Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Stephenie Meyer created it all.

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Chapter 19: Bella- In Time

I sat in my room. The box of clothes that my dad brought wasn't even open, yet it was hurting me. My scent was overwhelming. I wanted so badly to get past this newborn nonsense. I laughed to myself at the thought of it being nonsense. My throat was begging me to find the nearest human and suck every drop of soothing blood out of them. The scent was so strong and my urges were so instinctive that I felt like I was alone, yet I wasn't. Edward was here with me.

Moments ago I had left Laurent and Jacob to their own devices. I intended to confront Edward about the fact that he knew and that he didn't say a thing to either me or Laurent, especially Laurent. But as I walked up the stairs, the scent of the clothes erased all thoughts from my brain. I had to admit that I smelled better to me than my dad did, although he was inside the house and I was outside. I remembered that it was his steady, welcoming heartbeat that had me running. I held my nose and mouth for fear that I would take that deep breath that would send me over the edge. Should I take that breath now? Would it help?

"Rome wasn't built in a day, love," Edward would say, but all I could remember was the look on my dad's face knowing that he wanted to be there for me but couldn't. I wanted to give that to him. I couldn't help but feel like maybe it was all psychogenic, if I could just will it away...

So I took the breath and pulled in the air that was impregnated with my human scent. I was enough to make me scream and I almost did.

"How can you stand it!" I whined to Edward.

"Imagine kissing it."

If I had any blood in my body, I would have blanched. In fact, I did not feel as if I had any blood in me. I would need to hunt after this.

"Don't you think it's kind of ironic how you can read everyone's mind but mine and how Jacob and Laurent are together. It's so serendipitous."

"The idea of finding something so perfect that you weren't even looking for... that is exactly how I would describe. I've been thinking about your silence, I think you have a talent." I looked at him with curiosity as I wanted him to continue.

"Like you or Alice? Well, if it is, it's a boring one."

"Well, we'll work on it and see about it."

Hours later, it didn't feel so boring and I cursed myself for calling it such. It was frustrating, if it even was there. I sat on the couch with Alice right next to me, she was happy to help. She pulled a laptop out and was shopping and, for the most part, ignoring me as I tried to extent my silence to her as Edward listened to see if her thoughts would go away. Nothing happened, further confirming my suspicions that I didn't really have any sort of talent.

~o~x~o~x~o~

Who would have guessed that in six months I would be doing the same thing? Adjusting to the scent of humans, playing with my shield, and looking forward to my next hunt.

After about a month we all moved to Alaska, including Jake, who was inseparable from Laurent side. There were rumors starting to form at the hospital and high school, mostly things that only Edward would know because of his mind-reading. People thought it was strange that Charlie suddenly stopped looking for me even thought I didn't return to school. The day that Edward heard someone thinking about calling the new stations was the day we packed and left. We couldn't chance any publicity or a human coming to the house.

My dad came to say goodbye, he stood inside the house and I stood outside like we had before. Edward stood inside with him and explained the situation. I guess it was the perils of our world. It wasn't something that my dad was prepared for. Laurent stood outside with me gripping my shoulders, I vowed to Charlie that the next time I would see him I would hug him. He told me he was looking forward to it. Of course I was working on my tolerance of humans but knowing that there wouldn't be way of seeing my dad again until I could control myself was a major motivation.

Irina left Denali and actually went to live with the Volturi! She was helping gather humans with Heidi. Laurent was relieved that he wouldn't have to run into her.

Upon arrival it was confirmed by Eleazar that I did, in fact, have a talent. Of course everyone got a good laugh that my talent was the antidote to Edward's. I just had to figure out how to use it.

So the months were spent hunting, playing, and adjusting. Alice would have a box of clothes delivered from the Goodwill for me to smell since the clothes were worn. Around the four month mark, when the UPS man came, I was able to stay in the house. Around the five month mark I sat on the stairs and actually saw the man. Alice asked him if he wanted a drink that day. I worried as he stood in the doorway, I didn't dare move from my spot. I knew Alice wouldn't have risked it if she saw that things might end badly. The man left with his life intact for another day.

Tanya took me under her wing when she heard about Edward's abstinence decree. My heart soared the day Edward told me that my body tested his self control more than my human scent. By now, I knew how much control that took. He told me I could set a wedding date when I could get my box of clothes from the UPS man myself. So each week I would inch closer to the door as the man was there. Tanya would flirt shameless with him so that he would stay longer and longer, and in time it got better.

Today it had been six months since we'd been living in Denali and I answered the door when I heard the heart rhythm that was the UPS man. Of course, Laurent stood with me as stood closer to any live human than I had since being turned into a vampire. I took the box with confidence while Laurent signed for it. I handed the box to Jacob who was sitting in the living room and went back to the door, just to test myself.

"I've never seen you in here before..." he trailed off waiting for me to fill in my name.

"Bella." I didn't even care that he was flirting with me, he probably thought I'd offer him what Tanya had offered him. I was just excited to be speaking with a human. "You've brought me enough clothes, though."

"What are you doing with them all?" He asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know..." Yes, I had hung out with Tanya a lot.

"Saving your life," Laurent muttered too quietly for the man to hear.

"Well, I'll be on my way now. See you soon, Bella," he said with a wink.

As soon as the man left, I was ecstatic. The first thing I did was called Alice and told her to get started on that wedding.

She was hunting with Edward, so he heard the news as well.

"Nothing major," I instructed. There was no sense in trying to keep talking to her over her squealing, so I hung up.

Next, I called my dad and told him I was having our wedding in month. We chatted for a bit, as a human we never talked much but as a vampire, my dad was increasingly curious about my life.

I remembered the day that I told him that he could talk to Billy about it all. He wanted to know why Jake was at the house and how I could be around Jake but not him. I told him that maybe he should talk to Billy about it. Billy was only too proud to tell another ear (that was allowed to know) about the tribe's great magic and how his son was filling the great prophesies that the tribal council had passed down for many, many years. The next day my dad called back and I don't think he said anything the entire time, he was speechless. I had told him not to worry, we could all hold our own here.

Our conversation about the wedding wrapped up with Charlie telling me he'd be there, he wouldn't miss it for the world.

Laurent and I went on a celebratory hunt. Actually I did all my hunting with Laurent nowadays. I found hunting to be a sensual experience as did Edward and after an 'almost-occasion,' he said that from then on he would be hunting with Alice and I would be hunting with Laurent until we were married. He assured me that it would make our wedding night all the better. He said he didn't want our first time to be up against a tree. I was about to point out Laurent and Jacob, only to be met with raised eyebrows that said don't go there. Jacob was a horny teenager and Laurent was ridiculously attracted to him, and of course, he loved him beyond words, too. Laurent and Jacob had no reservations whatsoever, but just a good friend wouldn't, Laurent never rubbed it in my face.

I caught a whiff of bear that was only a mile or two away and took off after it. Laurent ran after me, he still looked out for humans when I let myself go like this. As I was approaching the bear I kept seeing something shimmering in my periphery. With each inhale, the shimmer became more prominent that I could almost see it. At my most primal I could see my shield, I just knew that's what it was. I leapt at the bear and wrapped my legs around his front paws to immobilize them. I drank from the throbbing artery in his neck. As the bear weakened, he collapsed bringing me down with him but I kept drinking. It was still a religious experience, I still couldn't imagine anything better than warm blood running down my throat coating it and soothing it.

I had not yet released the bear from my mouth when I opened my eyes searching for my shield again. As I was so filled with blood, the shimmering was even easier to see although it was still in my periphery. How had I not noticed it before now? Without moving, I tried to move it using all the techniques that Eleazar told me about. I saw it ripple. I couldn't believe I could actually see it, I mean, I trusted that it was there but I never made any headway with it until now.

Laurent flopped down next to me as I seemingly stared off into space.

"Silly girl, what are you doing to that bear?" I had completely forgotten that I still had the bear sprawled on top of me with his neck still clenched in my teeth.

"I think I found my shield, I can see it right now." I was afraid to move my eyes and lose it.

"Really? What does it look like?" He asked, astounded.

"It's pretty. I kind of reminds me of our skin in the sunlight."

"Can you move it now? Because, I don't know why, but I have this thing where I really want to sneak up on Edward."

"Why would you want to do that?" I asked with a laugh.

"Tell me, when's then last time someone successfully snuck up on Edward? It will be fun. I never did get a chance to properly get him back for not telling me about the imprinting thing."

Edward had been messing with my delicate hormones for months now. I briefly wondered if

I had hormones now and made a mental note to ask Carlisle. Yes, I thought playfully, Edward has something coming to him.

"I'll tell you what, I'll work on it."

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A/N: It might be a bit longer than usual when I update again, I have big plans for the next few chapters and I want them to be perfect and I wont accept anything less than that : ) (Plus, I have finals and I'm studying to take my LXMO exam!)

Also, Part two of Vendetta is now up! Edward and Alice tell us about their night

Thanks for reading my story! Feel free to comment or PM.