Chapter Forty Seven

Bella

Things had finally settled down again but no one seemed inclined to leave, Peter and Charlotte had been back to their house a few times to check things were OK with the guy who was watching the livestock but returned, usually the next day. Esme was still working on her designs but as she said

"I can work just as easily from here and it helps having extra hands around with two children"

Emmett was over the moon having the excuse that Esme was still here to stay on too. The children loved all the attention while everyone added something to their education. Graces paperwork was finally through but we were loathe to send her to a local school while she was still growing quite fast. We were both relieved when it became obvious that the growth was slowing and calculated she would probably be fully grown in about another year. Josh too was growing fast but not as fast as Grace had and his temperament was less placid than hers. He also enjoyed the rough housing that usually ensued when Emmett and Peter got together while Grace would sit patiently waiting for him to run over crying sanctuary for his big sister to protect him. It was during one such fight that we saw a car speeding towards the house. Unused to having visitors, friendly ones that is, we ushered the children inside with Charlotte and Esme while we waited on the porch. As I looked at us I had to laugh, it looked like the line up for the gunfight at the OK Corral.

The car came to a halt a few feet from the steps and as the door opened we relaxed. Stepping from the red sports car with a huge smile on her face was Alice, and she wasn't alone. She ran up the steps squealing with delight to kiss and hug us all, including Peter which shocked him. Then she went back down and grabbed the hand of the man waiting for her. I had never met him but it seemed the others knew who he was,

"Fuck me, Garrett!"

The guy walked up the steps hand in hand with her and smiled a little awkwardly at Peter and Jazz,

"Hi there. I understand I missed a good fight"

"No, just the potential for one Garrett. So, you and Alice eh?

"Yes, she's been trying to persuade me for ages to visit but I wasn't too sure of my reception"

He was looking at Jazz and Peter as he said this,

"No worries Garrett, you're welcome here"

Garrett nodded then turned to me, taking my hand in his and kissing it,

"Nice to meet you Bella. As you already heard, I'm Garrett."

"Hello Garrett please come in"

It didn't take long for Alice to worm her way into the affection of the children although Grace was more reserved than normal, watching Garrett carefully. Unsure what the matter was I called Jasper out to help me in the barn,

"What's the story with Garrett?"

"Story? What makes you ask?"

"Well he wasn't sure of his welcome and Grace is watching him like he might explode any second"

"That's my fault I'm afraid. Peter and I had a run in with Garrett many years ago when we were still with Maria. He was working for the opposition at the time and it came to a fight, Peter lost an arm, I got a few nasty bites and Garrett just got away with his life."

"So Grace is feeling your emotions?"

"I guess so, but Garrett's a good man and very loyal."

"How do you feel about him and Alice?"

"Sorry"

"Sorry? Who for?"

"Garrett, he has no idea what he's let himself in for."

I laughed at this and we walked back slowly arm in arm, hearing the children's laughter ringing out.

That evening once they were in bed we all sat around and the guys started talking about memorable battles! I motioned for Alice and she and Esme joined Charlotte and myself in the kitchen.

"Bella I'm so happy for you and Jazz. The children are wonderful."

"Thanks for your help Alice. Why didn't you come to warn us personally though?"

"Rose was very suspicious of me and she had Edward watching my thoughts so I had to keep away so he couldn't get anything from me."

"Edward was involved?"

She hesitated,

"No, not really, she just didn't want me to be able to contact you, knowing I'd do my utmost to ruin her experiment once I saw what she was doing. I couldn't stay with the family so I travelled constantly. I saw that she'd sent someone to track me down and stop me from contacting you. Luckily I foiled her plan.

"How?"

She grinned hugely,

"I knew something she didn't"

"Oh yes?"

She nodded,

"My sister made a huge mistake in her choice of tracker."

It clicked then and I laughed out loud,

"She sent Garrett after you didn't she?"

Again she nodded her grin even wider,

"Yes, Ironically Rose sent my mate to track me down. It was quite a shock to him too."

"I'll bet!"

When I told Jazz later he burst out laughing

"Somehow everything always works out for Alice."

I had something I wanted to ask him but I wasn't sure how to approach the subject.

"Bella?"

He sounded nervous,

"Yes?"

"I need to ask you something and I'm not sure how you are going to take it"

"Go on"

I was intrigued.

"Well, we seem to have acquired quite a large family since Christmas and I was just wondering...well...how would you feel about...about extending the house so they could all stay? I know it's a big step but I just thought as we seem to get on so well...but I understand if you don't want...well..."

"Stop Jazz. I was going to ask you the same thing. Shall we see how the others feel about it?"

Within days the foundation had been laid for the extension, Esme had arranged for all Emmett and her stuff to be shipped out and Peter and Jazz were busy extending the paddock fencing for the extra horses with help from Emmett and Garrett. Alice sat on the porch with Grace looking at the photo's of her as a baby when I found her, Josh on her knee playing with a necklace she was wearing,

"So Alice, have you and Garrett decided what you are going to do?"

"Yes. We're going to Boston to see Carlisle, I need to tell him he wont do it, find a way to stop us reacting to sunlight. Although whether he'll believe me or not I can't see yet."

"What do you think he'll do after you tell him?"

"Move back to Volterra I think. Or carry on doctoring the humans, that's where he gets most satisfaction"

"And then?"

"Please Auntie Alice"

I looked at Grace and then Josh spoke,

"Allie stay"

It sounds like you have a fan club Alice, and if not for you they wouldn't be here, neither would I probably"

She smiled brightly,

"We're only going for a few weeks kids. Garrett and I will be back in time for Christmas"

The shrieks of delight drowned out any other words.

Before she left Alice came to speak to Jasper and myself,

"I've seen something and I think you should know"

I groaned,

"Please not more trouble Alice."

She smiled at me and shook her head,

"No Bella I think its interesting news"

I took Jasper's hand before she started talking again,

"Grace will be going to Volterra when she gets older."

"What! Why?"

"Just for a short while because her mate lives there and she'll go looking for him. Don't worry though, he will love and look after her just as Jasper did with you."

"Who Alice?"

I dreaded the thought that Alice might mention one of the brothers but she grinned and shook her head,

"No Bella not one of the brothers although I know Marcus has seen the relationship."

I remembered his words about seeing Grace in Volterra again.

"Then who?"

"Demetri Volturi, I've seen that she stops aging when she reaches maturity so your daughter is immortal and she will persuade him to leave the Volturi when a new tracker is found and I see them join your family."

"I didn't like the idea much but then there were a lot of people who would think Jasper a bad catch. I would find out all I could about him before they finally met. The best news of all was that Grace was immortal, it had always been a worry for us as she had so many human traits, we wouldn't be losing her and that was the greatest relief of all.