A/N - Hi everyone!!! Hope it hasn't been too long a wait....RL set in around here but things have settle down a bit!! Thank you all for not stoning me over poor Angela's abduction! Have really enjoyed the feedback and suggestions of what might happen next! LOL
changedforEdward and Lolarose.....you girls rock my world! Thanks for everything.....MWAH!!!
Stephenie Meyer owns the Twilight World and I am hopelessly lost in it!!! No Copyright Infringement intended!!
(Bella's POV)
"Alice!"
"Bella, don't even bother trying to argue with me!"
I huffed in frustration and thought about stomping my foot to make my point, but feared the wrath of Esme should I stomp too hard and make a hole right through the floor. Sighing, I sat back in the chair and allowed the pixie on speed the opportunity to continue her Barbie Bella makeover.
I glanced at Rosalie as she thumbed her way through Alice's latest fashion rag. Sensing she was being watched, she sighed loudly and looked at me. "What?!"
"Nothing. Just trying to figure out why you aren't being poked and prodded at as well?"
A smug look of satisfaction overtook Rose's perfect visage. "C'mon, Bella, after almost a century together, don't you think Alice deserves a new doll to play with?" She cackled as a hairbrush came whipping at her head, dodging it as if it were nothing more than a pesky mosquito. She grinned in triumph as Alice stuck her tongue out and I gave in.
Several hours, a manicure, pedicure and three outfit changes later, Alice finally spun the chair I had melted into so that I could see my reflection in the mirror.
I sat there in shock, unsure whether or not the reflection in the mirror was really my own. My hair was curled and pulled lightly into an antique barrette, tendrils whisping here and there framing my face, while still allowing the full length to tumble down my back in thick waves.
My make-up was subtle, yet defining and it amazed me how my eyes almost appeared violet in colour, most likely a combination of the colors Alice had chosen for my cosmetics and clothing. It was such a relief to have a break from the reminder of what I had done.
I had won one battle – pleading to be allowed to remain in jeans, but I had forfeited my sneakers. My designer denims fit like a second layer of skin and the evil one had put me in a pair of black leather biker boots with what she called a modest heel, but I still considered stilts.
On top I wore a tight fitting tank, navy in color, covered by a midnight blue silk blouse that barely covered the tank but shimmered in the light. Skin peeked out from where the tank barely met the waist of my jeans and Alice slapped at my hands when I fidgeted to pull it down and tuck it in.
I moved to put my cross back on, but again Alice intervened, telling me to hold the thought for a moment. With a small rap at the door, Carlisle and Esme entered. I smiled into the mirror as Esme squeezed my hand and Carlisle kissed me gently on the top of my head.
"You look lovely, Bella." Esme squeezed my hand again.
"And I am glad to see that you survived Alice's torture." Carlisle chuckled as he hugged Alice. "Bella, we have something for you."
I looked at them to argue as Carlisle handed me a long velvet box. "Really, you've done so much already," I began, but Carlisle raised his hand to silence me.
"Nonsense. I have to admit that Esme and I have been holding onto this for quite awhile, but now just seems the right time for you to have it."
I smiled at them both, knowing there was no sense trying to argue. There was no winning an argument against a Cullen – it just didn't happen. I slowly lifted the lid and felt a choke in my throat as I took in the contents.
A fine platinum chain lay against navy satin – the chain itself was exquisite in detail but what it held was the true gift.
"May I?" Carlisle asked quietly and I nodded dumbly; no words could convey the emotions I was feeling as Esme gently lifted my hair and Carlisle fastened the clasp of the chain around my neck. I stared in wonder at the reflection of the Cullen Crest resting on my chest and my two adopted parents behind me.
"Welcome, Isabella, our newest daughter."
I stood quickly, pulling them both into hugs, being careful not to squeeze too tight. "Thank you. Thank you both so much. I can't believe you feel that I still deserve this after what I did, but I promise to spend the rest of my existence making up for it."
"Nonsense, Bella. You have no need – we understand what happened. Just know that you are and always will be a part of this family. No matter what happens." With another quick hug they left the room, my fashion guru hot on their heels. I sighed and stared into the mirror, still trying to wrap my head around the reflection looking back at me.
Lost in my own thoughts, I jumped when Rose spoke again. "They mean what they say, you know." I turned the chair to face Rosalie. "They had your crest made for you shortly after everything happened with James, but they wanted the right time to give it to you." She paused. "I know what you're thinking, Bella, and you're wrong. You mean the world to them. You are just as much a part of this family as any of us. We have all made mistakes."
I started to argue, but didn't get the chance.
"You need to forgive yourself, Bella. You will never forget, but you have to accept that what has happened cannot change and move on." She slid off her stool and primped her already perfect hair.
"Now…my mountain man is on his way back to me so I am going to head out and meet them. In case you hadn't noticed the house has gone fairly quiet, so it is now up to you, little sister. Do I tell him to come to you or shall I ship his sorry ass back to the hotel he has been staying in?"
I looked down at my outfit and everything clicked into place – Alice had known all along that Edward was on his way back. I looked up at Rose and caught the smirk as she realized I had put two and two together.
"You know, I should not go ahead with this just to teach Alice a lesson." Rose smirked again.
"But you're not going to, are you?" Her eyebrow rose as she took in my expression. "I didn't think so. Bella, I'm not going to tell you what to do – I have no idea how you put up with his insufferable attitude to begin with. But you love him. My God, you were willing to give up humanity for him. So I don't care what you do, how long you make him grovel, or even if you want to shove him around a bit, but for pity sake, do something! You two have been miserable for long enough." She moved towards the door and gave me a wink. "Try not to destroy the place while we're gone!"
I watched the door close behind her and leaned back in the chair, trying to calm myself as I organized my thoughts. Edward. He was on his way here. To me. I had no idea what to say or what to do, but I knew Rose was right. We had been miserable for long enough.
(Edward's POV)
I stood quietly at the edge of the garden, unsure of what was to come, but so grateful just to have not been turned away. I had been so sure when Rosalie had come out to meet us that I was once again being banished to the hotel. Her evil smirk told me she had surmised as much, and I was astounded when she simply grabbed Emmett's hand and pulled him off to follow her far into the forest. But she wasn't quiet about it. I took her warnings to heart as she threatened my existence if I did not treat Bella well.
The house was eerily silent. It seemed that the rest of the family had decided to head out as well, knowing that Bella and I needed privacy if we were going to make any headway at all. I wandered closer to the house, carefully watching for any sign of my beloved, but she was nowhere to be found.
I climbed the steps and opened the terrace door, quietly letting myself into the house. I felt like a thief in the night, even though I knew it was ridiculous to think that way. I made my way out to the hall and looked up to the second floor. I knew she was up there. I could smell her sweet aroma from where I stood and wondered if she sensed my presence as well. If she did, there was no acknowledging sound and I would not push her. The first move had to be Bella's.
I wandered the downstairs for awhile, but finally was drawn back to the great room. I stood at the doorway and stared across the room at the white elephant that stood in the middle of the floor. Perhaps it was what was needed. I allowed the pull to take over and made my way to my treasure, the one I hadn't touched since our exile. I chuckled at the fact that Esme had left it covered, knowing she figured it would be a great theatrical display for me to rip off the sheet and drop to the bench, burying my head against the piano as I ran through a symphony. I hoped I hadn't disappointed her by simply sitting and tenderly running my fingers over the ivory.
"Will you play for me?" Her voice was a gentle whisper across the room and I forced myself to not look her way, afraid that if I did she would vanish. I nodded and stared at the keys for a moment, my digits lightly fingering the notes before I began. There was only one melody I could play for her at that moment. Only one that mattered and I prayed that it would be enough to ask for a chance to win back her heart. I closed my eyes and dropped my head down to lose myself against the sound. The haunting notes of her lullaby echoed through the room and I hoped it gave her some solace, some comfort after all that had transpired.
I played the melody through a second and third time, never allowing myself to look, but knowing that she felt the same magnetic pull and moved closer to me with each note that played. As I reached the end of the piece, I felt her beside me, my beautiful Bella there with me at last. We sat there in silence for a moment and I wondered if I should play more or speak. The tension between us was indescribable and I ached to simply pull her into my arms and never let her go, but instead we simply sat. Sharing the piano bench. Sharing the room. Sharing the silence.
I toyed with the keys, the urge to play again to fill the void of the deafening silence almost overpowering me until I saw her hand move up to cover mine on the keyboard. Her porcelain fingers brushed against the back of my hand and the electricity almost knocked me to the floor. I breathed in quickly, wanting to lose myself in her scent, and then felt her fingers intertwine with mine.
"Edward." My name on her lips was more magical than I thought possible and when I finally brought my head up to look at her, I lost myself in the vision. An ethereal angel sat in my midst.
"Bella." I breathed her name out and stared into her eyes, begging for a sign of what I could say, what I could do to make everything alright between us. The tentative smile that met my look was more reward than I could have hoped for and I lightly squeezed her hand in response.
"I need to apologize, Bella…I need," I began.
She gently shook her head, turning to face me on the bench. At that moment, I was stunned into silence. Her hand gently raised and she brought one finger to my lips, softly resting it there, her eyes searching my face, looking for what I wasn't sure.
"I know we have a lot to say to one another, Edward. We have so much baggage to clear away before we can even think of moving forward, but can I ask one thing?"
At that point she could have asked me for anything and I would have complied, only to be allowed to remain there with her forever, but I was afraid to say those words, to even fantasize that there could be a forever, so I simply nodded in response.
"Kiss me?" And all at once, my timid Bella from so long ago was there in front of me, her eyes full of want as she stared up into my face. Putting everything on the line, asking me to respond in kind. It was only the length of a heartbeat that I stared in wonder at the girl I had met before I saw her as she was now. A breathtaking, unbreakable woman asking me for something I no longer had to fear giving her.
Whatever we needed to sort through would wait. Nothing mattered more than giving Bella exactly what she asked for, what we both longed for. With more confidence than I truly felt, I cupped her face in my hands and stared only for a moment into the pools of burgundy that watched my every move and then, after so long apart our lips joined together as one. It felt old, yet new again as I brushed my lips against hers tentatively at first, but then with more conviction as all the feelings that had been compacted and pushed away surfaced, as if begging for air. Our mouths explored each other hungrily, full of want and need.
Bella's hands moved up my chest and into my hair, her fingers tangling themselves into the mess and I felt her pulling me closer until our bodies melted into one. The old urge of needing to reign in tried to work its way into my mind but I ignored it, biting her bottom lip to convince myself that I no longer needed to worry. Bella moaned in response and it was all the reinforcement I needed to continue my exploration of her mouth, her jaw and her chin.
Her body molded to mine as she turned quickly to straddle herself against me, her hands working their way into my shirt. The tinkling of its buttons falling gently to the floor as she pushed my shirt away from my skin were followed by a chuckle deep from her chest as her mouth moved down to explore my newly revealed chest. I leaned back as her tongue teased and explored while her hands explored my back. I was lost to her – whatever she wanted was hers.
The loud crack of wood snapping brought us to our senses, but not before we found ourselves entwined on the floor, splinters of the piano bench scattered beneath us. Bella lay on top of me, her face buried against my chest. Unsure what she was thinking, I gently ran my fingers up her back and into her long tresses. I felt her body begin to shake.
"Bella?" I asked worriedly.
She looked up at me instantly, a look of amusement on her face. "You are so telling Esme that it was your fault."
I stared at her in wonder for only a moment before pulling her close in a hug, my laughter echoing her own. "And why is it my fault? I believe you are the one who straddled me, love." I breathed in quickly, unsure how she would react to the endearment. It had rolled off my tongue so easily and I feared it had been too much too soon when there was still so much to say.
She stared at me only for a moment. "Stay with me?" The question dangled in the air, her eyes pleading with me to agree.
I nodded without hesitation and took the hand she offered to me, unsure if she meant for now or all eternity, but not caring either way.
End of chapter - Hope the chapter was worth waiting for...I know some of you have been waiting for a VERY long time (since Ch 1 - LOL) for it - would love to hear your thoughts!!
