"Guess it's a good thing we didn't kill you off, afterall," Jasper murmured, as Bella stood up, chuckling at his own remark.
Edward turned a dark stare towards his brother, who, uncowed by the look, said, "well, it is." He looked meaningfully towards the front of the courtroom.
Edward's head swivelled there now, and watched the crowd repeat this gesture, most eyes trained on the perfected form of one Bella Cullen, walking towards the podium now waiting for her.
Edward smiled at the mental reactions, secure in his place as the happy object of all his wife's affections.
Jasper cocked an eyebrow at his brother, then rolled his eyes, and pretended to turn his attention back to the front of the courtroom.
Edward could hear, quite clearly, what Jasper's thoughts were focused on—far away with Alice.
"Do you have a prepared statement?" The judge asked Bella.
"I do, sir," she replied evenly.
"Please go ahead and read it then," he said, voice stretching for a professional tone, this clearly tested by the entrancing figure before him.
No notes were required for Bella's words. She had prepared, with very little outward guidance, the words required to impart her less than satisfactory human experience with one Patrick Bellaney.
"I had gone to the police station to report my friend missing…"
Edward tried to hide his small frown here, and Jasper eyed him again.
Her friend. Hardly. Edward had, when she'd rehearsed her small speech, tried to nudge her towards other wording. She'd refused.
"He was, Edward," she'd mumbled, eyebrows making a sharp v, "even if he wasn't after. Besides, it makes me appear less credible if I feed into the story Bellaney gave, that I was screwed up and not sure if Jun'd assaulted me. He didn't. Not then, anyway."
They'd paused their conversation there, Bella electing to test the forest floor with the strength of her new feet, rather than the planks of their cottage. Edward had not followed, leaving her the space he could see she needed.
"...he refused to believe my complaint was legitimate, and when I asked to speak with his supervisor, physically assaulted me, and accused me of resisting arrest…"
Edward's molars grumbled together. Charlie had called in all the favours he could think of, and then some more, digging into the ugly, whispered stories that staff and officers at other police departments had to tell about Patrick Bellaney. Edward had offered, quietly, to spare Charlie the paperwork, and anyone else, the worry of dealing with the odious man. Charlie had sort of swallowed, and said, "Maybe Bella wants to make that call."
She had.
So now they sat, the conviction already made, and the sentencing set for the afternoon. The judge had specifically set aside the morning session for victim impact statements. Bella's was one of several. Edward didn't like that she had to be here, to remember this, even from her fuzzy, human memory.
But, as with all things she wanted, he ultimately acquiesced.
She stood tall at the podium, speaking confidently and without even the suggestion of a stumble in her words, or feet.
So graceful, Edward thought, watching the near perfect approximation of human movement she made. It would be perfect enough soon.
Her walk into this new life had been almost flawless. It had astonished them all, Jasper not the least of which. His mind still arrested itself, watching her move with a fluency her immortal time should not have yet afforded her.
They'd travelled easily to Italy, Bella insistent they remove that axe from over their heads as soon as possible.
Aro had been as disturbingly delighted to meet her in this new form, as he had before, and was just as disappointed to find her mind a closed thing to his powers. He'd repeated his offer of a place with them, and she'd politely declined again. "Not now," she'd said. "I am too new to this life to settle, yet."
It was as bold a lie as anyone would ever tell him, and Bella the only creature who ever really could to Aro.
"Do come again," Aro had crooned, as they left.
Assured that the Volturi threat had been laid to rest, Bella had been fortified to deal with the greater one that had dogged them: Charlie.
Edward now had an acute understanding of where his wife's persistence came from.
The Quileutes hadn't told Charlie about the Cullens. They'd been very clear about the cold ones, but adhered to the treaty with a stubborn stickiness that left even Rosalie impressed.
When Bella and Edward hadn't returned for Christmas, Charlie had stomached it, growling into the phone in displeasure. When reading break came and went through, without a visit, he'd made his own way north to Alaska to surprise Bella with a visit.
That he made the plans, wasn't a surprise. Alice had caught those by the time he was off the reservation. What was a surprise, was the tenacity with which he ferreted through the layers of their several ruses.
The weakest link was the building caretaker, one beer too willing to sit down with a seemingly frustrated Charlie, as consolation for missing his daughter on a week long camping trip. He'd sifted quietly through the poorly concealed stack of papers, and found what he needed to make a patchy trail to Denali.
Bella had been terrified. It had taken all of Jasper's gifts, Alice's persuasion, and Edward's reassurance to show her that all would be well.
Now he gave his head the most minute of shakes. Miraculous. She was miraculous.
She hadn't so much as even twitched when he'd arrived. Smiled nervously, and then happily, yes, but not even leaned in the direction her new nature dictated.
"Thank you for your statement, Ms. Cullen."
She nodded, and returned, all the rooms' eyes practically shucking towards her as she walked.
The clerk was announcing a recess, when Bella reached Edward and Jasper.
"You did beautifully," Jasper said, nodding his approval.
"Thank you. You'd think telling the truth was difficult to do." Her grin was playful.
Jasper's smile stretched wide as he tipped his head in acknowledgement. "As you say."
The rest of the crowd was rising, and Edward's mind registered the many admiring, covetous, and then jealous thoughts as Bella's hand came to rest in his.
They waited for the thick swell of people to thin, following their path to the courthouse's glassy exterior.
Alice joined them now, thoughts particular to the afternoon.
"Don't," Bella said, palm towards Alice in warning.
Alice only arched her eyebrows, and then leaned in to Jasper's kiss. "Wouldn't dream of spoiling it for you."
"Good."
"Charlie's going to be happy, though."
Bella rolled her eyes.
"To see you."
Edward grinned, watching Bella roll her eyes. His own hands, drew her closer, his chin brushing by the side of her head.
Jasper, ever the gentleman, didn't voice the feelings he'd identified, rolling off of the newlyweds. He did smile and say, "see you back here for one." Then he and Alice tripped lightly down the stairs, his and Alice's own plans inspired by what Jasper had sensed.
"Want to head back to the house for a bit?" he asked Bella.
Her growl was something of a purr by the time it prowled out of her mouth. "You know I do."
"No," he grinned. "I have no idea," and he tapped his head in illustration, but chuckled all the same.
"Past behaviour is an excellent predictor of future behaviour," she whispered in his ear.
He wasn't sure, suddenly, if they'd make it back to the house.
So it was they spent a furtive, and exuberant intermission between court sessions, testing the resilience of one of the meeting room walls.
Sturdy, Edward determined.
Similarly refreshed, Alice and Jasper were waiting in the courtroom gallery for them. Silent greetings dispensed with, they sat, approximating the edgy human behaviour around them.
Once the preliminary court business was tended to, the judge moved efficiently to Bellaney's sentencing. By the end—for the convictions were several—Patrick Bellaney had amassed fourteen years of prison time.
"You OK?" Edward asked Bella, worried that the time was so short for what the man had done.
"Fine," she murmured, turning towards him. "Why?"
"It's not long."
"It's fourteen years, Edward." Her eyebrows rose.
Of course, it would seem long to her still. Even after almost a year in this new life.
"It may feel shorter, later."
"That's fine. It won't for him. And he won't be a police officer after."
No, he wouldn't. "Is there anything else you'd like him to experience?" he asked, just as quietly. "Perhaps what it's like to have a broken hand, while in handcuffs?"
It infuriated him still, that Bellaney had hurt her.
She turned her face to him, eyes half-lidded, smirking. "I suspect a former police officer will need both functioning hands in prison."
True.
"Let me know if you change your mind."
Now she snickered. "What, you going to go pull Jessica's hair for being mean to me too?"
He actually growled.
The man two seats over turned sharply to look at Edward. He covered this slip by pretending to cough, holding up a hand in apology. The man nodded, his mental attention slung back towards the front of the room.
"You don't need to avenge me Edward, though I appreciate the sentiment."
"Mm," he mumbled, without any conviction.
They stood and left as soon as Bellaney was led away.
Outside again, Bella phoned Charlie.
"Fourteen years."
Edward could hear the sigh from the receiver to her ear.
"You happy with that?" Charlie asked next.
"Oh yes. Very satisfied. He won't bother anyone else."
They chatted a bit longer.
"And she's OK? Not feeling too sick still?" Bella asked.
"No, no, the vitamin B seems to be helping."
"Please give her a hug from me," Bella smiled.
Charlie chuckled. "Not sure how a real one would go down, but maybe that'll work."
"Love you Dad."
"Love you too, kiddo."
Slipping the phone in her pocket, Bella looked up at Edward, who was smiling at her. "Did Carlisle's referral work out?"
"I think so. A non-vampire midwife seemed acceptable."
He shook his head, chuckling.
Sue had been feeling unwell for a while, according to Charlie. It was only when they'd come into town to visit Bella and Edward that they'd found out why.
She'd hugged her dad, very, very carefully, and then blinked, looking at, and listening to the sounds of Sue's body.
"You um, feeling OK?" Bella had asked her step-mother.
"Oh, you know," she'd shrugged, "menopause."
Edward had kept his face neutral, observing this, wondering if Bella understood what she must be hearing. Surely it was obvious...but, what if it wasn't? He'd leaned over to say something when she'd beaten him to it.
"I hear early pregnancy isn't so much fun," Bella had shrugged.
And then Sue had fainted.
Now well into her sixth month, Sue had balked at seeking medical treatment from the hospital. Carlisle had discreetly suggested a few midwives to Bella, to pass onto Charlie.
Still leery of her vampire step-daughter, Sue kept a respectful physical distance whenever they visited. She was friendly, but there were lines, and Bella didn't try to cross them.
It made their inevitable leaving easier to accept, knowing Charlie would be busy with another child.
"Can you tell?" she asked Edward, looking at him. "If it's a boy, or a girl?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "Why?"
"Just wondering."
Alice had been as surprised as they were, hearing the news. Charlie's life, lived amidst the wolves, was blanketed by their silent futures too.
"And now that today's business is dealt with, shall we head home?" Edward asked, their fingers playing together in a constantly shifting weave.
"Mm, sounds good," she said.
Pulling her towards him, he abandoned her hand for the warmth of her hair, one hand cradling the back of her head, and the other cupping her cheek as they kissed.
There were thoughts, and then there were a few scattered catcalls. He ignored them. Getting lost in this with her was an eternity he welcomed, and anticipated with ever growing pleasure.
They had happiness, and the winding stretches of forever to explore it in.
- The End -