Hi! That's right, I've got another chapter for you! A month later, I know, but I've been busy with mid-terms and college stuff. I wanted to thank all of those who didn't give up on me despite my mad update schedule. Thanks for all the lovely reviews and I promise to update again as soon as I can. Please review! It means a lot to me! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
I also wanted to thank Adri1577 for being my Beta and enduring my mistakes and lack of comas. Thanks so much!
Disclaimer: SM owns the Twilight saga and all it's characters.
Chapter 20
Bella's POV
Edward looked just a bit shaken after his talk with Kurt. I sent my brother a sour look, and he just smiled from ear to ear.
"You just made me promise I wouldn't kill him and I… didn't." He said smugly.
"You little… I saved you! Is this how you repay me?" I joked.
"Actually it is. I'm repaying you by being the most awesome brother ever! Aren't I? You can admit it! The others aren't here."
"Oh, I admit it alright! That you are the cockiest guy I've met." I laughed at him and went to Edward. My guy needed a bit of comfort, and I would love to give it to him.
"Let's get your bags out of the car?" Kurt asked interrupting my plan.
You have the most inopportune ideas at the most inopportune times. I thought to him.
"What? I just…" He started.
"It's okay, Bella. Emmett and I will help him out." Jasper interrupted sensing my exasperation. I beamed at him.
"Thanks, Jasper." He just nodded in recognition.
"Oh, Bella! I have a surprise for you!" Esme exclaimed.
"Edward mentioned something…"
"Edward!" Esme scolded interrupting me.
"It just slipped, mom, but I didn't say what it was." He defended himself.
"Good! Come on, Bella! Let's go!" She grabbed my hand and pulled me and Edward along, since he was holding my other hand. "I know how much you hate surprises, but I thought this could be really useful, and I loved doing it, so I hope you won't mind too much." She said while we climbed the stairs. She took me to a door that was next to the one that led to Edward's room.
When she opened the door, I was speechless. Esme had turned it into a brown and cream colored study. One of the walls was part of the house's glass wall, two of the others were covered with bookcases, waiting to be filled with books or whatever I wanted to put there, and the one where the door was had a fireplace and some paintings hanging above it. There was a dark brown wooden desk with a small lamp on it and a chair that looked very comfortable, facing the glassed wall and a small loveseat that faced the fireplace. I could also see some plants scattered around the room that livened it up. It felt homey and warm, and I could definitely see myself working here.
"Do you like it? We can change whatever you want." She said nervously.
"It's perfect, Esme! I love it. Thank you so much." I hugged her in appreciation.
"Alice helped. We thought you would like to have a quiet place to work in."
"Thank you, again. I really love it!" Esme was so happy, it looked like she would burst.
"I'll just leave you two to explore." She said before exiting the room. And Edward took no time, pulling me to him and kissing me. I just laughed at his eagerness, even though I felt exactly as he did, like we had no time to lose.
"This office seems very comfortable, but I hope you won't spend all of your time here, working." He whispered to me. I pulled him to the couch and made him seat next to me.
"The next few weeks are going to be a bit rough. I have a lot of things to do, but I'll always have time for you. And if I don't, I'll make it because you're the most important thing to me. I love you, and I whish I could do nothing more than be with you. But for now that's a bit impossible. We'll have an eternity to do it, though."
"We most certainly will, beloved. I know that troubled times are to come. I could say it just by seeing your and your brother's faces when you got that call. But I love you above anything else, and if you have to do this, so that we can finally be happy and at peace, then I'll be right with it. As long as you're not away from me, I'll try to handle sharing you. " He grinned, and I couldn't help but launch myself into his arms and kiss the hell out of him.
We were quite entertained with each other when a loud knock interrupted us. We groaned and turned to the door just in time to see Kurt peeking into the room and grinning mischievously.
"We're not interrupting anything, are we?" He asked. I glared at him. He knew perfectly well he was interrupting. Even Emmett, who was right behind Kurt, had the decency to look slightly ashamed. "We just came to drop these boxes. And don't look at me like that, sister of mine! If you weren't so paranoid and insisted on keeping all your projects on both paper and digital format, we wouldn't have these boxes full of files to carry here!"
"I am not paranoid! I am just not spending a lot of time on the projects of our company to have them disappear in the blink of an eye with a single click or some bug in my computer. You would, of course, know that if you participated a bit more actively on the projects." Technology had let me down more than once, and I couldn't risk losing the work of months in a second.
Throughout the day, everybody helped me unpack my stuff and place everything in the right places. Rosalie and Alice were thrilled with all my clothes since most of them were designer pieces that Henry insisted I had to have while Edward just stood watching happily as we placed my clothes next to his, in the closet. I knew exactly what he was thinking about without even having to look into his mind. It felt amazing to see this intermingling of lives: my clothes in his closet, my toiletries in his bathroom, my CDs and books on the shelves next to his, some of my books in one of the nightstands next to his bed, or should I say, our bed… It was all we had ever wanted. After that, it was time to arrange all the files about my current projects in the shelves of my new study, by alphabetic order.
When the night fell, we all joined in the living room, and I handed Esme the file pertaining the house I had built for them in Alaska.
"What's that, Bella? Don't tell me you're going to start working right away!" Alice exclaimed.
"This is the file about your house in Alaska. The one I designed and was responsible for." Esme started going through the fold even before I had finished speaking.
"This is amazing, Bella! All the work you've put into this house is astounding." It was the largest folder I had. I would be lying if I said that I hadn't worked more on the Cullen's house project than any other.
"It was a pleasure doing it, Esme. It made me feel closer to you, and it was a way to recompense you in some very, very small way for all the pain I was causing you." I smiled sadly, as Edward tightened his hold on me.
"Let's drop all this depressing talk, now!" Alice quickly intervened. "We've already had enough depression to last us for our infinite lives."
"I'm leaving tomorrow around lunch time, Bells. What would you say about a small hunting trip, and maybe you could accompany me to the border between the states and Canada." Kurt suggested. I was reluctant to leave Edward, but I didn't know how long it would be until I was with my brother again.
"You should go!" Edward whispered in my ear. I stared at him. "I promise I'll still be here when you come back." He gave that crooked smile that I loved so much, and I accepted Kurt's invitation. I wasn't thirsty, but I was still recovering from my overload induced coma and it wouldn't hurt to hunt again. We'd be back to retrieve Kurt's jeep and head out, and I would return running.
When Kurt and I returned from our hunting trip, it was past midday. I spent half an hour with Edward and sent a message to Ian, warning him that I might not be at the Cullen's mansion when he arrived, while Kurt said goodbye to the Cullens.
"Please try to be back before the Denalis arrive!" Edward begged me. His reaction made me laugh. "It's not funny, Bella!"
"I'll try, but if I don't, and she tries something, I promise I'll make her pay for it, agreed? I understand that your gentlemanly side doesn't allow you to fight with women, no matter how annoying she is, but I don't have that problem, so I'll be more than happy to help you out."
"You have no idea how much I love you, Bella!" He whispered into my ear.
"I think I do. " I answered kissing him. Once again, we were interrupted by Kurt.
"I'm ready to go, Bella! Can you please detach yourself from jerkward's face?" I heard him call.
"I really, really hate your brother right now!" Edward whispered.
"I know, baby. Just think about the fact that he's leaving. I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise." My lips brushed his one more time, and I left before Kurt came to get me. Knowing him, it was very probable he'd do it.
As soon as I was in the jeep, Kurt took off.
Alice's POV
Bella left to accompany Kurt to the border, and we just stayed at home waiting for her, the Denalis and her friend. I was a little worried about having a member of the Volturi guard with us. I knew he was Bella's friend, and that she trusted him, but I felt a little antsy. He didn't seem as… violent as the ones that had showed up just after she woke from her coma. I mean Stefan just scared the crap out of me! I could tell he was deadly, and honestly I had some trouble understanding how Bella could get along with him.
Another reason why I worried about this Ian's arrival was because Bella seemed to have a very close relationship with 'her boys', and I was afraid Edward wouldn't cope very well with that. Vampire males were very protective of their females, Edward especially because when Bella was human, she needed a lot more protection. I knew he wouldl have some trouble adjusting to the fact that she's not as fragile as she once was. I guessed we would just have to wait and see where this went. Maybe having this friend of Bella's over would help us find out more about her past.
Three hours after Bella left, there was a knock on the door. Edward tensed, probably thinking it were the Denalis. We laughed at him, but being the closest one to him, I knew how much Tanya's advances bothered him.
I moved to open the door and came face to face with a very handsome young man. His hair was a shade between dirty blond and light brown; his eyes were golden, and his face was angelically perfect, as every vampire's, even though his features were strong. He was strange to say the least. He looked like a very calm person, but behind that calm façade I could see the fire. It was like he was hiding a raging fire inside of him, he was so intense! He wore a dark grey cloak, which showed he was among the higher ranks in the Volturi guard, but as he was a part of Bella's personal guard I would have guessed as much. Beneath the cloak he wore back jeans and a navy t-shirt.
I loved Jasper more than anything, and he was my entire life, but I couldn't deny that there was something in this strange vampire that made you look twice. Was I not happily mated, I would have been tempted.
"Good afternoon. You must be Alice. I'm Ian." His voice was as intense as his presence but also kind, not what I would have expected.
"Yes, yes I am. Please come in. Bella hasn't returned yet." He entered and waited for me to move, so that he could follow me. I lead him to the living room where we all were. The first thing he did was look around. He looked at us, and he looked at the house, as if measuring possible exits and checking the security. It was… disturbing, the way he took everything in, not missing one single detail.
"Hello! My name is Carlisle." Carlisle's voice seemed to snap him out of the trance he was in. He quickly turned around to face Carlisle and smiled shyly, as if embarrassed.
"I'm Ian. I'm sorry." He was probably referring to his somewhat strange behavior. "I just can't help it."
"It's okay. I may have lived with the Volturi a long time ago, but the behaviors of the guard still don't surprise me." Carlisle mentioned. "Bella said you'd be running here from the airport; did everything go well?"
"Yes, it was a very peaceful and quiet run. Very different from what I'm used to in Volterra. This city is very calm." He appreciated.
"Yes. Would you like to sit for a while? Bella may take some time." Carlisle offered.
"No, thank you. Please carry on, as if I wasn't here." Sure, as if we, with our extremely enhanced vampire senses, could ignore another vampire in the room.
"I don't believe that would be very polite of us. " Esme intervened smiling. "My name is Esme, and these are Rosalie and Emmett, Alice and Jasper and Edward." He looked at Edward for a longer period of time, as I knew he would, but his face remained impassive and calm.
"It's nice to meet you all. Bella spoke of you sometimes." And that was pretty much everything that came out of his mouth. Carlisle kept staring at him, no doubt interested in this strange vampire. Jasper had adopted a protective stance with me, holding me against his side tighter than normal.
The ambient in the room was strange, until the Denalis arrived, that is. When the doorbell rang again, Edward tensed and cringed, probably from the thoughts that were running through Tanya's mind. As soon as they entered the living room, they noticed Ian immediately, and I could see the interest in the sisters' eyes, but one look that clearly stated he was out of their reach, was all it took for them to look away.
Tanya immediately turned to Edward, who looked like he would run if he could. Esme's pleading look made him stay right where he was, and Tanya sat beside him, a little too close than was polite.
"So Edward, how have you been? You seem happier! Maybe this time we'll have more time to talk." She said excitedly. Poor Edward looked at the door every five minutes, and I tried to divert Tanya's attention from him as much as I could. Unfortunately, she always turned back to him.
Ian, however, seemed extremely entertained with Tanya's attempts to flirt with Edward. There was a small smile playing on his lips and a light in his eyes that showed he was enjoying the show. Maybe he was also testing Edward.
About an hour after the Denalis arrived, the door opened, and Bella's voice sounded through the house.
"I'm here!" She announced, as Edward literally sighed in relief and got up in an instant. Tanya looked startled and confused, and I couldn't wait for Bella to appear.
Finally she made it to the living room door. Her head was a bit disheveled, and her eyes were shinning brightly.
"Had fun running back, love?" Edward asked smiling.
"Yeah. It had been a while since I felt so… free." She was really happy. I diverted my eyes from the happy couple for a second to look at Tanya that was still confused and…angry?
Bella's POV
When I arrived to the Cullens' house, I felt free and rejuvenated from my run. I couldn't help but wear a big smile that Edward instantly returned when he saw me at the door of the living room. Ian and the Denalis had already arrived and much to my displeasure, Tanya was already sitting next to Edward.
As soon as I entered, Ian came to me and put one knee on the ground to greet me. "Princess Isabella." He greeted me formally, kissing my knuckles.
"Get up, Ian! And knock that off! You know I hate it!" I growled annoyed. He did as I had said.
"We're not alone, Bella! There are certain formalities that must be followed." He replied seriously. Damn Aro! He was the one that got this in their heads!
"We're among family! Such formalities aren't necessary." I retorted.
"If you could, you'd call everybody family just so that we wouldn't do that!" He said amused.
"You're right! You know how much I hate those displays of submission. You're my friends besides my guards." He just rolled his eyes. I had missed Ian. "And knock that damn attraction power off. You're already loveable enough without that." I turned to face the rest of the room
When Tanya saw me, her face changed completely. It went from the big smile she was trying to use to woo Edward to a look of anger and disbelief, like I had rarely seen.
"You! You're not dead! And if you're not dead… You bitch! You left Edward! After everything he did for you! Do you know how miserable he was? And now you just came back wearing a big smile, as if everything was alright! You lying bitch!" And she launched herself at me.
Before anyone, including me, could move, Ian had her held by her neck against a wall. She struggled and tried to get free, but I knew she wouldn't be able to; Ian's grip was too strong. Edward was right by my side, making sure I was okay.
"I'm fine, Edward. She didn't even get to me. Relax." I gave him a kiss to assure him I was perfectly fine.
"Getting slower, Bella?" Ian teased grinning.
"No. Getting relaxed." I sighed.
"Then it's going to be down right fun to get you in alert again!" He said excitedly.
"Let go off me, you freaky vampire!" Tanya hissed to Ian.
"We're vampires, blondie. We're all freaks! And your hissing and bitching don't scare me. Just be thankful I didn't kill you on the spot. It's been a while since I fought, and I'm just itching to get my hands on something!" He laughed menacingly.
"She's a fucking bitch and I…" Tanya continued, as Carmen begged for her to shut up.
"Shut the hell up!" Ian demanded. "Your screams are messing with my head! And if I were you, I'd get the facts straight before I went around accusing people. Your friend Edward made that mistake, and that almost cost him his mate, Bella!" He emphasized my name making sure she understood what he meant. "If I were you, I'd shut up before it costs you your life!"
"Edward! How could you just take her back? She's…"
"Stop, Tanya! For God's sake, stop insulting Bella! I love her, okay? And you know nothing about what happened to be so judgmental!" Edward replied, angrily.
"Look, Tanya," I started as I got closer to her. "I appreciate how concerned you are about Edward, but you really don't know anything about me or my life in the past seventy years to be making those accusations. And let's set something straight right away. I'm aware of your crush on Edward and how insistent you've been, but I love Edward, and he loves me. He's mine, as I am his! You mess with him, you mess with me! And believe me, you do not want to mess with me." I warned her.
"Go, Bella!" Emmett cheered.
"Let her go, Ian." I told him, ignoring Emmett's comment.
"Bella!" He turned to me disbelievingly.
"Let her go, Ian." I said a bit more firmly. Reluctantly, he unceremoniously dropped Tanya, making her fall on the ground.
"You always spoil my fun!" He whined.
"Don't worry! I'll help you scratch that itch you have, later." I winked at him. I felt Edward tense beside me and took his hand to reassure him. I had a special relationship with my boys. Sometimes, people who weren't used to seeing us around each other may not understand. We'd flirt and tease each other, but we were just good friends.
"Bella, these are Carmen, Eleazar, Kate, Irina and Tanya Denali from Alaska." Esme introduced me, smiling widely; she had enjoyed watching me put Tanya in her place. "This is Bella, Edward's mate."
"It's so nice to meet you, Bella!" Carmen greeted me, taking my hand in hers. "We helped the Cullens looking for you, and I was really sad I hadn't gotten the chance to meet you after all the wonderful things I'd heard about you."
"It's nice to meet all of you as well." I answered warmly.
"So, what happened when you disappeared?" The one Esme had introduced as being Kate asked.
"It was all a plan of Aro to get me. He knew that once I married Edward and he changed me, there was no way I'd ever join the Volturi ranks. So he decided to take me, fake my death, so that the Cullens wouldn't look for me, and bind me to them using the Cullens' lives. Had I left, he would have killed them, so I stayed because I'd rather suffer and have them safe than be free from the Volturi and have them all dead: It was a really easy choice in the end." I ended smiling sadly.
"I can feel why Aro would be so interested in you: your powers are amazing." Eleazar commented. "But from what I see, you're still bound to the Volturi." He said eyeing Ian.
"But I'm not forced anymore. Aro got attached to me and after ten years allowed me to leave. I decided not to come back to Edward, afraid Aro would go back on his promise of giving me my life back. But a few days ago, things just happened. I guess it was always meant to be." I said looking Edward in the eyes. I would never again doubt that Edward and I were meant to be. "Now I only participate in some missions and visit Volterra a couple of times a year. Despite everything, I have some good friends among the Volturi guard, and Aro likes to hear my opinion on some matters."
"You are the princess of Volterra that I've heard about. You've got your own personal guard, right? I heard that Aro had branched a part of the guard to insure the protection of the princess, some of his best fighters." Eleazar obviously knew what was going on with the Volturi throughout the years.
"Yes, that's correct. I don't really appreciate the title though. I don't enjoy being in a superior position: it's not really my thing."
"You've never told us just how many members your guard has. We've only met and heard about some of them." Alice asked.
"Seven. My brother Scott, Ian, Stefan and Cooper you've already met. You've heard about Henry too, so that leaves William and Ash. These last two are a bit more low key. Like me, they don't enjoy attention and alongside Ian, help maintaining the peace among my guard. Things can get a little heated sometimes with so many guys hanging out together, especially when I'm not around." I concluded.
"Any special reason why there're only guys in your guard?" Edward asked trying to look uninterested. I held back my laughter at his silly attempt.
"Are you jealous, bro?" Emmett teased him.
"Shut up, Emmett!"! He replied irritated.
"Are you, baby?" I asked looking at him as he scowled.
"It's just because most girls are jealous of Bella, and none of them would be up to the task anyway." Ian answered.
"Don't get cocky, Ian! I thought that was Henry and Stefan's job. You're supposed to be the gentleman, level-headed one." I complained.
"Sorry, Bells." He looked at me sheepishly, and just like that Ian was back to his Intense and calm demeanor.
"Well, Bella, I have the feeling we're going to get along!" Kate stated happily.
"I hope so. As Ian said, I don't have many girl friends." At that moment my PDA rang, and I felt like throwing the damn thing out the window; it had done nothing more than ring in the past few days. "Hi Catherine!" Ian looked at me and got closer as soon as her name was out of my mouth. He really was whipped.
"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting something," she apologized, "but I wanted to remind you that your scheduled meetings start tomorrow, bright and early. I've e-mailed you a couple of changes to some projects that you should go over before the meetings."
"Thanks. I'll keep in touch, and I'll maybe even have you come down here in a week; I just don't think I'll be able to handle it all on my own. I'll need my favorite PA to help me."
"Sure you will. You keep going on and on about Edward, but we both know it's me you can't live without." She laughed.
"Kurt's on his way home. How are things over there?"
"Everything is fine, Bella. I have to go, now, need to help the kids. Talk to you later. Kisses."
"Bye, Catz." Ian was looking at me expectantly. "What, loverboy?"
"Are you seriously thinking about bringing her here?" He asked disbelievingly.
"Of course. Do you have a problem with that?"
"I most certainly have, Bella! This is just a plan to get us together, isn't it, Bella?" He was getting angry
"No, it is not, Ian. She's my PA. I need her with me. But you know what? It would be fucking perfect if you just got your shit together and did something about her because, you know what? She's not going to wait forever! And we're all sick and tired of watching both of you dancing around each other and wasting time! Have you ever even thought that this is not just about you? Have you ever thought that maybe Catherine isn't happy? You're not letting her choose. You're choosing for her, and you don't have that right! I've been where she is, and I can tell you it's not a good place to be! So take your head out of your ass and realize that this is not just about you!" I was angry, and he was angry, and I knew where this was going to take us.
He was already heading outside, and I just followed him, knowing we both needed to blow some steam off. I ignored Edward's calling and Emmett's excited noises, as Ian removed his cloak and his shirt, and I took off my jacket.
We just went at each other at the same time growling and yelling at each other. From the corner of my eye I could see Jasper restraining Edward to stop him from intervening, Emmett rooting for me and the Denalis' amazed faces. I just focused back on Ian and gave everything I had. He had improved. His movements were more sharp and solid, and he was more agile too. I kicked and punched him and he did the same. Half an hour later, we were laying side by side. Edward rushed over to me without delay and checked me over, as I laughed like a maniac.
I didn't know when I had become so addicted to wrestling, but it was freeing, and Ian got his itch scratched.
"I had missed this, Bells. Italy is so much more fun when you're there." Ian said while getting up.
"You wouldn't say that if you just manned up and got a move on with Catz. Please get your shit together and work things out. Next week will be your chance."
"I'm not going to do it, Bella!" he insisted.
"We'll see." He was stubborn but I was more!
"Bella, love, what was that?" Edward asked, as we walked back into the house.
"I've changed Edward. I'm not fragile and weak anymore. I can handle myself in a fight, and my boys still hold no chance against me. I don't want you worrying about that. Now, there's something else I'd like to talk to you about. Can we go upstairs for a while?"
"Sure, love. Just promise me that next time, you'll at least warn me about what you're going to do. I almost had a heart attack when I saw him going at you as if you were some kind of punching bag. It scared the hell out of me, love!"
"I'm sorry! We just needed to release some energy."
"I could think of better ways of spending your energy!" He commented smiling. Before I could reply, Kate called me. From the three sisters she was the one I sympathized the most. Irina was too quiet and Tanya… well she had tried to snatch my vamp, so I think I had the right not to sympathize with her.
"Wait, Bella! Before you go, let me just tell you that that was the best fight I have ever witnessed. Would you be willing to share some of your knowledge?" Kate asked excitedly.
"Of course, Kate. I've already promised Emmett some classes, and I'm hoping everyone will join us. I have a mission on my hands, and it doesn't hurt to be prepared."
"Thanks a lot." She went back to talk to Eleazar, Jasper and Ian, as Edward and I headed to our bedroom. On our way up I noticed Tanya glaring at me with all her might, and I couldn't help but smile blissfully at her. Edward and I belonged to each other, and she was damn wrong if she though she could try to take him from me.
"You know, I like to see your things around my bedroom a lot." Edward stated as we entered it, smiling widely. He was just so perfect and handsome…
"I like it too. In fact, I love it. You are the very best thing that has ever happened to me, Edward."
"What did you want to talk to me about?" He asked.
"Do you feel uncomfortable when I call my guard 'my boys', or when I tease and flirt with Ian?"
"Honestly? Yeah, I do. I can't help but feel jealous and possessive of you, Bella. You just seem to have such a deep connection with them that… I don't know."
"I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, Edward. I love YOU! I've been with them for the past seventy years, and all I could think about was you. Yes, it's true that we have a deep connection, but I guess that just comes with the fact that I have to trust them with my life, and I do because, even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes, they are loyal and very good friends. But while I trust them with my life, I trust you with not only that but also with my heart. I love you more than anything, Edward, and I will never get enough of you. And anytime you feel uncomfortable with something just come and talk to me. We'll work out everything together. You're too precious to me."
"I promise, love. I love you so much, Bella. It feels like my heart is going to blow with all this intensity and love." I kissed him hungrily, and he kissed me right back.
I loved to be surrounded by him: his scent all over me, his lips on my neck, jaw and mouth, his hands holding me firmly but still gently to him, as if he would never let go. One of the benefits of being a vampire was that you didn't need to stop kissing to catch your breath. Being with Edward was perfect in every single way.
"What do you say, if we just escaped for a little while, before you have to get to your work?" he suggested.
"I say that's a brilliant idea, my sexy, smart fiancé." I replied grinning.
"I love the sound of that. Let's not waste any time, beloved." He put me on his back, as he used to do when I was human, and we were off in the blink of an eye. I loved my fast and sexy vampire. And he was all mine; Tanya Denali can be as pissed off about that as she wants cause there's nothing she can do to break us apart.
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I'll try to update again in a couple of weeks. Don't forget to REVIEW!