A/N: I've wanted to write this for a while, and got inspired after reading a good chunk of the first book. ;3 Bella & Alec's first meeting wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, even though Alec, deep down, was happy Edward found his mate - even if he and Bella didn't want to admit to themselves yet; he was just fearful this random girl would expose Carlisle's secret and that's a big no-no to him. He warms up eventually though, as anyone who reads the main story would know.

Anyway, enjoy some wholesome. o3o

Moon and Tide

The first time Bella met Alec, she could tell he didn't like her. His eyes watched her warily, a storm in them she didn't understand at the time. But she also noticed the way he calmed when Dr. Cullen touched him, how he leaned into his touch like he was the most important person in the world, and Bella wished, in that moment, she had someone like that in her life.

She remembered Charlie telling her about Dr. Cullen and how everyone knew he was smitten with the blue eyed man. That no one even dared to come between them, because they carried a fierce protectiveness and possessiveness when it came to each other. Charlie told her of the time an abusive ex from Alec's past came to try and separate them, and it was the only time the police chief saw the violent side of the doctor.

His children had to stop him from doing something he'd regret, and Bella couldn't imagine calm, collected Dr. Cullen resorting to violence. But then she remembered the way he looked at Alec, how the storm in his eyes receded and the smile on his face told anyone he was taken with him, and Bella could only guess how he'd react if someone threatened to take Alec away.

So she didn't really understand when Alec leveled a glare at her, the same hate in his eyes almost akin to when she first met Edward, but when Dr. Cullen put a hand on his shoulder, whispering something against his ear, Alec turned away with a huff and let the doctor lead him away. She confronted Edward then, but he steadfastly refused to tell her anything.

That alone was annoying, but Bella lived with it, because she admitted to herself a long while ago she and Edward were drawn towards each other, even though he told her time and again he was dangerous.

Even he told her he couldn't deny the pull between them any longer, and so they fell into an easy rhythm. But then everything changed when Jacob told her the tribe legends of Cold Ones, how Carlisle had been around over a hundred years ago, and it threw her. She mentioned to Jacob how Alec didn't have the same gold eyes as the Cullens, and her newfound friend arched an eyebrow at those words.

"Weird," is all he said at the time, and left it alone.

Diving into the legends, and then confronting Edward with the fact she knew what he - what his family - was, she asked if Alec was the same.

Edward barked out a laugh, running a hand through his hair. "No. And, before you ask, he's not our blood supply. We don't drink from humans. What Carlisle and Alec have… they're mates. And their mating bond is one of the strongest I've ever seen."

"Even though Alec's… not one of you?" Bella questioned, eyebrow arched. "Is that even possible?"

"It is," Edward remarked. "You didn't see when Jared showed up and put a knife to Alec's throat. I thought Carlisle was going to go against everything he stood for and rip his throat out. It took Emmett and Jasper to hold him back."

"Wow," Bella murmured. "Whatever happened to that guy, anyway?"

"Let's just say we convinced him to leave Alec alone or he may not live another day," Edward said airily. "Alec was pretty shook up after that and Carlisle wouldn't let any of us near him. It's like the mating bond told him we were dangerous. It took a good two weeks before he realized we were his family and that wasn't going to happen."

"Huh. The mating bond, you said… is it usually so strong?"

"Like I said, Carlisle and Alec's is one of the strongest I've seen in all my hundred years, and they're not… official, I guess you could say. The bond won't be as strong until Alec's turned."

Bella nodded. "Charlie did say it was obvious Carlisle was smitten with Alec, that even the stupidest person wouldn't be able to notice how taken he was with him."

"That's the bond," Edward explained. "Alec… he's the moon to Carlisle's tide, to put it mildly. Where Alec goes, Carlisle follows, and I don't want to imagine what would happen if they had to separate. Would they survive? I don't know, honestly."

"Is the bond that strong?"

"They can be. Alice and Jasper don't do well when they're apart for more than a few days. Emmett and Rose are a bit better, but separate them for a week and they start pining after one another." Edward looked thoughtful. "Meanwhile, with Carilsle and Alec's bond, I can't see them even surviving if they were apart for more than a day. They're each other's gravity, I guess you could say."

"I can't imagine being that intertwined and connected with someone," Bella whispered, staring into Edward's gold eyes. "Not until now, anyway."

Edward gave a wry smile, tipping Bella's head up to place a kiss upon her lips, and Bella realized she never truly lived, not until she met this man and became his. Were they mates? She wasn't sure, at least not at the time. But now? Now she knows. She knows she was made for Edward, just as he was made for her.

The first time she was formally introduced as Edward's girlfriend - mate was too heavy a word - she remembers Alec wasn't in the kitchen, helping them cook for her. She did notice Carlisle didn't seem too worried, so he had to be around, but then someone clearing their throat brought her attention to the doorway.

Alec stood there, eyes narrowed, just looking at her. Bella goes to approach him, but Edward's hand on her shoulder stops her, and she looks into his eyes, confused. But before she can say another word, Alec spins on his heel and walks off, and Carlisle looks at her apologetically.

"Excuse me for a moment," he murmurs, following after the blue eyed boy. Bella was amazed at how deep their connection was - it was like Carlisle could feel every emotion Alec did, and he wouldn't stand for it if his mate was upset.

When she brought it up to Edward later, he actually laughed, kissing her forehead.

"I'm surprised you picked up on that, being human and everything," he murmurs thoughtfully. "Because you're right. Carlisle won't stand for Alec being upset, even for a brief few seconds. I don't think you noticed how quick his expression changed whenever Alec got upset and walked out."

"I didn't, but the way he went after him, I could tell he was worried."

"Oh, it was more than worry. It was everything he was screaming at him to make his mate feel safe and happy again - that's his utmost priority in life."

Bella hums, snuggling close to her boyfriend - mate still feels like too heavy a word - a soft sigh dripping from her lips. "I still can't see Carlisle resorting to violence, even if Alec was threatened. He seems too calm and cool for that."

Edward snickers. "A vampire's most basic instinct is to protect what's theirs. Our mates aren't our property, so to speak… but they're ours to keep safe, to love and cherish. After being alone for almost four hundred years, I guess you could say Carlisle's instinct to protect Alec is a lot stronger than most."

"Interesting," Bella muses. "Did the situation with Jared happen here? Or somewhere else?"

"I'm not sure if this is my place to tell you," Edward thinks aloud. "But it was at the hospital. Alec was waiting for Carlisle after a shift, and Jared showed him, spewing a bunch of shit about Alec being his toy and how he belonged to him." He grimaces. "I remember the absolute fury on Carlisle's face and Charlie hadn't been there because of an unrelated incident, I'm pretty sure our secret would have been exposed."

"That's… fucked," Bella curses, and Edward's eyebrows arch at the curse word. "Sorry, but there's no other word for it. I can see why Carlisle was protective after that, even without the mating bond. I can't imagine seeing my husband - that's the best human word to describe it - with a knife to his throat and some deranged lunatic spewing crap like that."

Edward gives a wry smile. "They aren't married, at least not yet. I don't know what's taking him so long to just pop the question already - they may as well be with how they act. But I know marriage is important to Carlisle, and he wants to do it right, no matter how many years that takes."

Bella nods. "I always thought marriage was nothing but a piece of paper, but I can see how someone, especially from Carlisle's time, would see it as something that has to be done perfectly and with no mistakes."

"Exactly. See, you're smart. I like that about you," Edward teases, pecking her lips. "I don't need to explain all this to you; you just get it."

"It's easy to understand with the way they look at each other, like they're each other's entire universe," Bella says with a grin. "Even an idiot could see there's no separating them."

Edward smiles, nodding. They spend the rest of their time curled up against one another, and when Alec approaches her some time later, eyes full of apology, Bella tells him he has nothing to be sorry for. He was protecting Carlisle and his secret, she explains to him, and no one can fault him for that.

And when he smiles, Bella can see why Carlisle fell in love with him. It could light up an entire room.

She'll keep that thought to herself, though.

Fin.