GENERAL DISCLAIMERS:
I do not own the Twilight universe nor anything related to the Twilight universe. If we did, I do not think that I would be struggling through college now. Any resemblance to ideas, names, thoughts, theories or situations in another story written on FFN is purely coincidental.
AN: Hi.... so this was supposed to be a longer chapter but when it hit nine hand written pages and kept going I broke it down a little bit. The other two chapters should be up asap.
Bella came home at a quarter after three. Going up to her room she changed from her blue work shirt to a comfy tee shirt. She grabbed a worn copy of Pilgrim's Progress off of her bed and went outside to read by the pool. Two hours later she had finished her book and laid on her back watching the clouds for and reform pictures. At five forty she went into the house to get the others. They piled into her convertible and set off for the Cullen's house in the woods. As they pulled into the driveway she checked the shields around everyone's minds. Alice was waiting on the porch for them. Serena grabbed her box from the trunk and the Swan Coven followed Alice into the house.
"So." Bella said when they saw everyone gathered in the living room. "Who is ready for Vegas?" Everyone smiled.
"Tomorrow morning at three we will leave from the airport in Port Angeles on a private jet. We need to be at the airport about an hour earlier. We will arrive in Vegas at nine am." Serena recited their itinerary. "There will be a private tour of Blending with lunch followed by a tour of the Swan Genetics lab and research center. Those of you that get bored will be taken by Marina to explore the training and testing rooms. From roughly one thirty to seven we are free to tour the city or get settled in at the residence we will be staying at." Serena flipped closed her datebook and looked around the room.
"Where are we staying?" Esme asked.
"Marina has made arrangements for everyone. No worries." Bella said with a secretive smile. "I have a meeting with a USDA rep at seven. He will do his inspection in the morning. We could go dancing at the Highline or The Red Room."
"Dancing! Bella you go dancing now?" Alice bounced in her seat. Before Bella could answer her Rosalie interrupted with a question.
"How are we going to be in all the Vegas sun without drawing attention to ourselves?" Serena just smiled again and reached for her box. She passed out the little bags with everyone's names on them.
"In these bags are products that we found the recipe for while in Paris for fashion week two or three years ago. I met a vampire who modeled professionally but never shined. We sat down and discussed dietary issues, she loved our eye color, and recipes for blending in better. Recently she agreed that Blending Inc could produce her recipe and market it."
"It's just make up?"
"Its professional stage make up mixed with some paint. You can either spray it on with the misting bottle or apply it with a sponge like you would regular make up. It is what we wear most of the time. We each carry a compact of it on us at all times. Well, Micheal's is really a small bottle of 'sunscreen'." Everyone got a laugh out of the irony.
"So cool." Alice was studying her bottle. "Why were you in Paris for fashion week?"
"You'll see later." Serena gave Alice the all knowing all seeing look that Alice normally used on her family. The pixie did not like the tables being turned on her. "Oh Rosalie, Esme, what did you name the darling little one?"
"Adrienne Malinia Cullen."
"A beautiful name. I have a sitter lined up if you guys want to have some couples time."
"That was very thoughtful." Bella's fingers twitched and she flipped open her phone before the ringing had even started.
"Excuse me for a moment. Yes Marina?"
"The plane will be waiting in the morning."
"Thank you Marina. Is the house ready?"
"The townhouse or the house in the hills?"
"The hills please. Why not do it big?"
"Of course. The Hills House is stocked and staffed as usual. Everything is ready for your return. Oh and Jackson Creed is staying at one of the hotels near the lab."
"Marina what would I do without you?"
"Flounder the business end of the labs and spend all of your time in the labs."
"Well, most likely. I'll see you in the morning."
"I'll be at the office with guest passes when you arrive at tenish."
"Bye Marina."
"Have a Goodnight Bella."
"Sorry that was my assistant Marina." Bella would have blushed if she could still do it.
"Its alright darling." Esme said.
"Does anyone have any questions?" Serena asked.
"When will we return?" Jasper questioned, his mind filling with plans, alternatives, strategies and questions.
"Sometime on Sunday."Serena answered, purposefully being vague, she could tell it annoyed Jasper slightly and felt like pushing his buttons.
"Anything exciting to do in Vegas, other than gambling and eating?" Emmett asked.
"Yeah, shows, clubs, events and all kinds of other things to do." Daphne said.
"Sounds good."
"We'll see you in the morning."
"Do you want to stay and watch a movie?" Jasper asked, surprising everyone. Bella's coven flicked
their eyes to her, silently questioning their plan of action.
"If y'all don't mind?" Bella answered for everyone.
"Nope. We would never mind it." Alice bounced on the sofa, visions of different movies scrolled through her brain.
"I will always come over when I am asked." Bella answered truthfully.
"How about we watch a funny movie?" Emmett asked.
"How about Star Wars?"Michael recommended.
"That's not funny." Emmett complained.
"Yeah, but its action and things explode." Michael said with a laugh, in his mind the Death Star kept exploding.
"True enough." Emmett pondered the suitability of Star Wars as a movie for the evening. The others agreed and everyone sat down to watch the movie. After a few minutes Carlisle and Esme excused themselves, leaving the 'teens' downstairs. Seeing that the only space on the sofa was next to Edward, Bella flopped on the floor beside Daphne.
At ten thirty Bella and her Coven left to finish packing. Halfway home Serena broke the silence that had encompassed the car.
"Bella did you see his face when you flopped on the floor?"
"No, I didn't want to look."
"He looked like you ate his favorite puppy." She burst out laughing. "It was a little odd, he tried to cover it though. Jasper looked at him funny a few times."
"Do you know how hard it was to sit in that house?" Everyone looked at Daphne funny. "Bella I could see you human. Your all over the house. I think the worst two are you laying bleeding on the floor, your birthday I guess and you sitting alone in the empty house after they left."
"Yeah, I went back a few times trying to see if I could jolt myself out of the funk that I was in. Shouldn't I be able to control it though?"
"I can for the most part. It's just a little difficult sometimes." They rode the last few minutes to the house in total silence.
At one thirty Bella heard three cars pull up in front of the house. Her coven had already placed their carry-ons and small suitcases in the back of Daphne's mustang. While the Culllens were all dressed for the day already Bella and her coven were still in their pajamas. Daphne, Bella and Serena all wore tight tank tops with tiny shorts in their favorite colors (red, blue and green, respectively).
"Are you guys going in that?" Alice shouted.
"Yes, we will change on the plane. Especially when Bells and Michael are mentally ready to be Barbie and Ken." Alice laughed, remembering all of her times playing 'Bella Barbie' with a grumpy Bella. Edward laughed at Alice's thoughts. Everyone got back in their cars and they set off for the private gate into the Port Angeles airport. Daphne drove her car up to the small gate house.
"Can I help you miss?" The uniformed officer asked half asleep.
"Yes, private flight for Michne Enterprises."
"Sorry Miss, the plane is in hanger fourteen. Please enjoy your trip."
"Thank you good sir." She smirked and giggled at the barely audible gasps from the two cars behind her. The private jet that the four CEOs of Michne Enterprises used for public, personal and business was magnificent. No expense was spared. The plane could easily hold thirty people without feeling cramped. They parked all three cars in the back of the hanger and popped the trunks. Before the Cullens could get their bags four expressionless young men, in black dress pants with a white dress shirt and a gray vest that read Michne on it, gathered the bags and loaded them into the plane.
"Isabella, who are they?"
"They are Victor's pets. They work for Michne Enterprises as valets and runners." One of the men returned to the cars.
"Good morning Miss. Your flight is ready. The crew prepared a light meal for you. Do you wish to board now?"
"That would be lovely. What are the conditions in Vegas today?" Bella said with a smile.
"As normal, I will update you prior to our arrival."
"Let's be going. We have a schedule to keep." Within ten minutes the plane was in the queue and ready for take off.
As the Cullens looked around the cabin of the plane they were stunned at the details. The black carpets were soft beneath their feet, white leather and suede arm chairs and settees lined the walls creating seating for thirty. The walls were a pale creme with blood red fleur-de-lis on them. At seven thirty one of the stewards came into the main cabin.
"Would anyone like a drink?"
"What do you have?"
"Pick your favorite food."
"Bear for Emmett, Mountain Lion for Jasper and Edward, deer for Rosalie and Alice and moose for Carlisle and Esme." Bella said with a smile, remembering their favorites. "I'll have tiger please."
"Cheetah for me please." Daphne licked her lips in anticipation.
"Zebra please Adams." Serena smiled.
"I'll take Elk." Michael said looking up from his book.
"Right back then." Adams disappeared again only to return a few minutes later with a platter full of steaming cups.
"You know Bella this takes the fun out of feeding."
"Yes Emmett, but this is also cleaner and is more sustainable for the environment."
"How sustainable?"
"We use needles to remove just enough blood from animals in nature preserves." Serena answered. "Bella don't you have a few things to work on in the office?" Serena cut her eyes to the door leading to the office before smiling at Bella, who nodded and stood. A few minutes later she was joined in the small office by Emmett and Rosalie.
"Bella can we talk to you?" Emmett asked cautiously.
"Of course. Come on in and have a seat." The room was made of dark wood, with three white leather chairs surrounding a glass top desk. Silver frames of different groups of people lined the walls, almost as if someone had unbound a family photo album. On the small credenza behind Bella was a glass vase filled with blood red flowers.
"Bella you have to know that I would never leave you on purpose." Emmett began. "You are... were... my little sister. I couldn't help but hope that you would be one of us sooner or later."
"I know Em. I know he lied to us all." Bella bit her lip as he eyes filled, she knew she couldn't cry but there was no stopping the venom from pooling.
"I never said this while you were human Bella, but I'm sorry for the way I treated you. I couldn't see how he could love a human or how you would give up your mortality for this."
"Rosalie, Emmett I know leaving was not your fault. You were forgiven long ago, before you even knew to ask."
"That's good. I bet I can make you laugh. Rosalie smacked Edward around for leaving you alone in the woods that day." Bella giggled before giving both of them a hug.
"Emm, it may take me a while before you can call me sis but you should know that I am working on it. Please remember that Serena and Michael are like my children and Daphne is my sister in all but venom."
"I'll look after them like I look after you."
"Aww, isn't that sweet Rosalie." Rosalie nodded. "Rose I need you to kow that I wanted you and Esme to watch over Adrienne because I knew that you wanted to be a mother more than anything. I think this trip will be more beneficial to you than you could ever imagine." With that the three left the back room and joined their families in the main cabin.
Twenty minutes before they landed Bella excused her coven to another out of the way room to get dressed for Vegas. Bella pulled on a pair of thigh highs, an emerald green garter,a pinstripe pencil skirt and a emerald green lace and silk top with a fitted jacket that matched the skirt. Daphne was wearing a gray skirt with a purple silk ¾ length top. Serena changed into a red keds, a knee length denim skirt, a red polo with a red bow pulling her bangs out of her face and a pair of red and blue earrings. Michael wore a black three piece suit with a burgundy dress shirt.
At eight thirty the plane began its descent into Vegas. They taxied around the runway to hanger twenty six. Waiting next to a hummer limo was a tall woman with blood red hair and honey colored eyes in a three piece suit. Next to her were two security guards in black with white marks on their collars and cuffs. Bella was the first off of the plane.
"Good morning, Miss swan. I trust that your flight was well?"
"Of course Marina, you take excellent care of me. Marina I would like to introduce you to my first family and current guests. This is Doctor Carlisle Cullen and Mrs Esme Platt his wife. Rosalie Hale, her daughter Adrienne and her husband Emmett McCarty. Alice Brandon and her husband Major Jasper Whitlock. Lastly is Edward. Cullens this is Marina, my right hand woman, my personal executive assistant." Hellos were said and everyone climbed into the limo. The trip to Michne Enterprises main building took an hour and fifteen minute in the early morning traffic. The building was surrounded by a tall fence and gleamed of steel and glass. The limo stopped in front of the building and a valet opened the doors.
"Welcome back Miss Swan."
"Thank you. Are the security badges ready for my guests?" The valet I produced seven identical badges with metallic strips down the back. "Thank you." Bella and her coven pulled their badges from various bags and pockets and clipped them on.
"Welcome to Michne Enterprises home of Blending Inc, Huntress ltd, Swan Genetics, and Venom Inc. Each division has their own level here in the main building for offices and then a separate section for research and development. Lets start with Blending." Bella led them to a bank of elevators, a small keypad was on the wall between the first and second elevators. They both opened and Bella ushered everyone into them. They stopped on the first floor. The doors opened into a sleek office, a girl sat behind the counter typing incredibly fast. The girl pressed a button unlocking a door on the left, without looking up from her work. Bella pulled them into a conference room. "The packets on the table explain most of the 'public' sides of Michne. Blending Inc was started six years ago by a few vampires that were in need of ways to blend into their chosen territories better. We are working on blood replacement drinks, emergency tablets, items to increase control over thirst, powers, abilities, and changing appearances. Please, while in this building refrain from making comments whether verbal or mental about other species. Through out our research we have come into contact with species even you would deem mythical. We will be in the production and testing room later on. Feel free to try anything that my researchers offer you. No one else will be in this room if you would like to leave anything so you don't have to carry it."
"Bells, we need to run some errands while we are here. We will rejoin you in a little bit." Her coven disappeared back towards the elevators. She smiled as they left before bracing for alone time with the Cullens.
"Follow me please." She led them from the room and towards the production floor. During their hour and a half tor everyone tried something. At eleven thirty they were rejoined by Bella's coven and made their way downstairs to the cafeteria. The Cullens were confused by why there was even a cafeteria at a vampire owned company. Bella's coven got in line.
"Its okay. Please try something off of the vampire menu. Serena and Daphne can help if you are confused." Michael and Bella ordered off of a menu labeled 'Edge'. Once everyone had gotten their food and were seated at a table Bella asked them a few questions.
"Did you like the tour?"
"Yep. Those trials were great. I liked the one that increased strength." Emmett said with a goofy grin.
"Bella, could I get some of those drinks that change eye color?"
"Sorry Rosalie, those are still in testing. The group that is currently testing them has to OK them before we mass produce them. It shouldn't take long though."
"What is it that you are eating?" Carlisle asked, staring dubiously at their plates.
"Michael and I are having today's special. Bolognese with the same sauce that is in your bowls. Your sauce is more blood based and ours has a little sausage and regular noodles mixed in."
"It tastes surprisingly well."
"Thanks, I guess. I need to run up to my office does anyone want to come with?"
"I would." Alice and Edward said at the same time, glaring at each other.
"Ok, come on then." Bella led them to the same bank of elevators from earlier and punched in a six digit code. Not that she would admit its significance but it was the date of Edward leaving her. Once the trio was in the elevator she pressed ten.
"Good afternoon Miss Swan, Mrs Whitlock and Mr Cullen." A lady of maybe thirty five said from behind the desk. The smell of dog hit Alice and Edward like a bucket of green slime at the Kids Choice Awards.
"Hello Judith, how is your pack?"
"Good, good. Thanks for getting Jerrod the position at the Red Room."
"Of course. Between Alphas how could I not? Tell him I'll see him tonight."
"Will do. Marina is waiting for you." She buzzed them through. Bella walked down the hall a good bit before opening a door on her left. She closed the door behind them.
"I'm glad you didn't growl at Judith. She is one of my closest friends." Bella traded her suit jacket for a pristine white lab coat. The phone rand in the inner office. "Let me get that." And Bella disappeared through another door.
"I know who you two are. Do you know you broke her? This company is all she had, besides her covenpack." Marina snarled as she entered the room quietly.
"What do you mean?" Edward asked.
"I know that you can't read my mind. Bella told me how much that annoys you. Look closely at the walls in this room. I need to help Isabella." Marina left through the same door that Bella had.
"What is going on here?" Alice asked, she was in the dark, her visions were blurry at best.
"Alice look." Edward dragged her to the wall that Marina had pointed at. There were newspaper clippings and pictures everywhere. Bella in College with Serena. Serena and Michael in the snow. The whole coven. The coven plus the wolves. Bella with her arms around Seth and Leah. Bella and Jacob. Bella becoming a doctor, accepting her PhD. Bella in Volterra with the brothers. Bella standing tall with very important vampires in Volterra. Bella breaking ground on the building they were standing in. Feeding the hungry at shelters. An award for dedication in a children's hospital. Thank you letters from patients.
"Edward this one is different."Alice pointed to the ground breaking ceremony article. "It says ' Serebellum Michne breaks ground on new headquarters' or this one 'S. Michne opens estate to children of broken homes."
"Maybe Bella just wanted to hang on to them."
"Edward don't be dense. I think our Isabella is Serebellum Michne." Alice whispered, they could hear Bella and Marina moving back towards them. Bella smiled at them as she entered the room.
"All done Bella." Edward asked, keeping himself from trying to see Marina's thoughts. 'If Bella wants us to know something she will tell us.' Marina smiled at Edward like she had heard him. Bella reached for Alice's arm.
"Walk with me Alice." Alice smiled and the pair wandered away leaving Edward and Marina in the office.
"You heard me didn't you?" Edward asked.
"Yes, Edward. I am a shield like Bella. When Bella shields someone they can also hear her thoughts and emotions. I pulled you into my shield to see if you were on the right track."
"Am I?"
"Yes. Do not be afraid Edward. She will tell you everything soon. She will forgive you. You just have to prove to her that this Bella is to you as the old Bella was. Minus the breakable human part."
"I will Marina. I want to make things right. I want to love her if she deems me worthy."
"She just might yet. We best catch up with them." Marina led him to a small stairwell and then down one floor, lining the wall near the door were white lab coats. "Please put one on." Edward slid on a coat and opened the door. Etched into the glass of the door was 'Swan Genetics – I. Swan PhD lead geneticist'. He smiled at her accomplishment before continuing. His whole family was waiting in a small sitting area.
"I would like you all to meet Victor and Donovan. I met them in Boston. They are my closest competition and my greatest research partners." Victor was a tall, tanned man with dark black hair and brown eyes. He was in his thirties when he was changed. Donovan, changed at twenty nine had dirty blonde hair, blue eyes and a warmer skin tone, that was between Victor's tan and Bella's pale white.
"Victor Deciduous and Donovan Arlington at your service." Victor said with a bow.
"I've read many of the works that you have published with Ms Michne." Carlisle said with a small smile. Bella and Marina traded looks, from a small messenger bad Marina pulled a second ID card and a pair of black framed glasses and a handed them to Bella who slipped them on her face wavered for a second before becoming more refined, she looked like an older version of herself.
"Carlisle, I thought you would have figured it out by now. I am Serebellum Michne, CEO, founder of Michne Enterprises. Our coven founded the company to be an umbrella of sorts to our business ventures. Does anyone not want to see my boring research?" No one said anything. "Okay then. Through this door is Lab Five."
She pushed open the frosted glass doors to reveal a large room. The far right wall contained large screens and banks of computers. The far left wall was a glassed off area marked samples. Inside that temperature controlled area were rows upon rows of glass vials, each labeled with an individuals name, species, abilities,powers, diet, location, year of birth, year of change. Edwards eyes narrowed in on a few boxes still stacked near the door. Mary-Alice Brandon Cullen Whitlock, Jasper Whitlock, Baby Cullen, Jacob Black, and Sam Uley. His eyes shot to Jasper and Alice, who refused to meet his cold stare. In the center of the room amongst the neat work stations and scientific equipment was a colored glass model of the known DNA strand.
"Can everyone grab a seat, we have something to show you." Victor said while Bella transferred an image from her computer to the giant smart boards. Marina turned off the lights. "All of you know that this is the human DNA strand correct?" everyone nodded.
"Good, this section right here we have named H74. This is the normal human appearance of gene 74." Bella pulled up six side images. Each image had a letter in front of the 74. "V74 was taken from a 600 year old vampire, W74 was taken from Jacob Black, E74 is mine, P74, M74 and S74 are all clearanced at top secret. These mutations change the way the DNA strand looks at gene 74. All except one. E74 is present in some humans before they come into contact with immortals."
"You mean to say that you can track the changes in someone's DNA?"
"Yep. Throughout the change."
"That's not the only thing. Isabella tell them the best part." Victor bounced in his seat, his eyes glowing with excitement. They hadn't shared their research with many people.
"Calm down Victor. Your like a kid in a candy store. Since E74 is present in some humans that don't have contact we tried to blend their blood with vampire venom and guess what happened."
"What?" Carlisle said intrigued.
"The venom stalled, not fully changing into vampire DNA. Leaving some parts human."
"Bella, I thought that you said that E74 was your DNA." Carlisle asked again, trying to put the pieces together.
"I did."
"But you just said..." Jasper started but Bella interrupted.
"I still sleep occasionally, eat some human food, and one or two other minor things."
"Can you have kids?" Rosalie asked.
"Not as far as I know Rose. I'm trying to see if we can fix it though. Because of you and Esme. I have to try."
"Bella you didn't have to start that project."
"Ms Hale, you don't understand. Bella started that project two years ago." Marina said.
"Why would you do that?"
"Rose, I knew Esme's story, I saw the look in your eyes when we passed that daycare center when the kids were outside playing. I may have been human but I wasn't stupid. I promised myself I would do anything to erase that look. My original plan was to find you when it was finished and offer you both what you have always wanted."
" Oh Bella." Esme threw her arms around Bella's neck. "You are an amazing woman you know that?"
"No, Esme. I wanted to see you happy, even if I couldn't be." Bella ignored the looks that the Cullens were giving her. "Anyways, lets get out of here." They took the elevator back down to the main reception room and everyone turned in their badges, except for Michael, Marina and Bella who would need theirs again for the meeting.
AN: Hey guys, sorry for the delay... I've been working two different jobs for that last few weeks to make ends meet. I have written like the next six chapters and just need to type them.