DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creation of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Cullen family and the Denali Coven play baseball.

Baseball – Part 2

"Take it easy on me, honey," Jasper called to Alice.

"Of course, Jazzy!" Alice giggled.

I knew my sister well enough to know that laugh. She had something planned.

"I don't think she means that," I whispered to Edward.

He laughed and tightened his embrace on me. "You always were much too observant."

I could hardly follow the ball when Alice released it. I only knew it was heading off in the other direction from the plinking sound made when the bat connected with it. Jasper took off toward first base and made it there seconds before Carlisle caught the ball from Irina.

I gave Edward a quick kiss on the cheek before allowing him to let me go. He smiled at me as he picked up the bat. I was glad he still had that jersey shirt on. I didn't think I could handle his black tank top showing off his muscles just yet. Rose came over and stood with me as we waited for Alice to pitch. My pixie sister smiled wickedly at my husband and I could tell they were having one of their private conversations.

I never saw the ball leave Alice's hand, but I heard the bat hit it. I looked up in time to see the baseball soaring over the tree tops. Emmett and Carmen both took off after it.

Rose shook her head next to me. "Emmett knows better than to leave the base undefended like that. He just really wants to beat Edward for once."

Jasper came across home plate, grinning from ear to ear. Edward rounded third and was flying through home when Emmett and Carmen reappeared. Edward stopped right in front of me and pulled me into a kiss. Rose laughed at us and smacked his shoulder.

"Good thing we brought extra baseballs," Emmett boomed from across the clearing. "Eddie lost that one!"

Edward chuckled as he turned and looked at our brother. "Jealous, Em?"

"You wish, pretty boy!" Emmett snapped.

"Here, Alice!" Esme called, as she tossed a new baseball to my sister.

"Get a homerun, Rosalie!" I said to my sister. She winked at me.

"Alright, Alice. Let's see what you've got!" Rose taunted.

Alice's eyes narrowed into little slits as she glared at our sister. I guess Rose shouldn't have taunted her. Alice threw three perfect strikes with Rose never even getting to take a swing.

Tanya stepped up next, giving Alice a friendly smile. Alice returned the gesture for a brief second before becoming all business once again.

Tanya let the first pitch go by and Esme called it a strike. Alice threw a second time and, again, Tanya ignored it. That one was a strike as well. On the third throw, Tanya swung the bat in a graceful arc and hit the ball perfectly. It went high into the trees. Carlisle took off after it. He was back with the ball in hand just as Tanya reached second base.

Kate danced over to home plate and picked up the bat. She giggled as she pointed over Irina's head.

"What's she doing?" I asked Edward.

"She's basically telling everyone that she's going to hit a homerun in that direction," Edward replied.

Kate kept smiling and moving around as she waited for Alice's first pitch. Alice tried to throw low, but with Kate's shortness, it was easy for her to get the bat under the ball. It sailed up and over Irina's head.

"Foul ball!" Esme called. "Too far out of line!"

"What happens now?" I asked Edward.

"That counts as a strike. She gets another bat," he explained.

Kate pouted as she readied herself for the next pitch. Alice smiled sweetly as she threw the ball hard and fast. Kate never saw it coming.

"Strike two!" Esme called.

Kate glowered at a sweetly smiling Alice. "Come on, Alice! I thought we were friends!"

"We are Kate. But you aren't on my team!" Alice chirped.

"Don't break the bat, Kate," Tanya warned.

Alice threw her third and final pitch. Kate swung hard and if she had hit the ball, I was sure it would have been a homerun. But she missed it.

"Out! Two down and one to go!" Esme announced.

"Great!" I muttered.

Edward chuckled against my ear. "Relax, love, and you'll do fine."

"Yeah, yeah!" I said, waving a hand at him.

I headed over to the plate and picked up the bat. I held it the way Alice had shown me to in Forks.

"Wait!" Edward called. He ran over and stood behind me, moving my hands a little further up the bat. "This will make it easier for you to get a good hit. Don't be in a rush. Wait for the pitch to come to you. Remember, you have four fouls before it makes one strike. Bend your knees some and it will turn her strikes to into fouls."

"Thank you, Edward," I said, with all the sincerity I felt.

He smiled his crooked smile and moved away from me.

I turned my head and eyed my sister. She was smiling sweetly at me which could only mean trouble. "Be nice!" I begged her.

Her grin widened. I gulped and heard Edward and Rose chuckling at me.

Alice's first pitch went by way too fast and scared the crap out of me. It was easy to understand why Edward didn't want me stepping in front of that!

"Foul!" Esme called.

"How is that a foul?" Alice argued.

"It was below Bella's knees," Esme pointed out.

"Stand up straight, Bella!" Alice ordered.

"Alice, you can't tell her what type of batting stance to have," Edward pointed out, with a wicked grin.

I would have laughed if I wasn't so deathly afraid of Alice's revenge. She pulled her arm back and threw the second ball. I was able to follow this one as it sped toward me. I swung the bat hard and hit air, causing me to lose my balance and fall on my butt. The entire clearing was filled with laughter.

Edward was trying not to laugh as he jogged over and pulled me up from the ground. I was amazed to see him acting so care free. Usually, he'd be glaring at everyone and checking me from head to toe for signs of injury. He really was trying hard to stop being so overprotective of me. I smiled, feeling very proud of my wonderful husband.

"Strike!" Esme giggled.

I dusted off my pants and glared at my sister. I was going to hit this next pitch. Alice had a look of deep concentration as she threw for the third time. I watched the ball coming closer and swung just a little bit before it reached the plate. The crack against the bat was loud in my ears.

I didn't wait to see what I had done, I just ran toward first base. I could hear Edward and Rose yelling for me to keep going and I did, rounding first and moving toward second. I could hear Alice yelling for them to get the ball and then I heard Edward yelling for me to stop. I planted my feet on second and looked up to see Emmett grinning down at me.

"How you doing, Picky?" he asked.

"I made it to second base, Em! I think I'm doing pretty well," I told him.

"About time! I thought Edward was going to make you wait a few centuries," Emmett said, winking at me.

I rolled my eyes at my brother. I could hear Edward growling from the other end of the field. "You know better than to say things like that with Edward in hearing distance, Em."

"Stop fraternizing with the enemy!" Alice snapped.

"Alice, you know you love me," I said, batting my eyes at her.

"Yeah, yeah!" Alice muttered, as she turned to see Jasper at bat again. "You will not be making it off that plate this time, Mister!"

Jasper chuckled and blew Alice a kiss. Emmett and I snickered at the two of them. Alice threw him three perfect strikes and the inning ended.

"Emmett, when we have to bat again, do I go back to this base?" I asked.

"No, Picky. You start from scratch," Emmett explained, as he started walking off the field.

Edward stopped on his way to third base long enough to give me a quick hug. "I'm proud of you, Bella. You did very well."

I smiled happily as I watched him go to his base. Rosalie took her spot as pitcher again as Irina picked up the bat and got ready for her turn. I thought I saw Irina glare at me, but I shrugged it off. As far as I knew, no one had a problem with me anymore since I was no longer human. And they had been nice when we'd visited for Valentine's Day.

Rose threw the first pitch and it was a strike. I clapped for my sister.

"You're really getting into this," Edward commented.

I turned toward him and smiled. "This is fun! And I'm actually able to play without tripping all over myself."

"IRINA, NO!" Alice screamed.

I looked up, trying to see what had made my sister scream. My eyes widened in horror as I realized the baseball was heading right at me, too late to do anything about it. It hit me hard in my upper chest and I flew backwards off my feet. My back and head slammed into the ground with a resounding thud.

I closed my eyes, trying to relax so I could pull in some air. I knew I didn't need to breathe, but I wanted to so I would know I was okay. I didn't want to panic. I heard Edward calling my name and Emmett yelling at someone, but I still couldn't pull in any air to breathe or speak. I felt hands on my face and knew they belonged to Edward.

"Bella." That was my father.

I moved my hand over Edward's and forced our connection. 'I can't breathe! I can't speak!'

"Carlisle, she's having trouble breathing," Edward said, with worry etched in his voice.

I felt someone lift my shirt. Then I heard the hitching of their breath and some low whistles.

'What is it?' I begged, hoping Edward would tell me.

"Relax, Bella," Edward cooed. "It's going to be fine."

"Emmett, go and find a deer," Carlisle instructed.

"She'll be fine, Edward," Alice stated. "She'll pull in a breath in twenty-one seconds and talk soon after that."

I counted the seconds down in my head and I felt something move in my chest. It was painful and reminded me of when my bones were realigning during my change. I gasped in air and clenched Edward's hand tightly.

"Just a few broken bones, Bella," Carlisle said softly, as he held me against the ground. "You'll be healed shortly."

Edward pressed his forehead to mine, and I opened my eyes to look into his golden ones. "Just be still until Emmett gets back," he said softly.

"Sorry," I whispered. It was the loudest volume I could manage.

"Why are you sorry?"

I could tell he was upset by my apology. "I should have been paying closer attention."

Edward sighed. "No one expects to get hit with a baseball, Bella. Even if they're paying attention."

"Got it!" Emmett's voice boomed through the clearing.

Edward sat me up and turned me away from the crowd. Emmett dropped the deer in front of me. Edward ripped into its neck and held it to my mouth for me. I drank deeply, only stopping when the pain forced me to. The most painful repair was my breast bone. It must have shattered and torn through my lungs; that was probably why I couldn't breathe or speak at first.

Once I was done drinking, I was able to breathe normally again. Emmett was a sweetheart and took the deer away to get rid of the evidence.

"Bella." That was Irina.

Edward growled at her. I put my hand on his arm to calm him down. Irina moved in front of us and sat down.

"I didn't mean to hit the ball directly at you," she said.

I gave her a knowing smile.

She sighed and returned my smile. "Bella, I did mean to hit you with the ball, but it was never my intention for you to get hurt so badly."

Edward started growling deep in his chest. "You have seconds to get away from my wife, and know that you only have this time because you've been a friend to my family."

"Let me talk to her," I said softly. I wrapped his arms around me to keep him from moving. I didn't want him to act on his anger and do something he would regret.

"No. I'm taking you home," he snapped.

"You will not order me around, Edward. Remember our talk? You're working on not being so overprotective," I told him.

"You were just hit with a baseball on purpose! I think I'm justified this time," he hissed, glaring at Irina.

"Edward, please," I whispered for only him to hear. "Let me talk to her. Maybe I can get her to reconsider about Jake and the pack. I promise that if you let me, I'll do whatever you say for the rest of the night without complaining."

"Isabella …" he growled.

"Please," I begged, pulling his face to mine so that he had to look at me.

He studied my face for a minute and then sighed. "Make it quick."

I looked to Irina, staring her straight in the eyes, willing her to understand. "I know why you don't like me. It's because of the wolves. If you're willing to listen, I'd like to tell you about that day. I'm hoping if I tell you my story, you'll stop hating the pack."

"I doubt there's anything you can say to erase the hatred I have for those dogs," Irina spat.

I cringed a little at the bitter tone of her voice. Edward saw and was already preparing to take me away. I rubbed my hands along his arms, attempting once again to calm him down.

I turned my attention back to Irina. "I was alone in the meadow that was Edward's and mine. I actually thought it was Edward for a second, but that was only very wishful thinking on my part."

I felt my husband's arms stiffen under my hands. I squeezed one of his arms, trying to comfort him. As far as he'd come in forgiving himself, there were still times when his guilt ate at him. The fact that I had just been hurt was not helping him at all. He relaxed a tiny bit. I knew I wouldn't get anything more than that so I decided to finish my conversation before he finished it for me. He only had so much patience when he was upset.

"Laurent mentioned you. He said he thought your way of life was a novelty and that he had trouble with it. He was going to kill me. He said Victoria would be upset with him, but glad that I was dead all the same. I swear to you the only reason the wolves attacked him was to save my life. I know you felt for him and you don't really know me. But you know Edward. Would you wish Edward harm if he had been the one to save me that day?" I asked her.

"It wasn't Edward, though, was it?" she hissed.

"No, it wasn't. But the pack loved me just as the Cullen's love me. It's the only reason they killed him. Just please think about what I've said. I know you can't understand this, but they were my friends. They were only protecting me."

"That's enough," Edward said softly, as he lifted me into his arms.

He didn't even give Irina the chance to say anything in response to what I had told her. But since I had said I wouldn't fuss, I kept my mouth shut and leaned my head against his chest. He ran all the way home, cradling me in his arms. It wasn't long before he was placing me on our bed.

"How are you feeling, love?"

"I'm perfectly fine." I lifted up my shirt to show him there wasn't any visible damage. "See?"

He carefully ran his fingers over the area where the baseball had hit me. I could tell he was thinking about how to say something to me. I kept quiet and waited for him to speak.

He looked down at me. "Bella, how do you remember what happened with Laurent? I was not there."

"You were there," I said, tapping my head. "Just not in body."

Edward moved so his face was against my neck. He breathed deeply and sighed. "Sometimes, I still find it hard to believe that you forgave me for that dark time."

"I don't understand why. I love you. I have loved you from the moment I saw you. I just didn't realize it until later. And when you love someone unconditionally in that way, the only thing you can do is forgive them."

Edward chuckled. "Yes, the way you see me is utterly ridiculous. But I'm thankful for it. I love you, Isabella Cullen."

"And I love you, Edward Cullen."

We laid in silent contentment together for awhile. Our quiet times together had always been just as meaningful and special as any of our long conversations.

"Edward, I need to ask you something. I need you to be completely honest with me and not worry about my feelings. Can you do that?"

"I can try."

I thought about how to phrase my question to get an un-edited answer out of him. "Have you noticed I've been losing my human memories that don't involve you?"

Edward placed a gentle kiss against my neck.

"I guess I have my answer," I muttered. "Oh, well! It's a good thing Alice insisted on scrapbooking so much of my life."

"You're being awfully blasé about this, Bella. How do you really feel?"

"I feel … like sometimes you feel like a nut and sometimes you don't," I giggled. I don't know why I decided to quote a stupid commercial in that moment, but I knew it felt good to laugh.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked, concern showing in his golden eyes as he looked down at me.

"I'm fine. I was just being silly. I felt like laughing. And I knew the memories would fade. I've had them for longer than I expected to. I promise I'm fine and not pretending for your sake. Besides, all my best memories are staying with me because you're in them."

I hugged him tightly and pressed my face against his chest. I didn't want to talk, or to think, or to do anything but breathe him in. This was my Heaven and I wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible before the others returned.

EBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEBEB

Seems every time Bella is involved with a game of vampire baseball, something interesting happens! LOL!!!