Pleasant Surprise – PART FIVE
Repost of original.
Disclaimer – Twilight belongs to Stephanie Meyer.
"Tanya...Bella, I was hoping I could speak with you for a moment, if you don't mind."
The brunette looked up from the newspaper that sat on the kitchen counter next to her half eaten piece of French toast and coffee, curious as to why Carlisle looked so nervous. Tanya was sitting on the counter next to the paper, legs swinging back and forth as she took in her old friend.
Her leg swinging slowed as she gave the blonde doctor a small smile, "Of course we don't mind Carlisle."
Bella pushed her plate to the side and peered up at him with a curious smile, "What's up?"
He looked so dishevelled that Bella was mildly concerned. She'd never seen him look anything but neat and tidy, and she hadn't ever seen him look so nervous before either. It was strange.
Esme appeared beside him, smiling briefly at the two women before taking her mate's hand in her own and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Carlisle took a deep breath to calm his nerves before looking between both Tanya and Bella, "I want to apologise for how rudely I've been acting toward you both. My attitude has been less than acceptable and for that I am so truly sorry."
Tanya slipped off the counter slowly and placed a hand on her lover's shoulder, eyes never once leaving the man in front of her, "Less than acceptable? I believe that's a bit of an understatement, old friend."
"Yes," He sighed sadly, "I have acted horribly toward the nature of your relationship and now that I've realised my mistake, I'm here to ask for forgiveness from both of you." Carlisle's eyes shone with sincerity and regret and they soon shifted so they were resting entirely on Tanya, "I've known you a long time and I do not wish for our friendship to be destroyed over something so miniscule."
"You think our relationship is miniscule?"
"That's not what he meant Tanya and you know it." Bella glanced up at her girlfriend pointedly. Was she trying to start a fight?
"I am sorry for how I responded to the news of your relationship; I should have handled it better." He ran a hand through his hair, "I suppose it just upset me to see my son's mate with another vampire, a family friend at that."
"I'm not Edward's mate, Carlisle." The brunette brought her mug of coffee to her lips, sipping at the hot liquid carefully.
"Edward loves you."
She sighed and put the mug down on the counter gently.
"I'm not saying that he doesn't but that doesn't make him my mate. I loved Edward yes, but it wasn't the same love that you feel for Esme, or the same that Emmett and Jasper feel for Rosalie and Alice." Bella paused when she noticed the sadness in his gaze and she couldn't stop herself from feeling sorry for him.
She knew how hard this must have been for him. Edward was his son after all.
Just as she was about to speak once again, Renee came bounding into the kitchen with a smile on her face, only for it to disappear quickly as she took in the scene before her, "Oh sorry...I'll just-"
"No, it's fine Renee. I was apologising for my rude behaviour," Carlisle sent the older human an uncertain smile before giving his attention to the two women who were now standing side by side. He shifted on his feet in a very un-vampire like fashion, "Am I forgiven?"
Tanya pursed her lips in contemplation for only a moment before gracing the doctor with a smile and nodding gently. Unbelievably happy with her girlfriend's ability to forgive, Bella slid her hand into the back pocket of her lover's jeans and gave her arse an affectionate squeeze.
"Of course you're forgiven. Tanya's too sweet to hold a grudge and as for me, well...I wasn't upset with you in the first place." The brunette slipped her hand from the pocket of her girlfriend's jeans to her hand instead. She smiled at Carlisle but glanced in her mother's direction subtly, "Now if you would excuse us, we promised my parents a day of fun!"
Bella dragged her mother from the room with the excuse of needing help to find her coat, but looked over her shoulder at her girlfriend pointedly. She mouthed the words 'be nice' before flashing a smile and disappearing around the corner.
For a few seconds nobody spoke and it was only when Carlisle made to leave that Tanya spoke up.
"I forgive you Carlisle. I understand your confusion and anger, and I'm glad you wish to mend our friendship before completely destroying it."
Esme cast her husband a disappointed glare, "I wouldn't have let him destroy it, dear. But your forgiveness is much appreciated, isn't it Carlisle?"
He blew out a relieved sigh before sending the blonde coven leader a small smile, "It most definitely is. I cannot apologise enough, but I can assure you that I will never act so disrespectable again."
"That's a relief to know, my friend." Tanya glanced at the doorway with a small smile, "If you'll excuse me, I believe Bella and her parents are ready."
Esme smiled at the other woman as her husband wrapped his arms around her, "Enjoy your day Tanya."
She paused in the doorway before making her way toward the garage where she knew the three human's were waiting, "And you old friends."
x-o-x
"Oh baby, I'm going to miss you so much!"
Bella let out a tiny oomph as her teary eyed mother threw herself at her, warm arms wrapping around the brunette in a vice like grip. Bella sniffled back her own tears and hugged her back fiercely, eyes closed tight as she nuzzled the older woman's shoulder.
"Me too mum..."
"I wish I didn't have to leave just yet, this weekend's gone by far too quickly for my liking." She pulled back and cupped her daughter's face with trembling hands, "I hate saying goodbye to you. It never gets any easier, so promise to visit soon, okay?" Renee smiled at her softly and kissed Bella's cheek before wrapping Tanya in a loving embrace, "That goes for you too, Tanya sweetheart."
"I'll be sure to book us both flights to visit you and your husband as soon as possible. I'm looking forward to meeting him; he sounds like a good man." Tanya smiled and wrapped an arm around her girlfriend, "It was lovely meeting you Renee."
"And it was lovely meeting you," She smiled sweetly at the blonde woman before leaning in to kiss their cheeks one last time, "Keep in touch, okay?"
"You have our word mum, promise." Bella wiped away her tears and smiled a watery smile, "Be careful, huh?"
With one last teary goodbye, Renee gave her ex-husband a quick hug and dashed off toward the gate where her flight was boarding.
About an hour later, Charlie's plane was boarding and the two women hugged him goodbye with the promise of visiting Forks as soon as possible. Tanya and Bella had left soon after, driving back to the house in Garrett's jeep.
Bella spoke briefly with Carmen for a few minutes before a yawn escaped her lips and the motherly vampire firmly suggested she go to bed. The brunette had kissed her cheek before shuffling over to Tanya, who was grinning down at Laurent and Emmett as they battled it out on the Xbox.
"I'm going to head to bed Tan, I have to work tomorrow." Tanya turned to wrap her arms around her human, smiling as their lips brushed together lovingly.
"Would you like company?"
The brunette shook her head because she knew that her girlfriend wanted to catch up with the Cullen's. Tanya raised an eyebrow but Bella wasn't oblivious to the little shine of excitement that glistened in her girlfriend's onyx eyes.
"You stay, play games...whatever you want. Maybe you should take the time to hunt? How long has it been?"
Tanya, after promising to hunt during the night, kissed her mate once more before sending her off to bed. The vampire on the other hand, took a seat next to her brother in law with an excited grin, intent on playing some games before going to hunt.
Everybody called out their goodnights to Bella before she closed herself off in her room, slipping the clothes from her body so that she was only wearing a pair of skimpy boy shorts.
She shivered and slipped under the covers of her bed, sighing as her head hit the pillow gently. The weekend had taken a toll on her so it took nothing but switching off the lamp and closing her eyes for sleep to claim her.
x-o-x
"Good morning Professor."
Bella looked up startled, wide eyes narrowing playfully as she took in the sight of a grinning Mel. Her red hair hung loosely around her shoulders and her pale hands were tucked into the pockets of her jeans, blue eyes alight with amusement at the fact that she'd surprised the older woman.
The brunette sat back in her chair, legs crossing automatically as she noticed the younger woman's gaze trailing up the exposed skin of her legs. She smirked and tapped a single finger on her desk.
"Well hello there Mel, I didn't hear you come in."
"Obviously," She smiled, eyes peering subtly over at the papers on her professor's desk. She rose as eyebrow curiously, "I don't see any marked papers there."
"No, you wouldn't. My weekend was quite hectic I'm afraid." She flicked her fringe from her face and shook her head, letting out a heavy breath, "Honestly Mel, you wouldn't believe the weekend I've had."
The younger girl sat back on one of the desks, "Well there are still ten or so minutes before class starts..." She trailed off.
Bella sighed heavily and shook her head, "I won't burden you with my problems because it'd take much longer than ten minutes to explain it, I'm afraid." The brunette sat up straighter and opened the bottle of water on her desk, sipping at it. She placed it back on her desk and smiled up at the younger girl, "Enough about me, what did you do this weekend?"
She watched subtly as the red head subconsciously played with her lip ring, twirling it absently and humming thoughtfully.
"Not a lot really. Kristie and I spent the weekend lounging around the house, eating junk food and...well I'm sure you can guess the rest." Mel winked playfully and smiled as the older woman laughed. She clasped her hands on her lap and stretched, "Nah, it was good though. She's working nearly all the time now, so it was great to have some alone time. I miss her when she's not around, the apartment can get a little lonely."
"You could go out, you know? Surely your girlfriend wouldn't mind."
"She encourages it actually but...I'm not too fond of being swamped by girls when I go out. They hit on me, I tell them I have a girlfriend and then they say something along the lines of 'she doesn't have to know'. It just pisses me off."
Bella pursed her lips as she watched Mel run a hand through her hair, a clear sign of her frustration. She growled under her breath and with that alone the brunette could tell she was nowhere near finished.
"I don't get it, you know? I mean, it's different when Kris and I approach a girl and ask her to come home with us, but when they approach one of us alone they don't give a shit about whether or not you're taken." The red head sighed angrily, "They just assume that I have no respect for my girlfriend and I'd spread my legs for them."
Bella sighed and stood from her chair, walking around to lean against the front of her desk. She crossed her arms casually over her chest and gave her student a thoughtful look.
"Don't take what I'm about to say the wrong way Mel, but perhaps they see you take girls home with your girlfriend and assume you have an open relationship with her." She held up her hand as the red head went to speak, "Just hear me out, okay? Yes, they shouldn't come onto you if they know you're in a relationship but they don't know the ins and outs of your relationship with Kristie."
"They should still be able to take a hint though. If you came onto me and I told you I had a girlfriend, what does that tell you?"
"It tells me you aren't interested in having sex with me." She gave the young girl a playful grin, eyes shining in amusement as she tried to lighten the mood, "But we both know that if I came onto you, you'd take me home to share the experience with your girlfriend."
Melissa grinned, "I suppose I would," She sighed and the smile slipped from her face, "But you do understand why I don't go out by myself, right?"
"Of course I understand Mel, do you think I enjoy being hit on by strangers? Tanya doesn't appreciate it either, in fact it makes her furious." She chuckled quietly and rolled her eyes, "My baby gets jealous over the tinniest things."
Silence followed as they both retreated to their own thoughts until Mel gave her professor a curious look, "Does it bother you? The jealousy, I mean."
Bella tilted her head to the side as she contemplated just how to answer that question. Did it bother her? She wasn't sure. It had annoyed her when she was with Edward because he'd actually tried to forbid her from even being friends with Jacob.
With Tanya, it was different. She didn't get angry when the blonde would growl about how a particular man or woman wouldn't ever have a chance with her, that she was hers. She smirked softly. She kind of liked a jealous Tanya, because it meant hours locked up in their bedroom alone.
"Bella? Does it bother you?"
The brunette looked back at her student and smiled softly, shaking her head, "No it doesn't. Jealousy isn't something Tanya can control easily...plus I like a jealous Tanya. It leads to amazing sex."
The young girl looked up at the ceiling in thought, "It's not like that with Kristie. She loves me and I love her but...I don't know, it's confusing," She huffed and looked down at her gym boots, scuffing them against the carpet, "I get jealous sometimes, like when we bring another girl home. I-I don't like seeing her with her head between another woman's legs and I don't like the way she looks up at them through her lashes while she's there. It doesn't sit well with me."
The brunette sympathised because she knew that she wouldn't ever want another woman joining her and Tanya while they were making love. What they did in their bedroom was between them and it most definitely not something Bella wanted to share with another.
She walked toward the younger girl and sat beside her on the desk, taking Mel's clenched hand in her own to try and calm her.
"Have you spoken to Kristie about what you're feeling?" Her voice was soft and gentle and it saddened her to see her student visibly flinch at the question.
The red head looked away, "No, but she told me that she doesn't get jealous when we have another woman in our bed."
"Because she knows that you love her, and she loves you enough to be able to trust you." The brunette waited for her to look at her and when she did, she gave the girl a gentle smile, "You feel that way because you don't want to share her anymore, she's your girlfriend and that other woman doesn't belong in the same bed that you make love to Kristie in."
"It never used to bother me...but I don't want to share her anymore." She whispered sadly, her eyes downcast, "And I don't want to be with other women, I just want Kris. That's why this weekend was so perfect, it was just us."
"Then tell her that. You're a strong woman Mel and do you know what I think?" The red head shook her head and Bella continued, "I think you'd be surprised with her response. If she loves you as much as she claims too, then she'll do whatever she can to make you happy." The brunette stood and faced the younger girl, "Go home and talk to your girlfriend."
The red head hesitated for a moment before nodding with a small smile and getting to her feet. She pulled her professor into a quick hug before pulling back and swinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Thank you Bella."
Bella smiled as the red head raced for the door, having already pulled her keys from the pocket of her jeans.
x-o-x
"No! That isn't fair, you cheated!"
Emmett's whine rang through the house as Bella opened the front door, closing it quickly behind her and grinning at the sounds of gunshots coming from the living room. She slipped her coat off and hung it in the closet by the door, soaking up the warmth that radiated from the heaters.
Bella made her way for the living room, smirking as she took in Emmett's hunched form directly in front of the plasma. The controller sat idly in his hand and he was pouting pathetically as he stared at the screen in annoyance.
"Afraid not Em, you just can't play."
Jasper smirked smugly from his place on the bean bag, blonde curls dangling over his eyes for a moment before he tugged them back. He grinned over at Bella before raising an eyebrow at his brother.
"Care for another round?"
"Fuck you bro, this is bullshit." The larger vampire grumbled sourly and Bella couldn't contain her laugh. His head snapped in her direction and somehow Bella knew that if it was possible, he'd be blushing like mad. He crossed his arms, "Hey! Quit laughing at me."
"But you're so funny, I just can't help it." She teased playfully. Turning on her heels, she headed for the staircase, "Scary vampire my arse."
"I'm scary!"
The brunette simply laughed as she walked up the stairs and straight for her room. She found her girlfriend lying on her side on the bed, head propped up as she glanced over at the brunette. Bella was confused for a moment but grinned as she heard Alice talking excitedly from within their closet.
She blew Tanya a kiss in greeting, just as the smaller vampire walked out. Alice smiled and waved unsurprised at the human's arrival.
"Hey Bella! How was work?"
The brunette shrugged and bent down, slipping her heels off and sighing in relief when her bare feet hit the carpet, "It was alright, I suppose." She carried her heels over toward the closet, smirking over at her girlfriend before she disappeared inside, "I see you've been keeping my baby occupied."
The blonde rolled her eyes and Alice pouted, "I don't think I've left the room once since you've been gone. Alice couldn't stop looking at our clothes."
"I'll have you know, I take clothes quite seriously and just as well. You two need some new shirts and dresses."
Bella came back out dressed in a pair of slacks and a hello kitty sweatshirt, mouse coloured hair tied into a messy bun as she lay down beside her girlfriend. She kissed the blonde sweetly before shuffling over to make room for Alice.
She pat the spot beside her and the smaller vampire faltered, "I don't think Tanya would like that Bella."
Gold locked with gold and Alice was surprised to see absolutely no anger in her cousin's gaze at the thought of having another vampire so close to her mate. The least she expected was a growl to warn her off but when Tanya merely smiled, her own mouth parted in disbelief.
"I don't mind Alice."
Alice looked to Bella once more before slowly making her way over to them, eyes peering back at Tanya for any warning she was about to get territorial.
She lay down next to the brunette and Bella wasted no time in taking the smaller vampire's hand in her own. It took Alice only a moment to realise how much she'd missed just being with her human sister.
Tanya, sensing the other vampire's feelings of serenity, merely grinned and allowed her hand to settle on her mate's hip, thumb finding its way under her shirt to rub the flesh there.
"So apart from needing new shirts and dresses, were our clothes up to scratch for you?" Bella placed her spare hand over her lover's, entwining them absentmindedly as she gave her friend a smile.
Alice squealed, "Yes! I can't believe you own thongs Bella! Thongs!"
Bella giggled quietly and Tanya laughed, nudging her girlfriend gently, "You should have seen her face when she accidently came upon our stash of toys. I don't think she was expecting what she saw."
"What? You and Jasper don't own any toys whatsoever?" The brunette raised an eyebrow, giggling at the embarrassed gleam in her friend's golden eyes, "Seriously Alice? No toys?"
The smaller vampire cleared her throat and looked away, "I'm not really comfortable talking about that while I'm lying in bed with two lesbians."
"Don't you find us attractive?" Bella teased playfully, brown eyes alight with amusement.
Alice shook her head in exaggeration and leant in to kiss her friend's forehead before jumping from the bed and dancing toward the door with a smile, "Oh don't fret dear Bella, I find you both very attractive but I find Jazz sexier." She winked and opened the door, "Now I hate to break it to you, but Edward is going to walk through the door in about one and a half minutes. He wishes to speak to you both privately...so everybody else is going out."
"Why does he want to speak to us privately?" Bella sat up and smoothed out her shirt, eyebrows drawn together in confusion, "I thought everybody wanted an explanation."
The smaller vampire sighed and shook her head, "You shouldn't have to explain your love to anybody, especially us."
"What about Edward?" Tanya enquired curiously.
Alice clasped her hands at her front and rocked back and forth on her heels, a small smile on her face, "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what my brother has to say, just give him a chance."
And with that she was gone.
Bella glanced at her girlfriend over her shoulder, giving her a quizzical look, hoping the blonde knew what she was talking about. Tanya shook her head and glanced at the door as though it held the answer.
"Don't ask me, I know just as much as you." Tanya slipped off the bed and smiled softly down at her mate, holding out her hand, "Come on, we have to go speak with Edward."
The brunette sighed and allowed her girlfriend to pull her from the bed, giggling as the blonde lifted her onto her back. She wrapped her arms around her neck and placed a kiss on her lover's cheek.
"Alright then, lead the way baby." Bella tightened her legs around the vampire's waist as she made her way out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Bella frowned as she noticed how silent the house was, "Are they gone already?"
The blonde chuckled, "We're vampire's sweetheart, remember?"
"You are? Well shit, that fucks everything up." Bella laughed and slapped her girlfriend's shoulder gently, mindful that she could very well break her hand with the playful gesture, "Don't be a smartarse, Tan."
"But it comes so naturally to me."
The brunette merely hummed in agreement, a small smile on her face as they glided down the stairs and into the living room. The smile slipped from her face as she took in the tense form of Edward Cullen sitting on the sofa chair, bright golden eyes staring blankly at the photo's scattering the wall.
Tanya placed Bella down on the ground with a pat to the thigh and ushered her toward the opposite couch, sitting down beside her and taking her hand in hers. Edward turned his head toward them and the absolute misery that could be seen in his gaze made the brunette physically cringe.
Had she done that?
"Good afternoon Bella...Tanya." Edward attempted a weak smile but dropped it when it came out as a grimace. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sure Alice told you I wished to speak with you both, I just hope she didn't tell you about what."
"She didn't." Tanya replied quite bluntly.
He nodded and glanced down at his clasped hands, mouth opening and closing silently as he tried to get the words out. He growled in frustration when he realised that this wouldn't be as simple as he'd thought it'd be.
"Why is this so fucking hard to say?" His fists clenched and Bella still couldn't stop herself from cringing at the foreign word leaving his lips. He never used to swear and the brunette didn't believe it'd ever get any less surprising when she heard it.
He sighed and rubbed his face, "T-this isn't easy for me to say. Truth be told I just want to scream at you and demand to know what I did to deserve this...this betrayal." He looked up at the brunette, gaze avoiding her own as his lip practically quivered in anguish, "I just...I don't understand Bella. I love you so much and it kills me to know that you don't return those feelings."
Bella went to speak but with a stiff shake of his head, Edward motioned for her to stop, "Just let me get this out, okay?"
Tanya placed a hand on her girlfriend's thigh then and the brunette took the hint and shut her mouth, leaning into the blonde as she waited for Edward to continue. He averted his gaze from their innocent display of affection.
"I'm not going to say that I'm happy about your relationship but I've had a few days to come to terms with it, and I've realised that it's not my place to criticise either of you." He took in their position with sad eyes, wishing that it was he who sat with the brunette, "It's not my place to demand you explain yourselves, your relationship is your business and no-one else's."
His golden eyes shone sadly and regret filled him.
"My family were less than impressed with my behaviour and I cannot blame them. My behaviour was inexcusable. I'm so sorry for how rudely I've acted and I do not plan to sit here and make excuses for myself, so I'll leave it at that."
"Edward we don't blame you for being angry about our relationship, in fact we expected it. However, I believe your blatant insults were completely out of line." Tanya waited for him to make eye contact and when he did, she made sure he could see how much they had hurt her, "You insulted me in my house and if that wasn't bad enough, you insulted me in front of my coven. You tried to start a fight with three humans in the room. That I most definitely did not expect. I thought you were better than that."
"Nobody's perfect Tanya and there's no excuse for my behaviour, I know that." He murmured quietly, "What I did was irresponsible and I take full responsibility for the things I said and done."
"It's not that easy to say I forgive you and actually mean it. You are family Edward but I'm not impressed with you." The blonde refused to break eye contact, "I'm sorry that I found my mate in the woman you love but it didn't warrant your actions."
"No it didn't. I'm sorry." Edward looked at the blonde in a silent plead, eyes begging for the truth, "Can I at least ask how?"
Tanya didn't need him to elaborate because she was most definitely not oblivious to the longing look in his eyes when he looked at her mate. She gave a sigh and watched him thoughtfully for a moment.
"Would it help with anything Edward? I may not be all that happy with you, but I don't wish to add to your pain. I'm not a masochist."
"Believe me when I say it will not make my misery worse. I've seen inside your mind even though I try to block your thoughts, and I've heard you...making love. It could not be worse than that."
Bella's heart suffocated with guilt at the thought of how much pain she'd caused the vampire without even meaning to. He may have been an arrogant arse at times but he didn't deserve to feel what he did.
Glancing at her girlfriend, she could tell that she too was feeling horribly upset with how this conversation was turning out. Neither women wanted to rub their relationship in but they knew it was inevitable.
Edward wasn't demanding an explanation but asking instead, pleading to get some sort of answer from them to explain his misery. Both women knew an explanation would do nothing to quell his emotional pain but they knew how unfair it was to make that decision for him.
Bella cleared her throat and hesitantly, for the first time, Edward's gaze shifted to her own. She nodded at his silent plea and her palms became clammy at the realisation that she was about to add to his pain.
"We'll tell you what we think you need to know, but you have to promise not to make a scene. I don't think an explanation is going to help you to come to terms with everything, however, it's your decision, not mine."
The brunette waited for a response from the vampire and when he nodded, she sighed heavily and gave her own stiff nod, "Alright, I suppose I should start at the beginning then..."