Thanks to everyone who voted in the Non-Canon awards. Breathe the Free Air won Best Other Non-Canon pairing. Waking up got Best Bella - Jasper pairing and silver in Best Non-Canon fic. Not Because of Me got Best Bella - Caius pairing. I an really cuffed. Thanks so much.
Enjoy
"Clar Innes, Iseabail. How lovely to meet you."
Bella looked into Garrett's ruby red eyes and found a comforting warmth which had been entirely lacking in the golden variety that surrounded her. She knew from his words that Alistair had sent him and felt the tension of the situation leave her. Garrett was a tall, rangy looking vampire. Gorgeous of course, with stubble and messy hair. His clothes looked 'lived in.' He reminded her a great deal of Alistair. He was a stark contrast to the immaculately dressed Cullen's who never had a hair out of place. Garrett seemed more real somehow and that gave her a pleasant, warm feeling.
"Lovely to meet you too Garrett. How do you know Carlisle?"
"We met many years ago and became friends, I had just got back from seeing the world." He said with a wink.
Bella shivered. It was cold in there with the windows smashed in, or was it that he said he was a friend of Carlisle? Esme and Rose were cleaning up the glass while Emmett was fitting the new ones. Edward was nowhere in sight. Carlisle was sitting quietly in a chair looking on. He looked suspicious and speculative, was he thinking that he could get Garrett to help keep her on side? Perhaps he was he suspicious of Garrett's arrival? Bella could tell Carlisle saw himself as a king in his own little kingdom, but what she couldn't tell was if he was as vicious as he said. Would he ever really get his own hands dirty? Suddenly Bella couldn't care less, she just wanted Alistair.
Bella headed into the kitchen to get a hot drink and try to warm up. Garrett and Carlisle followed her. Suddenly she felt very alone. Not sure if her plan to wind them up and try to cause dissention had been a good one or not, Jaspers hatred had been all too real she felt deflated and lost. She was a fool to think that in a few short hours she could undo decades of understanding. Fighting back the tears that threatened she struggled to pull herself together. She needed Alistair; she needed to feel close to him to feel safe. But she had to tough it out somehow, and then she remembered her shawl. She needed comfort and reassurance, Alistair wasn't there but the shawl was the next best thing. Turning back on herself she ran up the stairs to the room she had been given and rummaged through her bags. Edward was a complete moron she realised. He had said there were no other bags. All of Alistair's clothes were in her bags, he didn't have many. How could he have missed that? She resisted the temptation of pulling out and wearing his jumper in case they could recognise his scent, to Bella it just smelt of fabric softener but you could never tell with vampires. Picking up the shawl and wrapping it round her body like a shield she headed back down stairs.
Carlisle and Garrett were in the kitchen chatting in a friendly manner. Bella felt a moment of doubt. Was he in with the Cullen's after all? No Alistair had given Garrett his pet name for her, he trusted him. She had to trust him as well.
Making her way to the kettle she switched it on and rummaged through the cupboards for something to drink. Finding some instant coffee she made herself a mug and wrapped her hands around the hot drink to warm them.
"So Isabella, Carlisle tells me they were all hoping you would turn out to be Edwards mate." Garrett announced turning away from Carlisle with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
"Did he now?" She answered incredulously "Well I am pleased to say I am not his mate. Personally I don't think Edward will ever find anyone one can live up to the job. Oh and it's Bella please."
"Oh Bella" Carlisle sighed, stepping closer to her with a mask of geniality. "It is a shame you and Edward couldn't work things out. Still one day hopefully you will meet your mate and they will happily stay here with us, we would hate to lose you."
"I am sure you would Carlisle." She countered not missing the veiled threat. "Who knows maybe one day. Stranger things have happened."
Garrett laughed at that.
"You are right, Carlisle she is a spitfire. Being around her as a newborn will be tremendous fun, I might just have to stick around." He winked at Bella. "When are you planning on turning her?"
For a moment Carlisle looked uncertain and angry. Did he not want Garrett sticking around? But then the genial mask was back in place.
"We have a few things to deal with first, but soon, a couple of days I imagine. Excuse me." He turned abruptly and left the room. Both Garrett and Bella stared after him.
Turning to Garrett, Bella raised a questioning eyebrow. He reached behind her and turned the radio on. Then took her arm and steered her to the farthest end of the room.
"Well Iseabail. You are certainly entertaining." He whispered pulling into her ear. "But while I am here, alone, can you please try and not pick a fight with, or strip for Jasper again. While I am sure I can take him I may struggle with numbers just now."
Bella almost sagged into his arms with relief. She was too relieved to be embarrassed at what he had seen. A tear trickled down her cheek.
"Hey now, none of that." He whispered while tenderly wiping the tear away with his thumb. "He is on his way. He will be here soon. I will not leave your side until he arrives I promise. You are safe Bella, but it would help if you could just keep your opinions to yourself for a little while." The last part was said with a laugh but Bella could tell he would prefer it. Thinking realistically he was outnumbered, perhaps she should try and help him out.
"How long?" she asked quietly, hardly daring to voice the question.
"I am not sure, at a guess five hours or so, maybe less. But soon, don't worry." He smiled. "Can you behave that long and make my job easier?"
"I will try but I can't promise they won't wind me up."
He stepped back suddenly.
"I can't understand why any American would want to go to England. I fought against them you know." He said at normal volume as though continuing a conversation.
Catching on quickly Bella glanced toward the door in time to see Carlisle coming back into the room eyeing Garrett warily.
"That was a long time ago." She said smoothly. "Can't you let bygones be bygones? I could show you a good time if you came to England."
Carlisle's eyes opened wide with shock. Garrett however laughed out loud.
"Oh Bella of that I have no doubt. Come." He crooked his arm toward her and led her from the room toward the main room. It was completely repaired and clean with the fire on to warm it up. She sat on the sofa again and picked her book back up.
'Not long now. Not long now.' She repeated in her mind like a mantra. Seeing Garrett and realising she felt safe with him was a revelation. Bella had wanted to feed on animals because she wanted to be compassionate and kind, like she had thought the Cullen's were, but she now questioned that. For all their perceived goodness they were worse than any other vampire she had met. Even James, looking back, Bella realised was honest about his intentions. Would she have been happy with that coven? Who could say? But one thing she did know was that she would never have been happy with the Cullen's given recent revelations. She would have been brainwashed and obedient, content even but that's not the same as true happiness. Perhaps she was wrong in her decision to feed from animals. Was denying their true nature what caused the Cullen's to be such cold, unfeeling creatures or was that just inherently them? The thoughts whirled around in her head as she waited quietly for Alistair to arrive.
Garrett was casually watching the Cullen's as he sat beside Bella reading, or pretending to. He could see she was lost in thought, she looked troubled. Perhaps concerned for the outcome of the forthcoming battle. Garrett wasn't worried. He looked at Emmett and Rosalie knowing they would be dead soon. He knew without a shadow of a doubt they would fight for Carlisle. He also knew they would die. Edward however had yet to re-appear. It was a shame but they would track him down soon enough. Garrett's only concern was keeping Bella safe until Alistair got there. He secretly hoped she would go to sleep for the time till Alistair arrived and keep them both alive.
He had been worried about his brother for a long time. He had spoken to Felix about him only a few months ago. Both Felix and he agreed, Alistair needed them. They had decided to head to England, track him down and spend some time travelling and having fun, maybe they would have dragged Marcus along as well. Then they were going to try and persuade him to either go back to Volterra with Felix or America with Garrett. Garrett had already made up his mind that if they chose Volterra he was going as well. The old team was too good to split up again. They had felt it best to give him a few more months to ask for them before they just turned up. So the call he received earlier did not contain the invitation Garrett had been expecting.
When he heard that Alistair's mate had been taken by non-other than Edward Cullen he was raging. The news that Alistair had found his mate was a welcome relief. It was clear from even the short conversation they had that Alistair was devoted to his girl. Thankful that he had hunted the day before Garrett took off to try and find the Cullen's before the call had ended. He would tear the coven apart himself if that was what it took but he knew Alistair deserved that right so for now he would wait.
Garrett had arrived at the Cullen house hung around outside, getting the lay of the land while he decided how best to approach. He could hear Jasper and Emmett, in the house playing on some game. Rosalie and Alice were discussing clothes, it appeared that Edward hadn't arrived back yet. Everything was calm although he could detect an undercurrent of tension. Every time a car drove towards the end of their drive they would pause and listen. Finding a perch in a tree and being very careful with his thoughts and decisions he settled in to watch and listen for a while, he wanted to know what was going on and why Bella had been taken. He knew he was close enough to step in if necessary. Nothing much was happening so he sent Alistair a text with the location of the Cullen house and that he was ready to move as soon as safe to do so. As they were flying he knew Alistair wouldn't get it until he landed but at least it was some reassurance.
After a short time he heard a car moving along the drive. The vampires in the house stopped what they were doing and moved to the front. Once the engine had been cut Garrett could hear a faint heartbeat. It was however covered by her words to Jasper, she had missed him? Then came growls from Edward and Alice talking. Garrett found Bella's response to Alice hilarious and fought hard not to laugh out loud. This Bella girl sounded like fun.
Hearing her ask Carlisle to wash her hair worried him a little although he could understand the logic of it she was to bleed. He repositioned himself so he could see into the room she was in. He could see into the bathroom and bedroom and watched Carlisle closely. He might be able to snatch her out of the room if she was left alone. What was she playing at moaning like she was? Then it came to him. She was playing with them, trying to wind Jasper up with her emotions and in so doing wind everyone else up.
'Clever girl.' He had thought. If she could distract them enough he might be able to use it to his advantage. While he thought it was a good idea he also thought it was incredibly dangerous.
Hearing the Cullen's arguing gave him tremendous insight into their plans. They thought the girl was gifted and wanted the gift for themselves. Edward was supposed to guarantee she was bonded to them but failed. He was in real trouble for being an arrogant arse.
'About bloody time' Garrett thought. But then Carlisle stopped the argument and gave Jasper complete control. That was not a good thing. Garrett knew Jaspers history; he wouldn't trust him with a new born. Not one they wanted to be sane and controlled; Jasper only knew how to raise newborns for war. Garrett wouldn't trust him with anything. Garrett felt he relied too heavily on his reputation. He believed he was unbeatable, he was arrogant and obnoxious. That pixie wife of his was worse. She seemed to think that because she could see the future she was invincible. Her gift was easy to get around; you just didn't decide anything and went on instinct. Easy.
Hearing a soft moan coming from Bella again and immediately the conversation stopped. There was scuffling and Edward was dragged outside and sent to hunt with the girls. That made things easier for Garrett, at least for a while.
Looking back toward the window to see if he could snatch Bella he realised what she was doing. He saw Jasper in the doorway fighting with himself not to go through.
'Fuck!' Garrett shouted in his head. What the hell was she thinking? If Jasper lost it and jumped in there she would be dead before Jasper got his pants down. Fortunately for Bella, Jasper had more self-control than Garrett would have thought and stayed put, until Bella decided to strip for him.
'Fucking Hell.' He thought, if it had been beating, his heart would have stopped dead. Panicking slightly he jumped from the tree and getting ready to hurtle over there and try to save her. Fortunately for him Carlisle and Emmett did the job for him and hauled Jasper away while Bella put her clothes on.
So they were protecting her, even from each other. Garrett knew that he could use that. It might be safer to keep her with the Cullen's rather than have them all chasing him. Moving himself to see the kitchen Garrett took a deep breath. This girl was definitely perfect for Alistair, but she was going to get him killed he could tell.
He watched with his head in his hands as Bella allowed Carlisle to rub some cream in her tattoo and then flashed her arse at them to show off the other one. From the expression on the guys faces she was seconds away from getting gang raped. Did she have no sense of self-preservation?
That question was answered a short time later when the girls along with Eddie arrived back. Garrett shuddered at the thought of those harridans. They were manipulative and controlling. He hoped to all that was holy that if he ever found his mate she was not like them. Someone cute and free spirited would be ideal. Hopefully with a better sense of self-preservation than the girl he was supposed to be protecting. Bella however decided this was the perfect moment to pick a fight with Jasper.
'No. No fucking self-preservation at all.' He thought with a resigned shake of his head.
He watched in wide eyed horror as the guys rolled around in a tangled heap just in front of her. After she had informed them she was mated. He was struck dumb when Esme saved her from crashing into the wall after Carlisle spat his dummy out and threw her. He had been almost in the house by that point. This girl did just not know when to shut her mouth.
It was interesting that Carlisle said they would hand Edward over though. Edward was clearly not happy about the prospect and legged it first chance he got. That chance was provided by Bella screaming at Jasper and distracting everyone.
"Bring it on arse hole. I don't think you are man enough to take him, you are certainly not man enough to affect me."
All this had Garrett in a very nervous state. But he stood in open mouthed shock when she informed and barely restrained, absolutely furious Jasper that he was not a champion but a sloppy joke.
'The girl has a fucking death wish.' Garrett thought with un-restrained admiration.
'Yep this one is definitely going to get me killed.' He thought and sent a silent prayer skyward that Alistair would get there soon and take her off his hands, preferably while they were still attached to an un-burnt body. The silence that followed Bella's little announcement was deafening. But he was thanking his lucky stars when seconds later Garrett saw Alice dragging her trained, obedient killer out of the house to hunt and do whatever the hell else they did. Deciding enough was enough and knowing the gifts were out of the way he used this as his opportunity to get into the house and hopefully shut her up.
'Just in time' he thought as walking into view he saw Carlisle about to back-hand Bella across the room after she told him to 'go to hell'.
Waiting politely to be introduced he knew exactly what to say to let her know who he was. Alistair had told him the name he used for her. Garrett could see the relief in her eyes when he called her 'Iseabail.' He was somewhat relieved himself when she agreed to take pity on him and behave herself.
The next few hours passed peacefully. Garrett spent some of the time in conversation with Carlisle, keeping up the appearance of being friends. Emmett tried to tempt him into playing some kind of computer game but he declined. Garrett wasn't prepared to run the risk of being distracted with Bella around. Rosalie scowled at both Garrett and Bella a lot causing Bella to laugh quietly at her. But with no repercussions, thankfully. After a time he settled next to her on the sofa and watched Emmett on his game.
When Jasper and Alice returned Garrett held his breath and watched warily for the fallout from Bella's previous outburst. It seemed that due to his presence, they chose to say nothing. They were trying to keep up appearances of her being there willingly and all being one big happy family.
Jasper was glaring at Bella in an obvious attempt at intimidation. She however didn't appear concerned in the slightest and smiled warmly at the pair upon their return. He did appear confused by her subdued manner though. Bella was keeping her mouth firmly shut. Garrett saw Jasper glance toward Carlisle a few times as though looking for an answer.
Watching Bella out of the corner of his eye, Garrett was immensely relieved when she turned back to her book. Alice, it turned out was not happy and appeared to be spoiling for another fight; she had a loud conversation with Rosalie about humans not knowing their place. This made Bella chuckle but stay silent.
"So Garrett have you killed many vampires?" Bella asked him out of the blue.
"I have killed some yes. Not something I take great pride in but necessary at the time." He answered as the surrounding conversations dwindled so the vampires could listen in.
"Have you ever killed a mated vampires?" She asked quietly.
"Yes Bella I have. It is always wise to kill both. The one left behind almost always seeks revenge." He responded slowly. Where was she going with these questions?
"What about when one half of the pair is human and the vampire is destroyed? Does the human cope?"
Garrett looked at Jasper who was glaring in their direction. He had threatened Bella with just such a situation. Was she worried Alistair would die?
"I have never come across a human mated to a vampire before." He said carefully and truthfully. "But I imagine that the same would apply if the bond was true and strong. I would be very wary of turning a human who had lost a vampire mate."
Garrett could not imagine the prospect of eternity alone, knowing your mate had died before you had turned. Not even the hope of finding the one. He would definitely seek revenge on those who had done it. Choosing his next words with great care he attempted to offer some comfort.
"Don't worry, I am sure you have a mate out there somewhere. Who knows when you are turned you may even find yourself drawn to Edward?" There were sniggers from Emmett and Jasper. Carlisle smiled, but all looked on warily.
"Heaven forbid." She laughed. "I am not such a bad person that I deserve that fate. Promise me you will kill me if it turns out I am his."
"Ok Bella." He laughed in response. "I can understand your feelings. I promise I will kill you if it turns out Edward is your mate."
With a broad smile she hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks Garrett. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
He was going to respond but stopped. The attention of all the vampires was drawn to the tree line. They slowly moved out of the house and lined up. Carlisle went to move Bella but Garrett got there first and stood in front of her slightly to the side of the Cullen's. He looked around intently as three figures stepped out of the shadows and into view. Pulling Bella into his arms with a smile, he whispered in her ear.
"Your boyfriends back."