With One Look

Chapter 15

Once Carlisle stepped out on his porch I ran up to him and stopped. We stared at one another for a few minutes with smiles on our faces until he approached me and pulled me into a tight hug and whispered.

"Isabella, oh Isabella, how I've missed you so."

I gasped, and I knew what Carlisle was to me at that moment. I don't know why I hadn't seen it before. I mean, yes, we had spent a lot time together before he left and I knew we enjoyed our time together as well as our conversations. I even felt a closeness to him, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out why I hadn't seen it before.

Maybe it had something to do with my relationship with Caius. Could being with someone else block these feelings? No, I didn't think so; if that was true, Caius wouldn't have found his true mate. So how was it possible to not see my true mate when he was right in front of me? I didn't know what had happened, but I felt it now, and god it felt wonderful. Now I could see how Caius blocked me out so quickly.

My only foreseeable problem now was if Carlisle had a mate. And if he did, how would we handle that? I would not hurt another the way I was hurt, that much was certain, but I was jumping the gun. First things first.

Carlisle pulled away from me slightly as we continued to gaze into one another's eyes lovingly. My eyes inadvertently looked to his lips, wanting and hoping he'd move closer, letting our lips meet. It was then we heard a female's voice call to him. The voice was coming from behind us, and broke our connection.

Carlisle looked over his shoulder at the female and replied. "Yes, of course," he said. "Come meet my family, Isabella," he whispered. Taking my hand and placing it in the bend of his arm and led me to the porch where two males and three females stood.

"Family, this is Isabella Swan, the one I've spoke, to you about. Isabella, this is my family. Rosalie and her mate Emmett, my wife, Esme, and finally Alice and her mate Jasper. I was so caught up with hearing him say his wife I never even heard him name the last two. His wife? He did have a wife.

Oh, Carlisle, Carlisle, what is to be done now? I had known it was possible, but to hear that he had a wife who had to be his chosen mate floored me. I swallowed hard, trying to push my disappointment to the back of my mind, when I heard another familiar voice. "Bella, are you all right?" I looked over and my eyebrows shot into my hairline.

"Jasper?" I said, shocked at seeing him again...here. Oh my god, Jasper," I said and threw myself into his arms. It had been ages since I had seen him and I didn't think before doing this. I heard a growl come from beside him, and I pulled away still smiling at him.

"Would you mind letting my husband go?" the little elf-like woman said heatedly.

"Forgive me, it's just that it's been so long since I've seen him and I've always wondered what happened to him, his brother, Peter and sister Char," I said, when the elfen vampire spoke again.

"Jasper has no family besides us, and do you always make a habit of hugging other women's mates?" She asked again heatedly.

I glared down at the vampire. "Yes, if I know them and wish to show them how much they were missed." I said just as heatedly.

"Alice," Jasper said in a warning tone. Jasper knew of my gifts and I was sure he worried about the wellbeing of his mate. I felt pity for Jasper at that moment. This female vampire was just like her sibling I left behind me in Denali. I just hoped the rest weren't like this. God, I already wished I hadn't come.

If I hadn't come I never would have realized that Carlisle was my true mate. I still didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, and I wouldn't have to put myself through this. I could feel the jealousy coming from these vampires in waves.

I would have expected this from Carlisle's wife, but not from a girl who was trying to say that Jasper was her mate, which he was not. I saw the friendship bond between them, and found Jasper's strand a little stronger than the female's, but as much as Jasper was paying attention to this female there had to be more to it. I wondered if she had lied to him about being mates. I also wondered when he met her, for if he met her right after he left Maria's camp he would have been vulnerable, not knowing how the vampire world worked without war. He wanted to learn Carlisle's ways and if Alice told him that she too was searching for Carlisle he would probably believe anything she said to him. Something I was sure to find out soon, and when I'm certain Jasper will know as well.

Then came another voice from the one Carlisle called his wife. There was a bond of love there, but only coming from her. Carlisle's bond to her was more of a family bond like a sister or a sire bond.

"Welcome to our home, Isabella. Carlisle has spoken of you often, and I for one would love to get to know you a little better. Come, let me show you to your room," she said. I looked over at the woman with the caramel colored hair and the sweet temperment and I sighed, knowing how much it would hurt her to find out what Carlisle and I were to one another and deciding to keep it to myself for now.

I knew she didn't want me here, but at least she was trying, probably for Carlisle's sake. When she said she for one wanted to get to know me a little better, I knew then that the others thought differently. Great, just great, I thought as I followed her to the guest room.

Upon entering their home, I noticed how homey it looked. The floor plan was open and you could see the entire first floor from the foyer. "You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Cullen," I told her. She smiled.

"Thank you, dear, and please call me Esme," She said as we walked up the stairs and entered the large guest room. "I hope you find this to your liking for your stay with us. There is an en suite just there," she said and pointed to one of two doors on the other side of the room, and then continued, "and the door next to it is a closet to store your clothing. If you need anything else, please ask. I'll leave you to get settled in. When you're ready please join us in the living area," she said as she left, closing the door softly behind her.

I sat on the bed wondering why I had let Carlisle talk me into coming here. I felt so out of place. It wasn't so much feeling nervous as it was more like feeling unwelcome. Oh I know Carlisle, and possibly Jasper wanted me here, but not so much the others, especially Jasper's mate. I could feel the hate rolling off her in waves. It was like Carlisle didn't even recognize how the others felt, how much they didn't want me here. I really didn't think he cared what they thought, but didn't he realize that this would hamper my visit with him?

It occurred to me that maybe I should just leave. I decided to broach the subject to him when we were alone, if the others would even allow it. I had a feeling that Jasper and his so-called mate knew what Carlisle was to me and would probably never leave me alone with him - well, not so much Jasper as Alice.

At that moment my eyes went blank and I saw just how much trouble this elf-like vampire was going to cause me. As I came out of the vision I realized that someone living in this house had the gift of seeing the future, but I had a feeling that it was more about how a decision was made - and if someone changed their mind the vision would change as well.

I took out a few things from my bag, because I didn't know when I would be alone with Carlisle to tell him I had to leave. I didn't even know for sure if I could leave Carlisle's side after learning he's my true mate.

While I was going through my bag a knock came at my door. I walked across the room and opened the door to find the one called Rosalie standing there holding a few towels. "Esme asked me to bring you these fresh towels."

"Oh, thank you," I said and took them from her hands.

"Do you know how long you intend to stay with us?" she asked. I sighed, feeling as though they were already trying to push me away.

"No, but it won't be long," I said leaving out ('especially since I am not wanted here').

"Good," she said hatefully as she turned and left me standing in the doorway. I sighed once again and closed the door and placed the towels on the dresser. I made my decision to go find Carlisle and ask if I could speak to him alone, and then tell him I was leaving.

I left my room and joined the others. They all sat around the comfortable living room and the only ones who smiled when I came in were Carlisle and Jasper. I walked over to Carlisle and asked. "Carlisle, may I have a few words with you in private?" He looked around the living room and then back at me.

"Of course, Isabella. Why don't you join me for a quick hunt," he said as one of the others gasped. Carlisle and I both turned to see it was Jasper's so-called mate.

"Carlisle, she hunts humans. Surely you wouldn't join her," she said.

"Alice, as you can see by her eye color Isabella is learning our ways. I was speaking of hunting animals, not humans," Carlisle told her.

"But do you think it's a good idea to go alone with her?" I furrowed my brow and stared at the one Carlisle called Alice.

"Alice, Carlisle and Isabella are old friends. Stop meddling in something that is none of your business," Jasper ordered. Alice sat back in the seat and pouted like a schoolgirl, which reminded me of Edward and made me wonder if between the two of them they controlled most of what went on in this household.

"Come, Isabella, we'll go for a quick hunt," he said again, with no interference this time. We ran from the house and headed out about a mile or so into the wooded area before I began to speak. "Not yet, Isabella. Let us hunt first and then we'll find a spot to sit and talk," he said. We slowed, hearing a herd of deer not far off. Once we fed, Carlisle found us an open meadow that was full of wildflowers. It was beautiful. I smiled and sat down onto the thick grass. "I come here to think sometimes, it's quiet and the sweet smell of the flowers makes me feel at peace," he finally said.

I nodded, knowing what he meant. "Carlisle, I think I should leave," I said pointedly. He sat straight up and looked at me, his emotions were all over the place.

"But why? You've only just arrived," he said sadly.

"I know, but Carlisle your family doesn't want me here. I felt it the moment I arrived." He looked around the field with a confused look on his face.

"That's just nonsense, I've explained to them that we are old friends and have been for many years. I think you're just nervous and letting your imagination run away with you. Please, Isabella give them a chance. I know once they get to know you they will love you just as much as I do," he said not realizing what he had just said.

"You love me, Carlisle?" I asked as I watched his eyes grow to the size of saucers.

"Well, I...I didn't m...mean," he stuttered and I cut him off.

"It's okay, Carlisle. I understand it was just a slip of the tongue," I said sadly. I also figured out that he didn't see what we were to one another, at least not yet. "Listen, my old friend. Your family doesn't want me here, I know this. Alice for one hates the idea of me being here and so does Rosalie. When Rosalie brought me some fresh towels she asked me how long I intended to stay. When I told her not long she replied with a 'good' and walked away, and although your wife was sweet to me, I could feel that she doesn't want me here either. As far as the big vampire, Emmett, I think you called him. He couldn't care less either way. Jasper and you are the only ones who want me to stay. So I think I should go.

He sat still for a few moments and then yelled. "No!" and jumped to his feet and paced in front of me for a few seconds. He then turned to me and reached down and pulled me to my feet to stand in front of him. He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine and kissed me hard, but passionately, holding me tightly to his body. When he finally released me from the kiss he stepped back and looked at me guiltily.

"I am so sorry, Isabella. It's just that I can't be parted from you again. I don't know what's come over me, but I know that if you leave I will not survive without you." He stopped and thought for a few seconds. I waited for him to realize what he was feeling, and once he did he turned even paler than he usually was. "Oh dear god, what have I done?" he asked.

"It's alright, Carlisle, I will leave and your family will never know of the kiss. Even the seer won't see it because it was the spur of the moment thing," I told him.

"You know about Alice's gift?" he asked.

"I pick up other vampires gifts, Carlisle, that's what I do, remember?"

He nodded as he remembered. "But that's not what I meant, I mean, before. When I said what have I done. I was talking about how I've taken a wife, made a family when I had a true mate out there and I just now realized that you are she, my true mate, Isabella. I am so sorry I hadn't realized it before. I'm such an idiot," he said as he pulled me back into a tight hug and whispered. "What are we going to do?"

"I will have to leave, Carlisle." As if saying that could take care of all our problems.

"No, Isabella, you cannot leave, I won't survive without you near me. I just have to tell them, tell her," he said. "How did Caius tell you?" he asked.

"I was in the room, Carlisle. He couldn't hide it from me even if he tried," I told him. He nodded his head, pulled away from me and began pacing again.

"We'll go back and you will stay. I'll pull Jasper aside and talk with him. Maybe he'll have some ideas." He paused, not even thinking about just telling Esme the truth, before he began again. "I hate hurting Esme, she has such a sweet soul, but I see no way around it. She'll have to be told at some point or maybe she'll guess it at some point. She's very in tune to what's happening around her," he said. He turned to me. "Please, Isabella, just give me some time, we'll get through this, I promise. Even if we have to leave together I'll make this happen. We'll be happy, my love."

I hated this. What good is having a true mate if it shredded other people's lives? Now I see why Edward wanted me to stay away from Carlisle. I also see why Alice wanted me gone. They knew Carlisle and I were true mates and were trying to keep us apart. They thought I would destroy their family, and they would be right, but they also ignored the fact that they were breaking the law by trying to keep two true mates apart. They could be destroyed for doing this.

I was also ignoring Carlisle's rants. I knew he was confused about what to do. He didn't want to hurt his family or me, which caused him to become confused at what to do, so I let his words pass until he said what he said next.

"You knew we were true mates. When did you discover this? Did you know before coming here?" he asked.

"If you're asking me if I came here to intentionally destroy your family, then no. I only found out the minute you greeted me with that hug and with the words you whispered to me. Look Carlisle, you asked me to come, and if I remember correctly I told you that I shouldn't come because I didn't want to cause any trouble with your family. I only said that because your first companion treated me badly and I didn't want to come here and be treated in the same manner, and now I wish that I had stayed away. Maybe in a few more years you could have handled this, but now I see you are too distraught. I'm going to go and when you've figured this all out you can call me and I'll be there for you, but until then I don't think it's a good idea for me to be here," I told him.

He groaned and sat back on the grass and continued running his fingers through his hair. I took off towards the house and ignored the vampires that were still sitting in the living room. I ran to the guest room and retrieved my bag, repacked what little I took out, and left the house. It hurt more than I thought it would, and once I was a few miles out I stopped and fell to the ground clutching my chest and sobbing dry tears, for how long I didn't know, until I heard a voice that came from behind me.

Jasper stood behind me with one leg bent, his foot resting on the tree he was leaning on with his arms crossed over his chest. "We didn't get a chance to talk," he said as if nothing had happened.

I gave him a half smile, and nodded. "What is it you wanted to talk about?" I asked.

"Well, it's more than wanting to talk to you, I wanted to thank you for saving me along with Peter and Char. We didn't have any idea there was another way of life out there, and when you mentioned Carlisle's diet I knew I had to find him. But instead I found Alice first, who was also searching for Carlisle.

"I'm glad you found what you were searching for, Jasper, but can I ask you a personal question?"

"You can ask me anything, darlin'," he said.

"I don't wish to hurt you, which I think is becoming a habit for me these days," I said causing him to chuckle. "You do know that Alice isn't your mate, right?" I asked. He looked at me with concern, and I could see the wheels turning in his head.

"What do you mean, darlin'?"

"I mean just that. Alice is not your mate. If she told you that you were, then she lied. I haven't been around her long enough to find out why she lied, or if she's still lying, but I am sorry to be the one to tell you this. Maybe that's another reason she didn't want me around. She knew I would reveal all of this to you," I told him. I really didn't want to hurt Jasper, but I felt like I needed to make sure he was okay. I knew it had been some time since I'd seen him, but I still felt like he was family to me.

He pushed himself from the tree he was leaning on and walked around me and sat down next to me. He then looked at me. "I know that you absorb other people's gifts when you are around them. Is one of them the gift to recognize lies when you hear them? I also know you were around Marcus so you have the gift to see bonds and the gift of breaking them being around Chelsea. You didn't break my bond with Alice, did you?" he asked. My dead heart dropped at hearing him ask me this. I looked down at my lap and sighed.

What is it with these Cullen men that think all because I was part of the Volturi years ago that I am evil, evil enough to do bad things to people? I shook my head and stood up, not answering him at first. When I did the only thing I said was this. "I am no longer with the Volturi, Jasper, and even when I was I would never hurt someone unless they were breaking the law or trying to harm myself or my family, so if you think that badly of me then I will take my leave from you as well," and shot off at vampire speed, sadly leaving Jasper and the Cullens behind me.

A/N: Next up in the beginning of the chapter Bella seeks a peaceful way of help from Peter and Char, but the rest is Carlisle seeking answers for what had just happened in the last chapter. How will it turn out? We'll see soon...thanks for reading, huggs.