be trouble with her presence.

"I must tell you how surprised I am to so such a large coven in a place like this, and in public!" The sister in the middle, the leader ran her eyes over us and raised an eyebrow. Her eyes were clear red, black make-up making the impression stronger. Her short, bleached hair and torn-up, old clothes were signs of a wild lifestyle and personality. She surely wasn't eager to cover her identity, body or beauty. How could a person like that hold Mary-Anne's head over water?

She dug her hand down her pocket, pulled up a box of cigarettes. "Do you mind?" She said, waving it at Carlisle.

"Yes, I do, I'm afraid." She shrugged and put it back down. "I see you are still feeding on humans. May I ask why you decide to live here, with the risk of being exposed?" She snorted.

"If you're referring to the humans and their police I don't give much for that crap. I've been doing this for quit some time now, I know what I'm doing, thank you." I had no idea, but sometime this gathering suddenly was about her. I couldn't even remember her name. I touched Edward's hand, and he squeezed my shoulder in return.

"Liberty, I would like to talk to Carlisle." The woman reacted instantly and her hard and tough futures relaxed and she leaned backwards.

"Of course, Mary-Anne. Take it away." The other two, a female and a male, sat quite and watched when Mary-Anne moved further out on the seat.

She still didn't look up, but I could hear her nervous breathing from across the room.

"Would it make it more easier for you to look at me, Mary-Anne?" Carlisle's voice was soft and even, he talked to her as he would talk to a dieing patient. And that was when I realized it. Mary-Anne was dieing. She was going to die, maybe not now, but soon, very soon. Her mind had been pressed to the edge for almost 300 years, not even a vampire mind could cope with that pressure.

Mary-Anne gasped, and shook her head fiercely.

"No, no, I can't do that. I can't look at you." Panic and desperation coloured her voice.

"Calm down, my dear. If I assure you that something would keep me from entering your head if you look at me, would you do that then?" I winced and looked at Carlisle, who'd turned to me.

"Do you mean that I…?" He nodded.

"Please, Bella." Liberty, her sister and brother looked at me with raised eyebrows. They didn't understand what was going on, what Carlisle and I were talking about.

"I'm sorry, sir, but you are aware of the consequences for our sister if she look you in the eye?" The nameless sister whispered in a sweet soprano voice.

"Yes, my son has told me about that. But, my daughter will be able to prevent that." He grabbed my hand and stared with meaning eyes at Edward and me.

I nodded and stretched the rubber band that was protecting my mind from everyone and including Carlisle in that protection. "I'm finished." I said, and he turned back to Mary-Anne.

"Now, my child. You should be able to look at me." With wavering eyes, and an uncertain face preparing for pain she turned her face towards him. She smiled relived when their eyes met.

"Thank you." She whispered. He just smiled at her.

"Thank Bella." Without looking at me, she thanked me with all her heart. Edward ran his fingers along my neck, obviously proud of me.

"How did you do that?" Liberty gasped, leaning forward again. She had an unlit fag between her lips. The declining of permission of smoking it didn't stop her from having it ready.

"My wife has a talent for privacy." Edward murmured and stroke my jaw and hair.

"Your wife?" She spit and looked with doubt on him.

"Forget about it." He growled. "I'm only hers."

"How the…?"

"I read minds, but not as thoroughly as your sister." She gave him a look and I became furious.

"We'll see about that." She whispered tenderly.

"Keep yoUR-" I was almost at my feet, throwing myself over her but Edward held me back.

"Calm down, love, you have to concentrate." I had forgotten about Carlisle and Mary-Anne who'd closed up to each other and stood whispering a bit away from the others.

I checked the band, but it was as strong as ever. It seemed like I didn't have to concentrate to keep it up any longer. It was up or it was down, apparently.

"There's no need, she's safe." I sank down, covering my eyes with my hand. "What are they talking about anyway?" They were speaking so low and so fast not even my ears could keep up. But Edward could still pick up Mary-Anne's thoughts.

When he didn't answer me I peeked up between my fingers. His eyes were fixed on the couch next to me, but his golden eyes were not looking at it. He suddenly turned to Jasper and growled. His brother had apparently calmed his emotions. Was the thing Mary-Anne wanted to know that bad?

"So how come y'all are here then?" Liberty removed the fag from her lips when she spoke and played with it between her fingers. She was completely indifferent to the conversation between her sister and Carlisle. Her eyes narrowed. "There's something weird about you, I just can't put my finger on what it is."

"They're not drinking human blood, Lib." The male spoke for the first time, and a rolling of eyes followed the words.

"Oh, yeah, that's right! You're completely right, Adonis."

"Adonis?" Alice started giggling at my respond.

"Yes, my name is Adonis, madam." He had traces of an accent, but the long life with the Americans had made it go away almost completely. He smiled beautifully, and not before now I could see how truly handsome he was. With a strong body for his young age and dark skin under the paleness, I understood he was old, very old. He had black hair in a combed mess on his head, and the straight nose also showed for southern extraction.

My small knowledge of European mythology stepped in.

"The real Adonis?" I gasped.

"Define real." He teased. "Yes, I am the one in the myth. That stupid Aphrodite couldn't bare the thought of me turning old and die so she made me immortal. The gods back then were no more gods then you and I."

"You've met Aphrodite?" I gasped, amazed by the young man in front of me. He laughed.

"Yes I have. And lived with her for a long period of time, as well. But that woman was so vain and she just wanted me for herself so I left. I swam across some oceans and a couple of thousand years later we're here. So, there it is, my life story in short."

"Very short." Edward snorted. I ignored him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. I'm just fascinated, that even a small part of those old believes are true."

"No offence taken." He smiled, leaning back again.

"Bella, you've always been too easily amazed." Emmett laughed his loud laughter from the corner. I turned around and stuck my tongue out for him.

"It's not everyday you meet a person from the Greek mythology." I replied angrily. He continued laughing until Rosalie asked him to shut up.

"It's not everyday you act like a five-year-old. Calm down, love."

"How come you're not eating humans?" Liberty smashed in before I could get a good look at Edward.

"Everybody doesn't enjoy slaughter as much as you do, my dear." The last sister whispered. "You have to remember that Adonis, Mary-Anne and I aren't feeding on the living either." Liberty snored loudly at her sister and rolled her eyes.

"I've never been able to understand that, you know. It doesn't make sense at all. If were able to eat humans, then we should."

"We're able to do a lot if things, you think we should do them as well?" Edward growled through clenched-together teeth.

"Oh." She pulled her eyebrows together and formed her lips to an o. "I wonder, wife, is he always like that? Cause you see, if he's that tense, it might not even be worth the effort."

"No, only to people who deserves it." I said, my voice as honey but with an edge sharp enough to cut hairs in two. Liberty snarled.

"No fighting in my house." Esme ordered and walked up beside me.

"Of course not, Esme." I said, eyes still fixed on Liberty. "Want to take this outside?"

"Bella. No." Edward jumped over the back and fixed me with his eyes, trying to make me not do anything stupid. But I felt for stupid, and she'd insulted me, and him. I wanted to take it out on her.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go." Liberty was about to get up, and I was about to follow her, but then Carlisle turned back to us with Mary-Anne staring into the floor behind him.

"There will be no fighting, Bella." He said, and I had no other choice then to sit back down again.

"Another time then." I promised and Liberty grinned viciously at me.

"There won't be any fighting, ever, Bella." Carlisle's voice had turned hard and cold. In shock I looked up on him. "Mary-Anne needs both of you, there can't ever be any fights."

"Thank you, Carlisle." Mary-Anne breathed, and put a hand on his arm. She smiled tiredly at him. "But I know my sister better then well, and I know she won't be able to stay out of it for long. It might be time for us to leave." It must have been a cue, cause both Adonis and the third sister stood up and started to walk towards the door. Liberty rolled her eyes but followed them.

Adonis put a hand on the sister's shoulder, but she shook her head. Beside me I heard how Edward gasped in confusion, was she able to close him out as well?

She looked at me and tripped over to us.

"I'mJenny." She smiled and reached out her hand. I took it.

"Bella."

"Yes, I know, that was hard to miss." She squeezed my hand for a couple of seconds and then let go. "I just want to say how glad I am that you're doing this for my sister. I really am glad." She bowed her head and walked back to the door. That was odd.

"We'll see you at home, May." Liberty spit and they disappeared out the door.

"Nice crowd, eh." Emmett laughed looking after them.

"Certainly that Liberty." Rosalie added.

"What do you say about a bet on the fight, Em?" Jasper punched his brother. They stared at each other, and then turning to me. I glanced angrily at them.

"I'll go for Bella." Emmett determined. Their eyes went to Alice, to check if we were going to fight. She nodded, and sighed.

"Deal."

I was still steaming with anger when Edward and I were alone again. He just shook his head sadly at me.

"You've just done it worse." He whispered.

"I've done it worse?" I yelled. "That little…" I was so angry my jaw locked together and I wasn't able to press anything over my lips. He grabbed my twitching hands and gazed into my eyes. His voice was calm but worried when he spoke.

"You had no reason for that challenge. I was only offended by her idea of making me sleep with her easy." I winced when I heard the words and blinked.

"Would you do that?" I gasped.

"No! No!" He crushed me to his chest. "Not ever! You're the only one I'll ever have sex with, you should know that. I'm your husband, yours only. My body only belongs to you."

"It's sounding like you're trying to convince yourself, and not just me." His body tensed and he backed away from me. His eyes were wide in shock and pain when he stared at my upset face.

"Are you serious? Do you believe that of me?" Something pressed down my chest and I couldn't breath.

"I don't know. Do I? Maybe I'm not enough for you?" I covered my face with my hands. I was telling him my fears, why I so easily became jealous and it went hard on my heart. "Why wouldn't you run along to other women, especially more experienced ones?"

"Do you honestly think I would do such a thing, Bella, my love, my only love?" Oh, how I wanted him to touch me. I wished I'd never said anything, I wished that dreadful vampire to hell and that she hadn't pulled all these hideous emotions to light.

But he kept his distance, face still twisted in pain. If I could I would have cried. But my face didn't become wet. My muscles were not able to hold me up any longer and I sank down in a pile in the floor. Were we having an argument? I didn't know. At least we were not screaming at each other. Then why wouldn't he touch me?

"Do you want me to do those things, Bella?" He whispered, standing completely still in the middle of the room.

"No." My voice broke and my hissing breaths pierced the silence. "No, I want you to be with me, Edward. Only me."

"Do you want to be with someone else too?" My entire body started trembling when I realized how he took my words and actions.

"No! There is only one for me, and his name starts with E and ends with dward." And I was in his arms. He crushed me against his body hard, it almost hurt. But my breathing calmed down and I could relax. I hadn't hurt him so much that he wouldn't touch me again. I started giggling in relief, kissing his throat. "I love you, Edward Cullen."

"And I love you, Isabella Cullen, for ever and ever, despite the outrageous things you say sometimes." His crushing stopped and he just held me. "Bella?" He whispered.

"Yes." I sighed.

"Is it possible that…" He fell silent, sitting completely still.

"Yes?" I leaned away to look at him. He looked at my chest and stomach, with a deep wrinkle between his eyebrows.

"Is it possible that you might be pregnant again?" I froze, my hand instinctively on my stomach.

"Why?" I gasped. Was that even possible?

"You haven't acted like this since you were. These mode-swings, they're a bit scary." I laughed, kissing him tenderly.

"No, I'm not. If no one else ever has been, then I won't be either. If I'm not some fertility goddess, but I doubt that."

"You're a goddess, that for sure." He growled and slid his hand along my body. My lips shivered against his and he smiled. His shoulders relaxed and he kissed my forehead. "That's too bad, though, I bet Renesmee would like a sibling."

"And I would like a son." I admitted. "A Edward Junior."

"I'm a afraid you'll have to do with the senior." He murmured. "Once again you ask something I'm not able to give you. It's very frustrating." He sounded disappointed and sad when he caressed my cheek. I had to hurry to lighten the mood or he'll be rolling in self-loathing.

"Well, I'm not excepting anything. I would be shocked if it'd happen. The senior is more then enough." I placed one hand on each side of his face, admiring his beauty and smiling at him. The sadness lay heavy in his eyes, but he smiled back at me. "Cheer up, Edward." I brushed my lips gently over his. "Cheer." I kissed his eyelids. "Up." I kissed the tip of his nose. "Edward." I was just about to press them hard at his when he threw himself over me, pressing me to the floor.

"The sound of my name in your voice is wonderful." He chuckled, following my jaw with his nose.

My breathing became strained when he touch and kissed me like this. Clearing my head with a fresh breath didn't help; his sent were everywhere and only made it worse.

"Behave." I breathed and tried to push his hands away.

"No." He just held me tighter, kissed me more passionate so I couldn't object. "We could always try to give Renesmee a brother."

"So all those other times don't count?" I tried to wriggle out of his arms, softly so he wouldn't be offended.

"We haven't started counting until now, right?"

"Oh, don't even try! The family's still in the house!" I hissed and finally got free. He looked after me with arms reaching out, but I backed away against the wall.

"Yes they are, I can't really imagine why that'd stop us." He looked so innocent, as if all he'd thought about was a game of chess. But I knew him too well.

"What were Mary-Anne and Carlisle talking about earlier?" I tried to distract him, and it was a success. His features became dark again, and his entire posture collapsed. "Was it that bad?" I walked up to him, my need for comforting him took over the part that told me to stay away so he wouldn't try anything.

He sighed heavily and looked up at me, frowning.

"She wanted to know if it was possible for us to die, if we're able to commit suicide." I gasped.

"So she was that serious about it? But you said…"

"I know, I guess that slipped by without me noticing with all the other terrible things."

"But how could she know to ask Carlisle? To ask the one who should know?" I remembered my first time in the Cullen house in Forks, and the story of Carlisle's very long life. Edward had told me that his father had tried to kill himself several times as a newborn, but he'd been to strong and lived. But Mary-Anne was old, and she believed she'd do it. The facts about Edward's attempted suicide were surely already added to her list of ways. But she couldn't turn to the Volturi, even I knew that. Aro would never let her gift slip between his fingers.

That was why Carlisle had warded off the fight between Liberty and me. We were needed to keep her alive.

"She heard it in my head of course, the memory pressed itself at her." He woke me up from the depressing thoughts.

"But Carlisle would never agree to that."

"Of course not." He sighed. "She begged him to tell her how he did, but your protection made it possible for him to deny her that information. The confusion in her head had no end; all the minds were in an uproar. She'd never been denied any memory or information before. It almost made me sick hearing it; how the different voices went on and on of how they'd get hold of it." He pulled me down beside him, and wrapping an arm around my waist. "Some of them weren't that nice."

A low knock on the door and Alice peeked in through the opening.

"Bella?"

"Yes, Alice?" Edward pulled me closer when I was about to stand up. I put a hand on his leg in return.

"Liberty is going to be here in five minutes, and she wants to talk to you about something. I'm not sure of what, but she'll be here soon."

Both Edward and Alice tried to stop me when I went to meet Liberty. But I had decided to meet her, and fight her if that'd be necessary.

I stepped over the porch and down the small stairs at the back of the house that was facing the forest. Against a tree a few yards away stood Liberty, smoking a cigarette. She eyed me several times with a bored expression.

The fag was finished, and she put it out in her hand before flicking it in through the trees.

"You wanted to see me?" I kept my distance, flipping my hair backwards. Hopefully were they all watching this.

"Yeah, I did. I figured I'd have to tell someone first, but here you are, without any warning. I wonder how." She licked her upper lip and smiled viciously at me again.

"Well, we have our secrets."

"Oh, really?" She chuckled and drew a hand through her short hair. "What a surprise." She liked irony, obviously.

"Do you mind getting to the point, or are you planning on taking me with surprise?" The anger made my muscles twitch and I was ready, even if she planned on taking me with just that.

"No, you don't understand." She said. "Even though you should know that I won't give this one up. Oh, this seems all to exciting and the prey, whoo." She cast an eye up through the windows. I rolled my eyes, fighting hard to control my emotions. "I came here to apologize for my rudeness before. I wish it all to be forgotten. I'm truly very sorry." She pronounced the words with care and I relaxed.

"Of course you're forgiven, Liberty." I breathed and smiled at her. "Why wouldn't you be?" She cast a pending eye at the house again, but then relaxed and nodded.

"Thank you. I'm very glad to hear that." A triumphed smile spread over her face. I guessed she truly were glad she'd been forgiven. "I'll see you around then."

"Yeah, sure. Bye." I turned and walked back into the house, while I heard how she started to run through the forest.

What's up with Liberty?

Why is Bella acting all wierd?

How come Adonis isn't all fragile like the Volturi?

Why was Jenny shaking Bella's hand?

What will happen to Mary-Anne?

Tell me what you think,

and I'll answer with an update.

xoxo