Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you've had a wonderful week! If not, then I certainly hope this new chapter lifts your spirits! Please enjoy!


Chapter Twelve

By the time the sun had set, the meat had finished cooking. The air was filled with the most wonderful of smells. My stomach rumbled in response.

When Carlisle announced that the meat was finished, Esme stood and gathered all of the women to help her serve the food. When I had tried to help, a woman with red hair shooed me away.

"Women only, child." She said as she gently pushed me back in the direction where I had been previously seated.

I blushed, unsure of what I should do or say. I was a woman by their standards. I had had my period when I was eleven, but how would they classify me as a woman? The women here had one bleed and instantly mated, becoming pregnant. They had no idea that I had multiple bleeds and there was really no way for me to prove it.

I decided to just listen to what the woman said and walk back to Edward's side. He gave me a quizzical look before nodding in understanding.

"I forgot; you aren't a woman yet." He chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. "By your standards, but technically I am a woman where I'm from. I've had my first bleed."

"I do not believe you," Edward said as he gave me a very serious look. "Females cannot even stand when they have their first bleed. It is incredibly painful. I do not understand why it must be so painful. I feel sorry for women that they must go through it."

I smiled slightly. "I was about to tell you off for basically calling me a liar, but you saved yourself by being very sweet. The men where I'm from don't—,"

"Edward," A dark blond woman said. "I brought you your portion."

"Thank you Tanya," Edward smiled as he took the wooden plate. "Bella, this is Tanya. One of my littermates."

"It's nice to meet you Bella," Tanya smiled at me before sitting down on Edward's other side.

"Nice to meet you too," I smiled at her, but the tiniest twinge of jealousy pierced my heart. I remembered that this was the woman Edward had rejected.

Beside me, the ground suddenly shook. I jumped and looked over to see Carlisle, thumping down beside me.

"I hope you don't mind if I sit beside you," Carlisle said. "But I'm eager to talk to the newest female."

"Of course," I nodded as I scooted to make room.

"Don't let Carlisle scare you," Esme laughed as she walked over with a very large wooden platter. "He is big, but he is very gentle."

He growled playfully and snapped his teeth at Esme's fingers as she lifted a piece of meat towards his mouth. She giggled at him and shook her head as she shoved the large hunk of meat into his mouth.

I looked back at Edward to see Tanya feeding him. The little twinge of jealousy was now starting to burn my ears slightly. Why in the hell was I so jealous? I don't think I've ever been jealous! What a stupid feeling. Tanya and Edward have known each other for a long time. Of course he'd have friends he'd be close to.

"So Bella," Carlisle said, catching my attention again, "What is it like where you are from?"

"Oh," I said. "Uh, well, I come from a very small town. It rains all the time, but it plants are very beautiful."

"What is your home like?" He asked before Esme placed another piece of meat into his mouth.

"Hm, pretty standard, I guess." I said before remembering that our versions of standard were two very different things. "It wasn't very large, but I had my own bedroom. And we had a very large backyard. My dad and I would camp back there sometimes. We always had a lot of fun."

"And what was your father like? Was he a good hunter? Was he your people's protector?"

"Uh, no… well, my dad didn't hunt. He didn't really believe in it. But I think he just didn't like getting up that early to hunt. And he wasn't the people's protector." I looked away from him at the fire in front of us. I pulled my knees to my chest and hugged them tightly.

A piece of meat suddenly appeared in front of my face. I jumped back slightly and looked over to see Edward holding it in front of my face. He was smiling coyishly.

"Thank you Edward," I said as I tried to take the piece of meat from him.

He pulled back. "Please allow me to feed you."

I looked at him then back at the meat. I was pretty hungry.

"Alright, fine." I said as I opened my mouth. He gently fed me and watched me as I chewed. I placed my hand over my mouth. "It's delicious. Thank you."

He smiled widely and reached for another piece.

"What was your mother like? Was she a healer?"

"My mother died when I was a child." I said sullenly. Another piece of meat appeared in front of my face, and I realized that Edward had moved closer.

"I am sorry," Carlisle said. "Alice's mother died as well. We have loved Alice dearly, since the time she was born, but I know it is still hard for her."

"Carlisle," Esme said. "How about we enjoy the ceremony and not speak about things that make us sad?"

Carlisle chuckled. "Of course, mighty healer."

Edward held up another piece of meat to my mouth. I put my hand on his and turned my head to him.

"You're probably hungry too." I said as I plucked the meat from his fingers and held it up to him. "You eat it."

He smiled at me and leaned forward, carefully taking the piece of meat from my hand. He started purring contently as he licked the juice of the meat off my fingers.

"I thought you'd grab it from my hand," I chuckled awkwardly.

"Sorry," He apologized as he moved the large plate away from Tanya and moved it between us.

My eyes flashed to Tanya, who looked towards the fire before I could read her expression.

"Bella," Carlisle asked from beside me. "What do you think of our family? Of our village?"

I paused for a moment. "I think it is very nice. And I would love to draw pictures of it."

"Draw pictures?" Esme asked in confusion; I guess this was something the goddess felt she didn't need to know.

"Yes, I draw pictures. I've been drawing pictures of the island since I've been here. Even when I was on the ocean."

"I've never heard of a picture," Edward said. "Is that what you were doing? When you were sitting in your raft. With your finger?"

I giggled. "It wasn't my finger. I had a pencil." I reached beside me, momentarily forgetting that I didn't have my satchel. "Crap. I would show you, but I don't have my satchel. We'll have to go back to my shelter."

"We can go tomorrow morning," He smiled.

"Do you remember where it is? We're pretty far into the jungle."

"Edward knows the way very well," Emmett said as he thumped down in front of me, his massive form blocking my view of the fire. "He has been there every moment you have been here."

I turned to Edward and raised an eyebrow. "You were there the whole time?"

"I wanted to make sure you were safe." Edward said.

"So you knew I was calling out to you? Why didn't you show yourself?" I asked.

"I did not want to frighten you. I was waiting until the right time. You were going through so much mentally and emotionally; I did not want my appearance to make it worst."

I frowned and bit the inside of my cheek. "You're not that strange looking. I'm used to you now."

Edward gave me a look and lifted his tail, wiggling it some so I could see. I chuckled.

"Okay, you are strange looking. But it's not like you're a horrifying monster. Monsters aren't as helpful and kind. I bet I'd look like a monster to you if you'd never seen someone like me."

"I do not think so," Edward argued. "I think I would still find you very beautiful."

I blushed and ducked my head away from his gaze. My gaze landed upon Carlisle and Esme, who were smiling widely.

"Bella," Carlisle said, pushing the wooden plate away and pulling Esme into his side. "Have you had your first bleed yet?"

My blush deepened; I had to remember, these people weren't raised with the same language or values as the people I was raised around. They weren't asking me if I had my period for any perverted reason, what I could gather from this ceremony, is that having your first bleed, meant you were a woman. So, Carlisle was asking if I was a woman. I could argue that I didn't look like a child, but then again, Alice, who was only eleven, looked very mature.

"Uh, I had my first bleed when I was eleven."

Everyone near me paused and looked over at me in surprise.

"Eleven?" Esme asked, leaning completely around Carlisle to stare at me.

"Where I'm from, it's very normal to get your period around that age." I said, my blush now spreading all over my body. "And to be honest, we kind of don't talk about it this much. It's considered a private matter."

Edward placed his hand on my lower back. "Did you find a mate to… to impregnate you?"

I sighed softly. "No. I didn't get pregnant my first time. I've never had a baby. Where I'm from, our bleeds are much different."

"You will have to explain it to me another time." Esme said, as she pushed her plate aside. "I am very interested in hearing more about your bleeds."

Alice and a boy with blond hair walked over. Alice crawled into Carlisle's lap and snuggled against his chest while the boy sat in front of the two of them. Carlisle wrapped his arm protectively around Alice.

When it seemed as though Alice was no longer interested in engaging with the blond-haired boy as she closed her eyes and settled into her father's chest, he scooted over to sit in front of Edward.

"Did you hunt today?" The boy asked Edward with a bright sparkle of interest in his eyes.

Edward sighed. "Not today."

"Aw," He said. "Did you go to the east side of the island?"

Edward's nostrils flared. "Boy, don't I tell you everything I do each day? My only concern has been coming to the village and celebrating."

The boy sighed heavily, "Will you take me to the north mountains tomorrow? Please? You promised you'd take me so I could practice hunting!"

Edward growled. "Go on Jasper, find your mother."

Jasper whined and fell backwards dramatically, nearly falling into the fire. Emmett laughed and roughly shoved Jasper.

"I'll take you to the north mountains in four days." Emmett said.

"No, I want Edward to take me. He's the best hunter."

Carlisle growled a deep growl the shook me to the core. I looked over to see that his teeth were bared and his red eyes were blazing with anger.

"Second best," Jasper added quickly without sitting up. "I. Just. Want. To. Go. Hunting."

Now Edward laughed and grabbed Jasper by the ankle. He roughly pulled Jasper away from the fire and slid him right between us so he could look down at Jasper.

"Boy, I think you should go find your mother and settle in for the night." Edward said as he looked down at him. "I have other things to do in the day before I cater to you."

"How am I to become a man if you do not teach me how to hunt?" Jasper whined. "You always used to take me hunting. Now you don't anymore."

Carlisle growled. "If I didn't have Alice in my arms, I'd whoop you myself."

Jasper finally opened his eyes and looked over at Carlisle. "I don't like hunting with all of the other boys. I like hunting with a partner."

"You aren't old enough for partner hunting, boy." Carlisle said. "And if you keep up this lip, I won't bring you hunting the next time we go."

Jasper huffed. "Can I sleep in your hut tonight with Alice?"

Carlisle laughed loudly. "You certainly are bold."

"Please?"

"Our hut is a little tight now, Jasper," Esme said. "Now that we have Bella, I don't know if there will be enough room for everyone."

I looked over at her. "What do you mean?"

"You are parentless, so it is our responsibly to take you in and nurture you as if you were our own. Just as we took Alice in." Esme explained.

"Oh, okay," I blushed. "Thank you for taking me in."

Carlisle looked up to the sky at the bright moons. "Hm, it is about time to bless the new mates."

"It is," Esme smiled as she got to her feet. "Not a moment too soon. They all seem so antsy."

Carlisle chuckled before standing, still holding Alice in his arms. "Edward, why don't you take Alice back to the hut? She is exhausted. Take Bella too and get her settled."

"Of course," Edward said as he stood. He reached out and took Alice into his arms. Jasper jumped up to pat Alice's arm gently before wishing her goodnight. "Follow me Bella."

I followed Edward back to the huts. He stopped at one of the ladders before turning to me.

"Would you like to climb up first? It's dark and I don't want you to accidentally fall." He said.

"Sure," I said as I grabbed the ladder. "Just don't look up my skirt." I teased.

"I would never disrespect you that way," He said, sounding completely mortified.

"I was kidding Edward," I said as I started climbing. I probably needed to evaluate how sarcastic I was because it was clear that these people were not used to it. I also didn't want to give these people the wrong impression of me.

"Keep climbing," Edward said when I paused at the first bridge. "My parents hut is at the very top of the tree."

I was out of breath when we finally reached the very top of the tall tree.