AN... As ever, much thanks to my pre-reader, Prettyflour... girl, you never cease to
amaze me with your mad skills and your fast turn around. ILY!

Huge hugs and thanks to all of my readers, both long term and new. Thank you to
everyone who has been reviewing, I smile so big at each one, and have tried to
respond to them all!

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Chapter 34

Hearing Too Much

Bella POV

Somewhere inside of my head, I felt like something had broken. I was a simple girl with simple wants. How had I gone from a seventeen year old, gangly, introverted, naïve girl to this… new species of cross-bred… whatever the hell I am? Gah! I needed answers. I had just killed a werewolf. Just hours before that, I had killed a vampire. It felt like my body shut down on the heels of this latest mess. I was emotionally drained. I had bawled my eyes out. First into Jacob's chest, then Esme's.

My tears were now viscous. They left Esme's shirt ruined. I apologized as I finally gained some sort of control over my emotional state. Ever the care taker, she smiled and told me not to worry myself over it.

"Shirts are easily replaced. You, on the other hand, are not!" Esme smiled as she hugged me tightly once again. "Are you feeling up to talking about all of this?"

"I guess so." I shrugged. I felt like a child as she held me and played with my hair. I had been a caretaker to my mother for so many years that I hadn't noticed until now how much I had missed this kind of affection. Mom and I got along great, and she was a good mother… but she was a really sucky "mommy". I couldn't remember the last time I had been held in her arms like this, and comforted by her. I had vague memories of her playing with my hair as I fell asleep in my very early childhood years, but other than for a quick hug every now and again, I had not had this sort of attention from a mother figure in years. It relaxed my frayed nerves, and comforted me through the ache that now accompanied physical separation from Jacob.

Carlisle entered the room, holding out a glass of water and wearing a reassuring smile.

"Here Bella, drink this. I'd hate to see you get dehydrated." I accepted the glass gratefully and chugged down the now syrupy sweet contents. I handed the glass back to him with a whole body shudder, and contorted my face into a grimace as the water sloshed heavily in my stomach. Jacob had told me that some days he craved water… I realized in that moment that I never would again. I had never been a fan of sickeningly sweet flavors, preferring dark chocolate over milk chocolate since I could recall. My stomach felt sour as the aftertaste lingered in my mouth.

"I thought you said that water tastes sweet?" Carlisle sounded confused as he gauged my reaction.

"Yeah, it does, Carlisle. It's disgustingly sweet. I may as well drink a bottle of corn syrup." I huffed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was unpleasant. Is there something you would prefer?" he was quick to ask.

"You wouldn't happen to have a pint of cow's blood around, would you?" I half jokingly asked.

"Ah. Is that what you drank earlier?" he smiled knowingly.

"Yes, it was." I shrugged, as I pulled out of Esme's arms to sit up straight. She excused herself to the kitchen, and brought me a large glass filled with a thick, dark red liquid. It smelled so good that I began to salivate over its aroma.

"We always keep a few pints of blood on hand in case of emergency." Esme explained before excusing herself from the room.

"What kind is it?" I asked Carlisle.

"I believe that is moose." He grinned at me. "Did she warm it for you? I prefer mine warm." I took a small sip, and moaned as the delicious fluid slid across my tongue, down my throat. Unable to stop myself, I drained the glass greedily. It was not warmed, but it was certainly refreshing.

I felt it as my body began to absorb the blood that now filled my belly. There was a sense of wellness that spread throughout my system. I felt invigorated and stronger as my muscles began to receive the nutrients that they had obviously been screaming for. I was certain that I would recognize their plea in the future. If I thought that raw meat had satisfied my hunger before, I realized now just how mistaken I was. It may have filled the emptiness of my stomach, but it did nothing to fulfill the craving. Carlisle watched me, seemingly fascinated as I pondered my new understanding of my body and its cravings.

As the new strength began to course throughout my system, so did a strange tingling sensation. It wasn't very strong, or even definitive, it simply hummed as an undercurrent throughout my body. Something about it must have registered on my face, because Carlisle suddenly sat a little straighter, and his expression became concerned.

"What's wrong, Bella? What are you experiencing?"

"I don't know. It's probably nothing." I shrugged yet again. The small movement of my shoulders gave rise to a need for movement. I hopped up and began to pace around the room, my fingers flexing, my skin crawling. I had this odd need to move. I had never been one (due in great measure to my clumsy nature) to have strong impulses for physical activity, but I suddenly felt the need to run. "I feel strange, like I want to… exercise?"

Carlisle nodded. "Your muscles are receiving what they have been craving since you were changed."

"I feel like I am going to crawl out of my skin here. Care to join me for a run?"

"I'll go with you, sweetheart." Esme offered as she strolled into the room, dressed in a fresh outfit.

"Thanks, Esme." I said gratefully. "I don't know what has come over me, I just need to blow off some steam or something."

Esme smiled, and allowed me to lead the way as we jogged towards the forest. I waffled over whether to phase, or just take a run as I was. Opting for the latter, I apologized to Esme for the lack of speed which garnered a laugh from her.

"Bella, I don't think you realize how fast you are actually running right now. It's certainly not typical vampire speed, but trust me when I say that this is incredibly fast for any human." She smiled indulgently towards me.

"But that's just it, Esme. I am not a human anymore. I'm not a vampire, I'm not a werewolf. Just what the hell am I?" I huffed.

"Bella, you are a wonderful and kind hearted young woman whom I have had the privilege of getting to know, and think of as a daughter. It doesn't matter to me that you are not fully human, or vampire, or shapeshifter." Esme came to a halt and touched my arm, and we stood, facing each other. She searched my eyes for a moment, and I could see thoughts racing behind her deep tawny hued eyes. "You accepted my son, and this family for who we are, not what we are. Is it impossible for you to believe that the sentiment is returned?"

"I-" I started to speak, but shut down immediately. Her question struck a chord inside of me, and I could not deny it. I searched her eyes once again, the truth behind them washing over me; filling me with trust. "Thank you."

We continued our run in silence. I found that I enjoyed the feeling of freedom and release that flowed through me as the wind whipped in my hair. There was a comfort in the steady rhythm of the ground against my feet, and I lost myself in thoughts of the last week of my life, and that the changes that had been wrought throughout this short time. I had lost my first love, and gained a mate. I had found out a new truth about my lineage, and finally understood the strange dynamic that was my father. I had gained a brother and a sister. I had been kidnapped, tortured, and irrevocably altered. I had killed two mythological creatures. I had lost my virginity. The list of changes to my life was incredible. I wondered how it was possible that I had managed to maintain my sanity.

Esme suddenly laughed beside me. "Losing our inner monologue, Bella?"

"What do you mean?" I broke my stride, and shot her a puzzled frown.

"You've been lost in thought for some time, and a few times you have mumbled things just under your breath, but this last statement was very clear." She smirked.

"I didn't realize I was thinking out loud!" I blushed. "What did I say?"

"You said, and I quote, 'At least I haven't lost my mind yet, or have I?'" She giggled softly.

"Well, yeah… that's exactly what I was thinking. This week has been unrelenting in its intensity, and it isn't even over! We're training tonight, and we battle tomorrow. Everything feels so surreal." I sighed, exasperated. "Do you blame me for questioning my sanity?"

"Not really, no." Esme smiled benevolently. "All is not lost, Bella. I wish you would trust us when we say that between the seven of us, and the wolves, this will not be the horrible war that you have built up in your mind."

"I do believe that we will win, Esme. It's more about the "surreality" of it." I shook my head. "And, yeah… I know that isn't really a word, but it's my word, so leave it be."

Esme chuckled again, and slipped her arm through mine, turning us back the way we came.

"Let's get back. Hopefully Jacob, Edward and Leah will be getting back soon, and Carlisle has some things that I know he wants to discuss with you."

~.~

"I have been researching since we left your house. I can't be entirely sure, but I don't think that you and Leah are exactly the first of your kind. Well, maybe the first vampire/shapeshifter hybrid, yes…. Have you ever heard of the Lobishomen?"

"I don't know, I don't believe so. Why, what is a Lobi-?"

"Lobishomen. In Portugal, there are old tales and legends of a werewolf that feeds on blood. I dug around on the internet, and looked into folklore before I called a very old friend. He was alive in the days of the Lobishomen. According to him, the story goes that a female werewolf was somehow impregnated by a vampire, and gave birth to twin sons. Supposedly she died giving birth to them, and they fed from her. They terrorized the forest for many years, draining unsuspecting victims, and supposedly there were only ever two people who escaped their clutches and lived to tell the tale, some forty years apart. My friend tells me that rumor has it that the Volturi stepped in and, and they were never heard of again." Carlisle's eyes locked with mine in an anguish filled gaze.

"Is this your way of gently telling me that the Volturi are not going to take the situation with Leah and I very well?" I whispered.

"No, I am afraid they won't. Hopefully we won't ever have to find out, though. I have no intention of travelling to Volterra anytime soon, or ever; and will therefore have no occasion to shake Aro's hand." Carlisle forced a smile.

"That may be, Carlisle; but you and I both know that Aro is awaiting news of my change. What happens when he demands proof?" I countered.

I felt Jacob's nearness as I spoke, and relief washed through my system. My tightly wound nerves unknotted themselves, and I felt like the air was finally getting into my lungs for the first time since he left. He plopped beside me on the couch, and pulled me tightly against his chest.

"The Volturi are expecting a vampire Bella?" Jacob's brows knit with concern.

"Yes, Jacob. That was the only reason that they didn't destroy her, was Alice's vision of her changed in the future." Carlisle held Jacob's eyes for a beat.

"Damnit! Are you telling me that we are going to have to watch out backs forever?" Jacob was furious. I felt him shaking from head to toe. His already overly warm body spiked in temperature.

"Jake, stop!" I gritted between clenched teeth. "Calm down, and take a breath. You have got to control your temper."

"I am controlling my temper."

"No. This is not controlled. Your fury is rolling off of you in waves, and your temperature is rising. You may not be giving in to the phase," I shook my head, and reached up to touch his face, lowering my voice, and speaking in softer, sweeter tones, "but this is not control. Breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth. In through your nose, and out through your mouth." I began to chant, and breathe with him, our foreheads touching, and our eyes closed.

After a minute or two of this breathing exercise, Jacob's tension fell away, and he opened his eyes, looking remorseful.

"I'm sorry, Doc. I didn't mean to start yelling, and make a scene. I know that none of this is your fault."

"Not to worry, Jacob. I have been known to lose my temper from time to time when it comes to the safety of those I love. The bond between you two is strong, and it shows. There is no need to apologize."

"Thank you. Now that I have calmed down, I'd like to continue our discussion." Jacob directed.

Carlisle shot out of his seat, and held up his index finger, the universal sign for "just a moment". He left the room at vampire speed, and went up the stairs. While he was out of the room, I snuggled myself tightly against Jacob's side, and breathed in his calming scent of musk, and earth, and pine.

As we waited, I began to pay attention to the noises I could hear filtering throughout the house. Since "the change", it seemed that my hearing was growing more acute with the passing hours. I could hear a muffled conversation, and when I focused on it, I could make out three distinct voices. Alice, Jasper and Emmett. I could not quite make out the words, but the tones and voices were obvious. I heard water running, the staccato sloshes of water accompanied by the steady thrum and dripping noises made it obvious that someone was taking a shower. Esme? I wondered. Suddenly I heard very soft footsteps much closer. They were on the same level of the house as we were, but in another room. I heard a cupboard door swinging open, and then the sound of dishes being rattled. The cupboard door closed, and the refrigerator opened. I hear something being placed on the counter, and then more soft footsteps accompanied by a soft humming. Emse. She was preparing to cook for Jacob, and probably Leah. I smiled.

I listened again more intently, trying to figure out where each person was in the house, and what they were doing. Sometimes curiosity is rewarded with embarrassment. I focused back on the conversation, finding that one of the voices had dropped off, leaving just Alice… and … Jasper. I barely made out the dull sounds of footsteps, then a pause. Emmett's deep voice reverberated quietly. It sounded different, somewhat hollow, and amplified, although still muffled. I heard a giggle, and the beat of water from the shower changing. There was a shift in Emmett's tone, and a softening of his voice, then a slightly muffled feminine grunt. It began to register that Em had stepped into the shower with Rose. I tried to tune them out, and re-focus on Alice and Jasper... not such a good idea!

If curiosity had caused embarrassment already, it was getting ready to slay me next. I decided to listen more intently to the rest of the ambient noises, and figure out if Edward and Leah were here, or if they had gone back to the res. Tuning out Em and Rose became a chore as their sounds were amplified by the innate acousitcs of a bathroom. I could feel the heat rising as blood filled my cheeks, spreading across my chest and up my throat. Still I reached out, listening and sifting through the noises.

Suddenly, I heard another voice, distinctly female. There was a plea in the tone. I focused more acutely, straining to hear. (Big mistake!) The female voice switched to firm and demanding. Seconds later, there was a noise, like someone hit a wall. There was a loud groan, and a deep rumbling growl. The wall was being hit repeatedly, and the groaning became a high pitched keening. The tempo of the rhythm against the wall increased, and the growl became a roar. As it all crashed in on me what I was hearing, I thought I would die of humiliation.d ever hear I never imagined I would hear anyone in the throws of passion, but how horrible to know that I was no hearing not one, but three couples under one roof having sex. First Em and Rose, then Alice and Jasper, and now Edward and Leah? I tried to shut it all out, but now that I had heard it, the noises were seared into my mind, and I could not tune them completely out.

Over it all I heard the clicking of a door, and footsteps on the stairs. I tried to regain my composure before Carlisle entered the room, but it was to no avail. Jacob had relaxed into the cushions on the couch, and was nearly asleep, completely oblivious to my mortification. Carlisle on the other hand… he took one look at my plum colored face, furrowed brow, and downcast eyes, and guffawed. Carlisle began to belly-laugh at my acute consternation.

Jacob startled, looking from Carlisle to me, obviously trying to figure out what he had missed. Carlisle was a mess, dropping disgracefully onto the sofa beside me. If he were human, his face would surely have been purple from the effort of his laughter, and his sides would surely have ached. It took several minutes for him to compose himself, during which time Esme had entered the room to see what all of the fuss was about. By then, I had bent forward, nose to knees, covering my head in shame.

"I don't get it. What did I miss?" Jacob sounded completely lost, and utterly confused.

"I'm not sure, but whatever it is has Bella mortified! Carlisle so rarely gets hysterical. What..?" Esme's voice dropped off, and Carlisle tried to contain himself; as his laughter began to die down a little bit. I decided it would be less embarrassing if I explained it myself. I was wrong.

"I was trying to test out my hearing." I whined, still covering my head in shame. "I was listening to the noises in the house, trying to figure out what everyone is up to…"

"No, you didn't" Esme gasped. "You heard?" A giggle erupted its way from her throat, and she covered her mouth, eyes wide. "You heard all of that?" I nodded.

"Carlisle! You need to calm down. She's so embarrassed!" Esme tried to sound stern, and get Carlisle to stop laughing at my expense, but several words were punctuated with giggles of her own.

"You… you should have… seen… her…" Carlisle was holding his sides, and drew up his knees. "Face! Oh, my!"

I lifted my head a little, and looked at Jacob who still seemed to be in the dark at what I could possibly have been hearing. As he took in my scowl, and the redness of my face, I saw the light dawn, and his eyes widen. A grin spread across his face and I could see the teasing mischief shine in his eyes before the laughter took him.

"Not you too!" I moaned, and elbowed him in the side. Jacob and Esme joined Carlisle in his fit of frenzied merriment.

"Shit. Even as a hybrid Lobi-were-shapeshifter-pire, I still can't stop the damn blushing!" I groaned, effectively drawing out the fit of laughter surrounding me. "It's not that funny, guys!" I whined.

"No!" Jacob swallowed heavily, trying to stamp out the laughter. "You're right, it's not." He looked into my eyes, his own shining with amusement. "It's frigging hilarious!" he chortled in my face.

Esme at least had the grace to apologize for her laughter at my expense. In between bursts of giggles, she would say she was sorry, but the guys laughter would get the better of her, or she would look at my beet-red face, and another burst would escape her. Eventually, she grabbed my hand, and pulled me from the room, and into the kitchen, away from the boys who were nowhere near finished with their tomfoolery at my expense.

"Here, help me cook something for Jacob and Leah." She cleared her throat, and smoothed the front of her shirt as she regained her composure. We busied ourselves making a large pan of baked French toast, a dozen scrambled eggs, and a few pounds of bacon.

After a little while, the boisterous laughter died from the other room. I almost tried to listen to the conversation wafting into the room, but decided to tune it out. I had learned my lesson the hard way. I turned to the little Bose stereo system setting on the counter, and pushed play. I was pleasantly surprised to hear CCR out SusieQ. Esme and I danced around the kitchen as we finished making breakfast. Just as we finished making the eggs, Jacob popped into the kitchen. He stuck his head around the corner, feigning an expression of contrition.

"I'm sorry. Can you forgive me for finding your embarrassment the teeniest bit funny?" his eyes were filled with mirth.

"I suppose." I sighed heavily. "You know you'll have to make it up to me somehow. I mean, here you are; doubled over in fits of hysteria, and I go and cook your breakfast? Seems a bit lopsided to me!" I stuck out my bottom lip in a mock pout. He immediately knew that he was forgiven, but we continued the charade for a few minutes, him telling me how very ashamed he was of his behavior, and me playing the martyr until he finally wrapped his arms around me, and kissed me thoroughly in the middle of the kitchen, right in front of Carlisle and Esme. The smiles on their faces were beatific and serene.

I pointed my finger at Carlisle, and narrowed my eyes. "You!" I exclaimed. "You are the one who should really be apologizing! If you hadn't behaved so poorly over my embarrassment, these two would never have been sucked into your vortex of paroxysm, they would have been none the wiser. It could have stayed between you and me!" I cocked my hear, and jutted my jaw for effect.

"See?" Carlisle chuckled softly. "There you go. Your expressions are priceless! If you guarded your emotions better, instead of letting them betray you, I might not have ever known." He pointed at me, and raised his chin. "It's all your fault!"

I couldn't help but laugh at the expression on his face as he tried to convince me that his own misdeeds were my fault. It was nice to see this side of Carlisle. He was always so serious, and controlled. I was glad to know that there was a lighter side to this noble patriarch.

Jacob began to dig in to the large breakfast that we prepared, and he sang our praises with every mouthful. I decided to eat a little bit myself, wanting to see if I could even still eat regular foods. I managed a couple of bites of the French toast casserole, and a strip of bacon, but I ate more eggs than I thought I would have room for. In the end, Jacob and I had polished off the whole bowl of eggs, and half of the bacon and casserole, him eating far more than I.

While we ate, Carlisle sat across the island from us, telling us more about his findings regarding the Lobishomen and what the medical tests he had performed on Leah and I showed.

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Reviews are always welcome and wanted!

Hey, guys... If you like Non-cannon couples, and are open to to
original characters... I have a great fic to recommend!

A Change of Heart by : Mika Tarja Kuha