Chapter Twenty-three
AN- Just another thank you to VSPS for allowing me to use her fantastic idea for the police cruiser and blood drive last chapter. So many of you raved about it in reviews, but it was 100% her idea! She has a really good fic going on called "Be Careful What You Wish For." It's a really original setup, and one of my favorite characters is actually Tanya! Check it out and leave her love.
Mynxi= the bomb. Me= not good enough to kiss her sexy black boots, so I'll just lick them instead. Love you, BB.
Twilight is the property of Stephanie Meyer.
JPOV
Peter and I sat on a tree branch watching Emmett drain the angry bear he had taken down. Though the air was still cold, there were signs that spring was approaching. The afternoon sun was higher in the sky and the wildlife was becoming more active around us.
"Does it taste better than it smells?" Peter asked, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
"Not really," I sighed back. True to his word, Peter had not interfered with our hunting. Somehow he was still managing to be annoying by asking a million questions about eating animals. It wasn't like he hadn't seen me hunt before, so the barrage of questions about techniques and tastes was getting on my nerves. "Carnivores taste better than herbivores in general," I added, hoping to stave off another query.
"Whatever, Jasper," Emmett called up, disposing of the carcass. "Bear is as good as it gets in the animal kingdom."
"Humans are animals, you know?" Peter said slyly, before jumping down to the ground. Sighing again, I hopped down to help Emmett move the bear out of plain sight.
"I'm ignoring that," I said brusquely, glaring at Peter.
"So Bella looks good," Emmett said quietly, after we had finished with the bear. I smiled to myself and sat down on a rock, ready for the Inquisition to begin. Big Brother Emmett was on duty and I was going to have to fill him in on the past few weeks.
"She's fine now," I replied carefully. "We had a close call up in Forks a few weeks ago, but she handled it well."
Emmett's tawny eyes bored into mine as he stalked toward me. "What sort of close call?" he demanded. "And what the Hell were you doing up in Forks?"
Chuckling, Peter intercepted Emmett and gently pushed him back to sit on another rock. "Relax," he said casually. "We took her up there to say her farewells to her father. Things were goin' just fine until a pack of shape shifters stuck their stinky noses in our business."
Emmett cut him off, radiating agitation as he stood up. "The Quileutes are shifting again? How many? Was she hurt?" He fired off questions rapidly, his concern escalating rapidly.
"Relax," I repeated. "There were a half dozen of them at the cemetery. Peter got distracted trying to protect Bella and watch out for Char at the same time. One of the pups got him pretty good. Bella wasn't hurt, but she had a close call."
I watched him process the information, his entire body visibly relaxing with the news that Bella hadn't been injured. I relayed the rest of the day's events to him, including Bella's blood donation to help Peter.
Smiling ruefully, Emmett glanced at Peter. "She's something else, isn't she? You're lucky she cares about you."
His face uncharacteristically serious, Peter nodded at Emmett. "I know I am," he answered simply. He and Emmett regarded each other for a moment, each of them projecting a strong sense of protection for Bella.
Rolling my eyes, I decided to break up the big brother pissing contest. "Any change in Alice?" I asked Emmett, shooting Peter a warning glare. Emmett may look like a teddy bear, but you can only push his buttons for so long before he snaps. Peter's years with Maria made him more than capable of taking Emmett, but I knew Bella would hate the idea of them fighting over her.
"Not really, man," Emmett answered sadly. "She had a few days where she started talking again, but it was all gibberish about her visions. Any word from your Vampire Whisperer?" he asked Peter hopefully.
Peter shook his head apologetically. "Haven't chased him down yet," he admitted. "I have a few leads though, and sooner or later someone I know will run into him. I have a good feeling about it," he added cheerfully.
That information brought a smile to my face. Peter's intuition was rarely wrong, and I would really appreciate having one of the big problems hanging over our heads crossed off the list.
"So you and Bella are doing good?" Emmett asked hesitantly, his emotions an odd mix of embarrassment, concern, and affection.
"Yeah, we're great," I answered, wondering where he was headed with the conversation.
"Do you ever think about how you'll handle it when Edward comes back?" Emmett demanded bluntly. "You know he'll find out eventually, and you know he'll want to see her when that happens."
"Have you heard from him?" I barked out harshly. I was more than willing to address Emmett's concerns, but my priority was looking out for Bella.
"No, Jasper," Emmett answered rapidly. "Esme got an e-mail from him a few weeks ago. Said he was still in South America, but not much else. She didn't mention you guys when she replied," he added. "But if he asks about Bella, she'll have to tell him the truth. I just want to know that you're mentally ready to deal with him when he shows up here, Jasper. I don't see him handling the information well, and I don't want Bella in the middle of anything messy."
His words caused a flash of resentment at the implication that I was less than capable of keeping Bella safe, but I forced myself to remember that he was speaking out of his concern for her.
"Honestly, Emmett, I'm hoping he'll stay out of our way until after Bella's changed. She's told me she doesn't want to see him again. Not sure that's realistic, but I know she'll feel better meeting him on equal footing, when it eventually happens. That said," I continued seriously, "if he shows up sooner than that, we'll deal with it. Between Peter, Charlotte, and myself, there's not much we can't handle."
Peter grunted in agreement, but Emmett still looked doubtful. "Don't forget what it was like wrestling with him, J," he insisted. "He's always a step ahead because he knows what you decide to do as soon as you think it. When you two sparred, he came out on top as often as you did."
Peter laughed out loud and I couldn't stop my own smile from splitting my face. "Emmett, you don't really think with my history that I went all out when we all wrestled, do you?" He stared up at me, confusion written all over his face. "I held back, Emmett," I said gently. "Too easy to get carried away if I didn't."
I felt Emmett's disbelief followed rapidly by profound disappointment. "So all the times I beat you?" he asked in a wounded tone.
Peter guffawed loudly, so I shot a nasty look at him. "You're really good," I assured Emmett. "It's just that I spent over a hundred years fighting for survival."
Peter stood, walked over to Emmett, and offered him a hand. "Don't feel bad, Big Guy," he said sincerely. "Just be happy that Bella's in the middle of a bad-ass family of vampires who don't plan on takin' shit from a spoiled little boy. She's 'bout as safe as a human can be."
I stood to join them and we walked slowly back home. "I'd be surprised if Edward gets violent anyway, Emmett. He was always so focused on Bella's safety; I can't imagine he would put her at risk by picking a fight in front of her."
"Yeah, you're probably right," he answered, clearly relieved. "I still hope he leaves her in peace for awhile though."
"Me too," I replied. "We could do with a few drama free weeks while Bella gets ready to be changed."
That comment put a smile on Emmett's face. "She's gonna be awesome as a vampire," he enthused.
"Damn straight," Peter agreed, as we walked on.
We took our time getting back to the house, giving me an opportunity to enjoy Peter's silly antics in front of Emmett. He told him about the blood drive at the reservation, and I thought I was going to have the unprecedented experience of watching a vampire pass out from laughter.
"Oh priceless, Dude!" Emmett gasped out around his laughter. "A werewolf blood drive! Masterful!"
I enjoyed the easy banter between the two of them, and the rest of the walk home passed quickly while they traded tales of practical jokes from their pasts. When we reached the house, we heard the three girls' voices coming from the room Bella and I shared. Glancing at the clock, I realized they were probably getting ready for our big night out on the little town.
Although the girls' voices were calm, the emotions I was picking up were slightly tense. The thought of interrupting the three of them for my own shower was not appealing, but I wasn't about to avoid my own bathroom over it.
"Better you than me, Brother," Peter said sympathetically, before turning toward his own room. Emmett laughed shortly and disappeared into the room he was staying in.
Bracing myself, I opened the door and stepped into my room. Charlotte and Rosalie both glanced over at me before turning back to staring at the closed bathroom door. Raising my eyebrow in curiosity, I walked over and joined them on the edge of the bed.
"Bella, come on out and let us see," Charlotte ordered sweetly. "Hurry your ass up; Jasper needs the shower!"
"Keep your panties on," Bella muttered from the bathroom. Her bare feet padded across the marble tile until she reached the door and threw it open, marching out with a glare on her face.
Char and Rosalie both let out low whistles, but I was struck silent for a moment. She looked stunning in a bright red, off-the-shoulder top which ended just above her low-rise black leather pants. Her hair was styled in curls down her back, but her face looked nervous.
"Do I look alright?" she asked me hesitantly. "It's a little 'prettier' than my normal style," she blurted out before I could answer. "And I don't know if I can really pull it off…"
I silenced her worries with my mouth on hers while I grabbed her ass, rubbing her up against my hard dick. "Need any more evidence that you look great?" I asked softly, enjoying the catch in her breath as I broke off the kiss. She smiled sweetly at me and shook her head negatively, blushing at the catcalls Rose and Char were making.
"Get in the shower, Romeo," Char ordered cheekily before swatting me on the ass. Chuckling, I headed into the bathroom, my dick twitching in my pants as I listened to Bella growl at Charlotte.
"Hands off my man," I heard her snap before I turned the water on. She and Charlotte dissolved into giggles, and I even felt a surge of humor from Rose. Relieved that everyone seemed to be getting along, I jumped in the shower and made quick work of getting ready.
Thankfully, the girls had vacated the room by the time I finished my shower, so I was able to dress in peace. I kept my outfit simple, sticking to jeans and a black shirt. I made my way downstairs to join the others.
Charlotte was decked out in jeans, a fitted white blouse and white high-heeled boots. Her blonde curls reminded me of the pinups that were so popular during the Second World War. Rosalie was an ice princess in white corduroy trousers and a pale blue sweater.
"Lookin' good ladies," I said appreciatively, taking them all in.
"Not lookin' so bad yourself," Bella said softly, walking over to give me a kiss. It was soft and chaste, yet I still lost myself in the heat of her mouth before we were interrupted by Peter and Emmett walking in.
"Get a room," Peter called out with a smirk on his face. Bella smiled against my lips before winking at me.
"Please," she said in a bored tone, without even looking at him. "That's rated G for this house, mostly due to you and your wife."
She finally turned to face him, taking in his attire. He was all cowboyed out tonight, from the tips of his beat up boots to the crown of his hat. Jeans and a red flannel shirt completed the look and earned him a low whistle from Bella.
"Sorry, Baby, but I'm a married man," he teased her, crossing the room and dipping Charlotte back for a sloppy kiss.
Bella giggled and rolled her eyes at their antics. "Oh she can admire you," Charlotte said around Peter's tongue. "She just can't touch."
I nodded at Emmett, who was dressed simply in jeans and a tight sweater. He nodded back at me over top of Rosalie's head. She had wrapped her arms around him in an uncharacteristic show of public affection. Her mood was pensive, but she smiled sweetly up at her husband, so I didn't worry about it too much.
"Ready to go?" I asked the room in general.
"In a minute," Peter answered quickly, radiating mischief. "I got somethin' for ya." Before I could wonder what it was, he tossed a black object toward me. Catching it on reflexes alone, I smiled when I realized it was a black cowboy hat, similar to one I had worn decades ago, before Alice had taken charge of my wardrobe.
Honestly, I couldn't remember the last time I had worn a cowboy hat, and it felt unfamiliar when I slipped it on my head. However, any discomfort was more than worth it when I felt the strong rush of lust and admiration from Bella.
"You like it?" I asked her unnecessarily, leaning down for a kiss while pushing the hat back out of the way.
"Oh, I like," she answered breathlessly, before our lips met. The rest of the room disappeared as we fell into each other, until Emmett finally cleared his throat. I could feel Bella's irritation at the interruption, but before she could tear into him, Rosalie spoke up.
"Actually, Emmett and I have something for you, Bella," she said quietly, walking over and handing Bella a large box.
I felt Bella's curiosity as she removed the lid, followed rapidly by delight when she lifted the black leather boots out.
"Rosalie, these are great!" she enthused, bending over to slip them on over her skinny jeans. "Thank you both!"
"I'm glad you like them," Rose answered quietly. "They reminded me of the ones you admired when we went shopping together."
"They're perfect," Bella sighed in satisfaction after she laced them up. "The heel's a little high, but I like it, especially since I don't have to work in them," she said with a smile. I watched in frozen shock as Bella stood up and walked over to give Rosalie a quick hug.
I felt Rose's own surprise at the gesture before Bella moved on to Emmett. "Thank you guys," she repeated after giving him a big hug. He beamed down at her with a goofy grin until Rosalie finally rolled her eyes and gave the marching orders.
"Let's get this show on the road," she said dryly. "I'm sure the nightlife doesn't last long in this town." Her feelings didn't match her impatient words, and I shot her a questioning glance. She shrugged at me and I figured I'd try to pin her down about it later.
Peter and Charlotte popped in dark contact lenses to disguise their red eyes from the innocent humans. We all grabbed coats and piled into the giant SUV, laughing at Charlotte as she rubbed it in to Peter.
"I told you the extra row of seats would come in handy," she said gaily. "You thought it was too much, but I knew we'd end up usin' 'em!"
Charlotte drove us into town, parking on the street several blocks from the bar. "Crowded tonight," Peter commented as we got out of the vehicle. "Never seen the street this busy before."
We walked quickly toward the bar, Bella's breath billowing in the cold night air. We passed by the high school, laughing at the giant bear statue on the front steps.
"That's the goofiest looking bear mascot I've ever seen," Bella said, impressed. "It's like he's trying to be gangsta or something." Sure enough, the bear's stance and position of its arms did evoke the image of a street thug. We all laughed at her observation and made our way into the crowded bar.
Rosalie used her ice queen stare to secure us a large table and we quickly ordered a round of beers. Bella's face after her first sip was hilarious. "This I don't get," she admitted after swallowing the amber liquid. "That just tastes nasty!"
"Tequila shots from now on, then!" Charlotte cheered as Peter drug her onto the dance floor. She caught hold of Bella's hand, pulling her along with them. I watched with a smile as Charlotte and Peter began to show Bella the steps. Bella was a quick learner, and before long she was shaking her sexy little ass with the best of them, her face radiant with pleasure as she danced.
Unable to resist, Emmett soon stood up to join them on the dance floor, his face falling slightly when Rosalie shook her head negatively at his invitation to come along. "You go on," she said softly. "I need to catch up with Jasper for a minute; I'll be there in a few minutes."
Emmett's face relaxed back into his usual cheerful expression. "I'll be waiting, Baby," he answered, turning to walk toward the dance floor.
"I know," she whispered back. I stared down at her exquisitely beautiful face, perplexed by the mixture of love, guilt, and gratitude I was picking up from her.
"Everything okay, Rosalie?" I asked in confusion. "You're acting a little weird, and your emotions are all over the place."
She flashed a tiny smile and shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Just having a little reality check." She shrugged her shoulders and leaned forward. "I would ask how you're doing, but I don't need to. I've never seen you so happy," she admitted. "She's really good for you, Jasper."
"She is, Rose. She accepts me for who I am and loves me without wanting to change me. I would do anything for her."
"Including leave her human?" Rosalie asked, her eyebrow raised.
Sighing, I shook my head. "If that was what she wanted, then yes, Rose, I would leave her human. But that's not what she wants, and I'll be damned if I try to talk her out of spending eternity with me." I fought my irritation with her preoccupation for Bella's humanity. It was none of her business, and I was as tired of hearing about it.
"Relax, Jasper," she said dryly. "I'm done meddling in your business. Bella has a good head on her shoulders and she knows what she's getting into. I respect her right to make that decision and I'm done trying to convince her to live the life I would have chosen." She raised her untouched bottle of beer toward me before faking a sip. "Here's to endless lifetimes of happiness for you both," she said, smirking.
"Thanks Rosie," I replied, laughing as I tipped my bottle back at her. "I'm proud of you," I told her quietly. While I could never doubt the depth of her love for Emmett, I had also spent years feeling her resentment for the life she was condemned to. Right now, she was free of any sentiment other than love with a hint of regret for her previous lack of appreciation for what she had in Emmett.
We sat together in companionable silence, watching the others enjoying themselves on the crowded dance floor. Char had partnered off with Emmett while Peter taught Bella a variation of a quick little two step. She laughed as he tried to guide her with his hands, causing Rosalie to arch an eyebrow at me.
"You don't have a problem with that?" she asked incredulously.
Shaking my head and smiling, I answered easily, "Nope. He doesn't see her that way, and even if he did, he would never do anything."
"Bonds of brotherhood?" she asked snidely.
"Nope, fear of Charlotte," I answered calmly, flashing a smile at her. "I trust them both, Rosalie. They're just having fun."
As I finished speaking, I noticed Bella glance wistfully at our table before turning her attention back to learning the dance steps.
"That's my cue, Ms. Hale," I said, standing and tipping my hat at her. She smiled back at me, waving me off.
I made my way through the crowd and placed my hands on Bella's hips from behind her. "Mind if I cut in, Darlin'?" I drawled at her.
She feigned shyness, glancing up at me through her dark lashes. "I've been hoping you'd ask," she answered softly, shooting a grateful look at Peter as he stepped away from us. I vaguely noticed Peter and Charlotte twirling around gracefully while Emmett and Rosalie spun slowly together, each couple radiating love and enjoyment.
Without speaking, I turned Bella around and pulled her tight against me, loving the feel of her soft warmth under my hands. The world melted away as the music surrounded us and we moved together as one, our eyes locked on each other until the song ended.
The tempo picked up for the next song, and Bella's eyes twinkled as she reached up, plucking the hat from my head and placing it on her own. It was too big and kept sliding down over her eyes, but she looked so damn cute that it was all I could do not to toss her over a table to have my way with her.
"It suits you," I whispered into her ear, spinning her around.
She giggled and pushed her ass against my groin. "I like it for tonight," she admitted with another laugh. "I don't think it'll be a regular part of my wardrobe though. I like it better on you, Cowboy." She flashed me a sexy little grin and spun around me in time to the music. Smirking back at her, I pulled her close to me before dipping her back just as the song ended.
She laughed when I pulled her upright, her face happy and carefree as it hadn't been since Forks. "This is fun," she said excitedly as the next song started. "This isn't my usual scene, but it's easy to dance to this stuff." I laughed and spun us back out into the middle of the dance floor.
We spent the next few hours cuttin' a rug, switching partners back and forth as the mood hit us. Peter and Emmett kept feeding Bella shots, but the steady stream of snacks Charlotte and Rose kept shoving down her seemed to offset the worst effects of the alcohol.
By the time we left, Bella was a happy little drunk girl, slurring and stumbling and finding absolutely everything funny. I tucked her under my arm when we finally walked out of the crowded little bar and headed down the cold street. Bella chattered enthusiastically about something silly to Peter, who did his best to choke down his laughter.
I was startled when Bella stopped suddenly in front of the funny-looking bear mascot. Her hand shot out and grabbed Peter's jacket, yanking him toward her. He shrugged his shoulders at me in confusion as he allowed her to pull him closer to her.
"Peter," she hissed dramatically, "that bear is looking at me funny." Emmett broke into unrestrained laughter and Rosalie and Charlotte both began giggling.
"It's not funny, Assholes," Bella said loudly. "Look at it! It's totally staring at me! You believe me, right Peter?" she asked, her round eyes pleading up at him pathetically.
He flashed a smile at me before tugging her away from the bear, wrapping his arm over her shoulder. "I do see it, Little Bird," he said in a placating tone. "You're right, that bear was definitely givin' you the stink eye, and I won't have that," he continued on, his eyes twinkling through the dull looking contacts. "No statue gets to mess with our girl, that fucker's goin' down!"
Groaning, I caught Charlotte's eye. "How bad do you think this is gonna be?" I asked her rhetorically.
"I'd say 'bout an eight on our normal scale of ten," she chuckled, clicking the key fob to unlock the doors of the SUV. We all piled into the vehicle, Peter continuing his tirade against the bear statue to a rapt Bella, promising revenge for all sorts of imagined bear insults.
Thankfully, she remained unaware of the quiet laughter surrounding her as the rest of us reacted to Peter's nonsense.
"I knew I could count on you, Peter," she sighed sleepily, leaning on his chest and putting her feet up in my lap.
"Don't you worry about a thing, Sugar," he said reassuringly, "I'll take care of everything."
"I don't even want to know," I warned him quietly. "Just remember, we want to be able to come back to this town sometime this century." I was not comforted by the silent wink he gave me in reply, but I decided to let it go and let Bella sleep until we made it home.
After Char parked the SUV in the driveway, we all climbed out. "This belongs to you, I believe," Peter said with exaggerated politeness, holding Bella's sleeping body out to me.
"Yep, all mine," I agreed quietly, happy to have her back in my arms. We all whispered our goodnights to each other and made our way to our respective rooms. Bella woke up long enough to brush her teeth and stumble into her jammies with my assistance.
"I had fun," she mumbled into my chest after I wrapped her up in the comforter.
"Me too, Sweets," I chuckled, aware that she was asleep before I spoke. Her sleep was peaceful, but after two hours, I heard suspicious activity downstairs. Sighing to myself, I debated about getting up to put a stop to whatever idiocy Peter and Emmett were up to, but I eventually decided to stay in bed with Bella. Her nightmares had increased in frequency since the drama in Forks, and a good night's sleep for her was more important to me than keeping the two troublemakers in line.
The front door opened and closed, followed by the sounds of a car starting and pulling away. An hour later, the car returned, followed by some whispers and odd thumping sounds. Consciously ignoring it, I watched the night pass into pale dawn and eventually into full sunshine before Bella began to stir.
She woke up in decent shape, probably thanks to the all the food she had eaten while she drank last night. I kissed her good morning before she made her way into the shower, and then headed downstairs to get her coffee started.
As I walked into the living room, I saw it and stopped short. Peter and Emmett looked up from the sofa, their faces full of the eagerness they were feeling. I just rolled my eyes at them and walked into the kitchen to get Bella's coffee. Rose and Charlotte laughed out loud, but I ignored them too.
By the time the coffee was finished brewing, Bella was padding down the stairs. I watched her make her way through the living room, oblivious to the newest addition to the décor.
"Thanks," she muttered gratefully, as I handed her a steaming cup of coffee. She closed her eyes and made her coffee-savoring face while she took the first sip. I chuckled at the immediate effect the caffeine had on her, watching the alertness return to her eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked suddenly, looking at me with a shrewd glance. Involuntarily, I made eye contact with Peter and she followed my gaze with her head, bringing the bear statue that now graced our living room into her line of sight. The coffee cup began to slip from her fingers, and I deftly caught it before the hot liquid could spill and burn her.
Her face was blank with shock as she crossed the living room, her eyes locked on the goofy looking mascot. Peter had pulled out his cell phone and was taking pictures as she moved closer to it, her tiny figure dwarfed by the large statue. We were all literally holding our breath while we waited for her reaction.
She stared up at the bear in silence before turning to look at Peter. "I was totally right, this thing is giving me a funny look," she deadpanned. "Now who's gonna get it out of my living room?"
She calmly walked back to the kitchen and accepted the new cup of coffee I handed her before she finally allowed her laughter to escape. "Did you know about this?" she demanded, in between her giggles.
"Nope, totally innocent," I answered truthfully. "Knew they were up to something, but I was as surprised as you were this morning."
Peter and Emmett joined us in the kitchen, and Bella gave them all the oohs and ahhs they had hoped for before ordering them to get rid of the thing.
"Get it back to the school before someone notices it's missing and replaces it, for God's sake," she said sternly. "You guys are probably on closed circuit somewhere, you know."
"No way, we took all the cameras out, Bells," Emmett answered cheerfully. "We have to wait until it's dark out to return it anyway."
"I guess I'll live with it for that long," she sighed in mock irritation. "Pretty funny, guys," she admitted, sitting down to eat the scrambled eggs I threw together for her. She finished her breakfast and we all spent a relaxing day playing board games and Wii and making jokes about gangster bears. True to their word, Peter and Emmett returned the silly statue after nightfall, returning our living room to normal.
We stayed in and watched movies that evening, aware that Bella needed a night off. Everyone was happy and relaxed, and I enjoyed the emotions around me. Bella had another dream free night, and we were up early the next morning to say "goodbye" to Rose and Emmett.
"Come back soon," Bella said sincerely to Rose after they hugged. "It was good to see you both."
"We'll come as soon as we can," Rose answered quietly, wrapping her arm around Emmett. Char and Peter said their own farewells, and I gave my own hugs to the couple I had played siblings with for decades.
"Are you ever gonna tell me what went down between you and Rose while I was out hunting?" I asked Bella idly, after Rose and Emmett were gone.
Bella shrugged innocently. "I just told Rose some stuff she needed to hear, that's all."
"That's all, huh?" I asked doubtfully. "Well, whatever you said changed her. I've never felt her so at peace as I did yesterday."
Bella's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Good," she said eventually.
"You're a special lady," I teased her. "Melting the ice queen's heart is no short order."
"Maybe not melted," she teased back. "But I definitely made a chink in her armor anyway."
Peter and Charlotte headed out for a hunting trip, so Bella and I curled up on the couch and watched Star Wars, enjoying some time alone together after our family filled weekend. I loved my friends with all my heart, but I was starting to miss quiet time alone with Bella. Smiling, I reminded myself that I would have plenty of time with her during her newborn year. Emmett was right, Bella Swan was going to be an amazing vampire.
AN- Hope you're enjoying the fluff because action is around the corner! Thanks again to everyone who reviews- it really does make me write faster!
Thanks to MM for putting up with me in my (legal) drug-induced haze! You're even funnier when I'm messed up, Dearest!