Part Two: Two Vampires and a Baby
With a resounding crack, Esme collided with a fallen tree, destroying it into pieces which scattered in all directions. Slowly, she used her hands to lift herself up from the debris, finding herself sprawled on her stomach. As she turned her head, she caught sight of Bella standing behind her, peering down at her on the ground. Determined, Esme swiftly regained her footing, her eyes scanning for any weakness in Bella's defenses. Failing to identify a vulnerability, she pivoted, attempting to maneuver around Bella and launch an attack from behind. Yet, her efforts proved fruitless, and she found herself abruptly flat on her ass, momentarily dazed.
"How come you've never asked Jasper for training if you're interested in learning how to fight or defend yourself, Esme?" Bella inquired, extending her hand to assist Esme in getting up.
Esme pondered Bella's question. The idea of learning to fight had never crossed her mind until after Bella had entered her life. When Bella became a vampire and commenced training with Jasper, Esme initially dismissed her efforts as crazy. However, her perspective swiftly shifted as she witnessed Bella's progress, eventually reaching a level where she equaled, if not surpassed, Jasper. Esme had known Jasper for over a century, so why had she never sought his assistance before?
Finally, Esme concluded, "I believe it stems from my upbringing, where women of my era were constantly told that physical activities were not meant for them. While I don't subscribe to those beliefs anymore, I believe they must still be deeply ingrained in me, influencing my perception. Watching you learn to fight and witnessing your enjoyment, I never truly considered it as something for me," she explained, taking a seat on the remnants of the fallen tree, with Bella settling beside her.
"But earlier today, when you shared how you helped Sulpicia and Athenodora learn to fight, and how it empowered them as individuals, it made me reconsider," Esme confessed, her voice carrying a hint of contemplation. "However, I must admit that I lack any real skill, as I just demonstrated," she added, her tone tinged with a touch of despondency.
Bella laughed and said, "And you shouldn't be any good without training, Esme. I had my ass handed to me by Jasper for weeks before I showed any real improvement. You really should ask him for help when you return home. You don't have to become a master fighter, but having a solid understanding of defensive and offensive techniques will be incredibly beneficial for you. I'm happy to give you some lessons while you're here this weekend, but it would take more time than we have, and Jasper is such an amazing teacher."
"Alright, Bella. I'll have a talk with him about it when Carlisle and I return," Esme replied with a smile.
Carlisle and Esme had arrived at Bella and Garrett's home yesterday for the first time. They were amazed by the beauty of the house and the pleasantness of the Malibu area they now called home. This morning, Carlisle and Garrett had left to catch up on old times, leaving Bella and Esme to entertain themselves. It was a surprise for Bella when Esme asked for training lessons. Bella had been telling her about some of her experiences with the Volturi when, out of the blue, Esme blurted out a request for Bella to give her some training lessons. They had ventured into the Santa Monica Mountains, where Bella had asked Esme to attack her to assess her abilities. It became evident immediately that Esme's skills were seriously lacking. Bella made a mental note to call Jasper later and emphasize the importance of continuing to assist Esme. She suspected that once Esme returned home and was surrounded by the safety and comfort of her family, she might lose her resolve to pursue further training.
It was a beautiful, sunny day, and after Bella had continued to guide Esme through some basic moves, Esme signaled that she had reached her limit for the day. They promptly returned to Bella's house and changed into fresh attire, as Esme had accumulated quite a bit of dirt from being on the ground so much. Meeting again in the living room, they settled down and allowed themselves to relax.
"So, Bella, how are you enjoying your classes this year?" Esme inquired.
"I'm having a great time, Esme," Bella replied, a smile brightening her face. "I never realized how much I didn't know. I suppose in my vampire life, I was always street smart, but now I can confidently say I'm book smart too. My favorite subject is physics. I'm captivated by the various fields it encompasses. Over the past two years, I've taken courses in thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, and quantum mechanics. Although I can't directly apply my true interests in the classroom, I'm exploring if I can use what I'm learning and discover new applications with my vampire abilities."
"Now that I have a better understanding of these principles, I find it challenging to classify what I can do in relation to them, as it seems to defy the standard laws. The idea that you can't create something from nothing is a fundamental concept in most scientific principles, particularly when it comes to energy conservation. However, I can create shields, and my explosive powers certainly manifest something out of nothing. I suppose they never accounted for vampire powers," Bella explained, shrugging her shoulders.
"I'm glad you've gained such a profound interest in what you're doing, and your thoughts do bring up some interesting questions," Esme replied, her expression filled with warmth. "Do you have any ideas on what you want to do after you finish college this time?"
"Yes," Bella said, her smile widening. "I'm going to put everything I've learned to use, and I'm hoping to pursue a career as… a professional actor!"
"What?" Esme exclaimed, bursting into laughter, completely caught off guard by Bella's unexpected response.
"Well, Alice and I have been exploring new techniques in prosthetics that are relatively groundbreaking in the film industry," Bella explained. "Special effects shops are now utilizing these techniques to achieve all the practical effects in movies."
She continued, "You know how much I enjoyed acting the first time I went to college. However, back then, I didn't think it would be wise to pursue an acting career for various reasons. Firstly, I hadn't yet learned how to block our sparkles, so any profession that required being in daylight was out of the question. Additionally, my parents were still a part of my life, and I wanted to maintain the appearance of a normal life as much as possible. But now, the circumstances have changed. If we can create a believable alternate identity for me, I'd like to give acting a serious try."
"Wow," Esme said, her smile widening. "Well, I certainly wish you the best of luck. I have fond memories of watching your performances in all those plays back when we lived in Colorado."
"It all depends on whether Alice and I can perfect the makeup to transform my appearance into someone entirely different," Bella explained. "Obviously, I can't act with my own face in front of the camera, as you can imagine. If we succeed in creating a convincing disguise, and if I actually make it as an actor, I would only pursue it for a couple of decades, at most. I can easily pass for 40, and actors go to great lengths to maintain a youthful appearance, so it wouldn't raise any suspicions if a 40-year-old actor still looks like they're in their 20's. However, I wouldn't want to continue acting for an entire human lifetime. I believe a couple of decades would get it out of my system and allow me to explore other fields and talents in the centuries to come." Bella's expression was filled with hope as she shared her plans.
"That sounds like a wonderful plan, Bella. I have no doubt that you would excel in anything you set your mind to," Esme replied with a warm smile.
Bella looked out the window, feeling the urge to venture outside once more and engage in the exercise of her abilities. Daily practice was her way of pushing herself to make her powers faster, more refined, and easier to wield. Since her abilities were rooted in the mind rather than the physical, she saw it as a form of mental exercise. Glancing at Esme, she smiled and asked, "You know, Esme, you and Carlisle are the only members of the family who never took us up on our offers to go into outer space. I'm curious, why didn't you want to go?"
Esme looked slightly sheepish as she grinned. "Well, don't say anything to anyone, but Carlisle is a little afraid of heights."
Bella giggled at the thought and said, "I won't say a word." After a brief pause, she continued, "You know, he and Garrett won't be back for hours. If you'd like, I could take you up for a quick trip, just a few hours. That's really the best amount of time, especially if you just want to have some fun in weightlessness. What do you say? You'll love it."
"I'd really like that, Bella. Everyone said they had so much fun whenever they went up with you and Garrett," Esme expressed with enthusiasm.
"Great! We can go right now. I'll just grab my camera so I can take some movies and pictures of you in space," Bella replied, her smile widening. "Let's head to the beach out back."
After grabbing her camera, Bella spoke aloud to the house's AI computer assistant, "Janet, if Garrett gets back before we do, please let him know we took a quick trip up."
A pleasant voice replied, "I will let him know. Have a pleasant trip." Among the multitude of AI programs available with different personalities for home integration, Bella and Garrett had been using the Janet AI since they first gained prominence approximately four decades ago.
Bella and Esme walked out to the back of the house, following the winding walkway that led down to their private beach. Upon reaching the beach, Bella wasted no time and began conjuring a shield ship. Her skill in creating objects using her shield had significantly improved, making her faster and more proficient. Over the years she had lived here, she had integrated many of her shield creations into her home, mostly in the form of furniture, and no one had ever noticed. Within a mere three minutes, she had completed the construction of the ship.
"Okay, you can't see it, but the ship is right in front of you," Bella explained. "Let me stand up in it, and you can follow." She took three steps, then stepped up onto the shield ship and held out her hand to Esme. Once Esme stepped up on board next to Bella, she closed the final wall, sealing them inside.
"The ship is approximately a 30-foot square cube," Bella stated. "I've found it's best to submerge it underwater and take it out for about 20 miles and then check to ensure there's no one around. If it's clear, I'll swiftly take it up into the sky. You're free to walk around. It helps others to feel the edges so they can remember their location and avoid bumping into the walls. Most people catch on quickly."
With that, she started moving them to the water's edge and, seeing nothing around, quickly took them under the sea. As they moved through the water at a fast clip, Esme was amazed.
"This is truly amazing, Bella. The sea is so beautiful when seen this way," Esme said.
"I know. Garrett and I have just as much fun, if not more, exploring the depths of the oceans than visiting outer space. Outer space is certainly more fun for short durations, but after a while, you realize there is nothing out there—just space. But here, in the ocean, there are endless wonders to see," Bella said.
Bella took some pictures of Esme and then handed the camera to her so she could capture images and videos of the sea life they encountered. After a while, Bella felt they had ventured far enough and raised the top of the shield ship a couple of feet above the water's surface. She ascended to the top to ensure there were no nearby ships. Confirming that it was clear, she descended back down next to Esme and swiftly lifted the ship, breaking through the water and accelerating it into the sky. In the broad daylight, Bella maneuvered the ship at a much faster speed then she would if she was taking Esme up at night. Within a little over 40 minutes, they reached outer space.
"Oh my God!" Esme exclaimed, a big smile lighting up her face as she started floating around the shield ship. "This is unbelievable, Bella!" Esme kicked off the walls of the shield ship, floating and moving in various directions. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. Bella smiled, watching Esme have a great time.
Bella guided them further out to get a better view of the Earth, and they indulged in spinning and twirling, enjoying themselves for a good hour. Eventually, they settled into a floating position, simply observing the Earth as it rotated slowly on its axis.
"It's so weird looking this way," Esme commented, gazing at herself as she glowed like a glow-in-the-dark toy. "I wonder which humans would find more unusual: sparkling like diamonds or glowing in the dark?" she mused.
"I was fascinated by the glowing too," Bella remarked. "I've learned to adjust my shield to make us look normal while in space, but really, what's the point? We're all vampires and we're alone. If some humans happened to come across us on a space shuttle, I don't think their questions would cease just because we appeared normal and didn't glow in the dark," Bella said with a grin playing on her lips.
Bella and Esme floated silently for a while, their gaze fixated on the breathtaking beauty of the Earth. Finally, Esme broke the serene atmosphere, her words carrying a sense of hope and anticipation.
"I want to tell you something that I haven't discussed with the others yet," Esme began, her voice gentle yet filled with a hint of excitement. "Carlisle and I have been thinking of adopting a baby." She turned to Bella, seeking her reaction to this revelation.
"Oh my God, Esme. That's great!" Bella exclaimed, floating over to Esme and embracing her tightly. "Tell me more."
"Well, a lot of things have changed in our lives," Esme began, her voice filled with a mix of reflection and gratitude. "We can go out in the sun now, and the dynamics within our family have shifted. Everyone has their own lives and jobs. It's very different from how it used to be before we first met you, Bella. I guess it was you who started all these changes." Esme said, a smile illuminating her face as she grabbed Bella's hand and rubbed it in gratitude.
"You know how I've always wanted to raise a child," Esme shared with a hint of longing in her voice. "I think soon Carlisle and I will take that step."
"I'm so happy for you, Esme," Bella exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine joy. "I was hoping that either you or Rosalie would consider adoption. You both have an immense amount of love to give, and I believe you would raise a child with such care and devotion. When are you thinking of doing this?"
"We were thinking in a few years, when we make our next move," Esme revealed, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Carlisle and I were hoping to have our own place, a home where we can create a loving environment for the little one. And ideally, we would love it if the rest of the family could live nearby."
"That sounds perfect. Are you going to try and give him or her a normal childhood?" Bella inquired, her curiosity piqued. "It would probably be best to refrain from using your abilities for a good while. When do you think you'll tell them the truth?" Her mind was brimming with questions, making it challenging for her to decide which to ask first.
Esme considered Bella's words, a thoughtful expression on her face. "We do want our child to have a normal childhood, to experience all the joys and wonders of being human. As for revealing the truth about our nature, we've discussed waiting until they're old enough to understand and keep the secret, perhaps when they reach their teenage years. We want them to have a solid foundation and be able to comprehend the uniqueness of our family."
"Once they become an adult, though, you are going to give them the choice to turn, right? I think it would be obvious that they would want to, but you will let them make that decision if they want to?" Bella asked, her voice filled with curiosity and concern.
Esme smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting understanding. "Yes, Bella, they would have the freedom to choose. We believe it's important to respect their autonomy and allow them to make that decision for themselves."
"That's good. My only suggestion is to try and convince them its best not to change until after college or even a couple years beyond that. Life is so much easier when you're an adult, especially when working in the human world. I really don't need to tell you guys that," Bella said with a smile. "I'm so happy for you, Esme. You will make a wonderful mother."
"Thank you, Bella," Esme said appreciatively. "Have you and Garrett ever considered adopting?"
"Truthfully, not any time soon," Bella replied. "I still consider myself new to this life, but maybe in a few hundred years, I could see us considering something like that. I wouldn't want to rush into motherhood until I am truly ready."
"That sounds wise, Bella," Esme agreed. "When the time is right, I have no doubt you will make a wonderful mother."
They stayed up in space, engaged in conversation for a while longer until Bella felt it was time to head back. As they descended and passed into Earth's atmosphere, they were greeted by a picturesque day with clear skies and not a single cloud in sight. Bella marveled at the vibrant blue of the sea beneath them and the scenic California coastline stretching off to the side. An exciting idea sparked in Bella's mind, prompting her to halt the ship shortly after gravity regained its hold.
"Esme, do you want to do something truly daring?" Bella asked, her mischievous smile widening.
"What?" Esme inquired, curiosity piqued.
"Let's jump out of the shield ship. When skydivers usually jump from planes, they're about 2 miles up in the air. We're at a much higher altitude, around 60 miles or so. Imagine the incredible rush of freefalling without a parachute. Have you ever been skydiving before, Esme?" Bella asked, already guessing the answer.
"No, never," Esme admitted, her gaze fixed on the Earth's surface. Bella could see a mix of fear and excitement in her eyes.
"Let's go for it, Esme. Let's embrace the thrill and experience something that I can imagine very few, if any, humans have ever done." Bella proposed with a daring grin.
"Okay, let's do it," Esme agreed, her smile widening.
"Great. I'll capture some incredible pictures and videos of you as we freefall. Thankfully, cameras are waterproof now. Let me remove the wall in front of us," Bella declared, swiftly dissolving the side of the shield ship in front of them. "Alright, we have a 16-foot runway before we take the leap. Once we jump, I'll dissolve the rest of the shield ship. Are you ready, Esme?" Bella's excitement was palpable. She and Garrett had never jumped from such a height before.
"Yes," Esme replied, her gaze fixed forward, a determined expression on her face.
"Okay, on three. One, two, three," Bella said, and they both ran and jumped out of the shield ship. The fall was exhilarating. Esme couldn't help but scream as she began freefalling, plummeting towards the Earth. Bella started recording her, so Esme could show Carlisle and then the others once they returned to Chicago. The fall lasted about 12 minutes, allowing them ample time to adjust to the sensation and truly appreciate their surroundings as they descended. As they neared the water, Bella shouted for them to assume diving positions. With precision and grace, they entered the water, penetrating the depths like human sized missiles propelled by momentum. Breaking through the surface, Esme couldn't contain her joy, her laughter ringing out. "That was so much fun!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine delight. "I've never experienced anything like that before. You were absolutely right to suggest it, Bella."
"I'm thrilled that you had a great time. Let's swim back to the house, and we can change into dry clothes. Hopefully, Garrett and Carlisle will return soon, and we can share our incredible adventure with them," Bella suggested, her excitement still evident in her voice.
They swiftly made their way back to the house, effortlessly gliding through the water with their vampire speed. Bella briefly contemplated suggesting flying back, but they spotted distant boats, making it wiser to stick to swimming. Once they reached the shore, they wasted no time and headed straight to their respective bathrooms, eager to shower and change into fresh clothes.
They reconvened in the living room, and it wasn't long before Garrett and Carlisle .
"Did you have a fun day?" Esme asked Carlisle, enveloping him in a tight hug.
"Yes, we had a wonderful time," Carlisle replied with a smile. "We visited The Getty Museum and saw an array of incredible artwork."
Bella glanced at Garrett and caught his wink. She knew that art wasn't really his thing, but she was glad he had accompanied Carlisle who had enjoyed himself.
"What did you and Bella do, sweetheart?" Carlisle asked.
"Oh, not much," Esme said with a straight face. "Bella took us up to outer space, where we had fun experiencing weightlessness. And then, instead of descending, we decided to take a thrilling leap out of the ship, which must have been around 60 miles above the Earth's surface. We free fell all the way into the ocean. It was an absolutely amazing experience."
Carlisle looked stunned upon hearing what Esme had done. "Wow, that all sounds incredible. I'm so glad you two enjoyed yourselves."
"We really did," Esme said, a sense of excitement in her voice. "We even took some videos. Would you like to watch them?" Esme eagerly offered, hoping to share her experiences with Carlisle.
"I'd love to see them," Carlisle replied, a genuine smile gracing his face.
Bella deftly pressed a few buttons on her camera, establishing a connection between the device and the TV. They all settled down on the sofas, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to watch the recorded videos.
Later that night, after Carlisle and Esme had retired to the guest house, Bella and Garrett found themselves lying on their bed in their bedroom.
Their bedroom was the room Bella and Garrett enjoyed spending time in the most, a place where they found solace and relaxation. Although it wasn't used for sleep, they often spent their evenings reclining on their bed, making love, cuddling together, or indulging in TV shows and movies. The room itself was quite large, with an entire wall consisting of floor-to-ceiling glass panels that opened to a patio adorned with their hot tub and other enjoyable amenities.
The interior of their bedroom, painted in an off-white hue, showcased the customary furniture one would expect to find. However, Bella's creative touch was evident throughout, as most of the furniture had been crafted using her shielding abilities. The two side tables flanking their king-size bed, the large dresser situated beneath the extra-large TV that was built into the wall, and various accent chairs were all products of Bella's shielding ingenuity. Adorning the walls were a selection of their favorite artwork and strategically placed large mirrors, allowing Bella to indulge in watching their more passionate moments. On top of the furniture were some knick-knacks that held more sentimental value to them, as they had collected many treasures over the years. On Bella's side table, she kept pictures of Charlie and Renée, both taken with Bella where everyone was smiling. Bella, of course, had a perfect vampire memory of all her interactions with her parents, but she enjoyed seeing the pictures each night just to remind her.
The carpeting in the room was a soft texture in a light brown shade, adding to the room's cozy ambiance. On the opposite side of the room's glass panels leading to the patio was the door that led to the rest of the second floor of their house, while adjacent to it stood the entrance to their large walk-in closet. Bella had even taken the liberty of customizing the ceiling, which had the ability to slide open, revealing a breathtaking view of the night sky. Instead of leaving it completely exposed to the elements, Bella had placed one of her shields to create the illusion of an open ceiling. The room truly embodied Bella and Garrett's unique style.
As they lay together, Garrett gestured for Bella to position herself in front of him, and he began massaging her shoulders with his skillful hands.
"It sounds like you and Esme had an amazing time today," Garrett said as he worked on Bella's muscles. Vampires didn't get sore, but they certainly enjoyed a good massage.
"We really did. I'm glad I could take her up there. We'll definitely do that jump together the next time we return from space. I think you'll love it," Bella replied.
"You're absolutely right. I was actually going to suggest that. The idea of freefalling for such a long time sounds incredible," Garrett agreed.
"Mmm... That feels amazing," Bella moaned, thoroughly enjoying Garrett's skilled massage on her shoulder muscles. "Do you think you could do that thing where you crack my back? It always feels so good. I still don't understand how you can do that."
"Of course, Bella. Why don't you take off your top? I think it's in the way," Garrett suggested with a sly grin.
"You're right, it must be," Bella replied, playing along happily as she swiftly removed her top and bra. She lay down on her stomach and felt Garrett position himself on top of her, his knees on each side of her bottom, but without applying any weight. As he worked his magic, Bella experienced a satisfying pop in her lower spine, releasing whatever tension she had been holding onto.
"Someday you'll have to teach me your techniques so I can do the same for you, honey. I should have learned this decades ago. You've been deprived," Bella said, rolling over onto her back and gazing up at Garrett with a warm smile.
"I would be more than happy to teach you everything I know," Garrett replied, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to share his skills and knowledge of massage with Bella.
Bella's eyes gleamed with desire as she finally spoke up, "Garrett, I'm hungry."
Garrett began to rise from the bed, suggesting, "I can go downstairs and bring up a bottle of blood. Would you like that?" But Bella swiftly grabbed his hand, stopping him in his tracks.
"No, I'm hungry, but not for blood," Bella replied with a playful smirk. She glanced down at Garrett's waist and motioned for him to scoot up her body.
Garrett smiled and readily complied, positioning himself over Bella's chest with his knees just below her arms, giving her full access to do as she pleased.
Bella cast a sly glance at Garrett and asked, "Are you rather attached to these pants?"
"I'm more than willing to sacrifice them for the cause," Garrett responded, his mind consumed with the anticipation of Bella's soft lips around his manhood.
"Good," Bella said, smiling as she shredded his pants until he was bottomless right in front of her face.
Bella looked at his long member bobbing right above her, and she licked her lips. She was going to enjoy this.
"I'm going to go nice and slow and really savor this, Garrett. Try to last as long as you can," Bella said.
Bella's hand gently grasped him as she guided him downwards, lifting her head to take him into her mouth with deliberate slowness. She glided her lips back and forth over the head of his penis, relishing the taste and sensation. As she indulged in the intimate act, she glanced up at Garrett's face. His eyes were closed, and a blissful smile adorned his lips.
She proceeded to work slowly, exploring every inch with her mouth and tongue. Whether it was gentle licks or tantalizing sucks, she employed every technique to pleasure him. Bella made a conscious effort to stifle any moans or make any sudden actions that could set Garrett off early, as she was quite enjoying herself. For a good half hour she pleasured him, savoring the feeling of having him in her mouth. As she continued, Bella became increasingly aware of her own arousal, feeling the wetness between her thighs growing with each passing moment. She knew that once they had finished, Garrett would be more than willing to reciprocate and guide her towards her own climax, eager to bring her the same pleasure she had just given him.
Finally, after 45 minutes of indulging in her desire of having his hot member in and around her face, Garrett glanced down and softly uttered, "I don't think I can hold on much longer, sweetheart. I'm amazed I've managed to last this long."
Bella contemplated how she wanted to finish him off. While she usually preferred to swallow everything, this time she was in the mood for something a little more messy. With a gentle pop, she released him from her mouth and began stroking him rapidly with her hand. Her gaze fixated on Garrett's manhood as his hips jerked, succumbing to the throes of orgasm. The first surge shot onto her cheek, followed by several more spurts landing on her face and in her hair. A smile of pure satisfaction adorned Bella's face as she witnessed the look of bliss on Garrett's countenance. She used her free hand to wipe some of it off near her eyes and seductively licked it off her fingers.
"That felt incredible, Bella," Garrett said, looking down at his wife. "Would you like me to return the favor now, my love?"
Bella smiled, lifting her head and giving his tip one final lick to clean off any remaining residue. "Who am I to deny my husband his own pleasure? Go wild, honey."
Garrett quickly dismounted from straddling Bella's chest, and Bella swiftly pulled off her shorts and slipped out of her underwear, tossing them to the floor beside their bed. She spread her legs wide apart, her knees bent, and propped herself up on her elbows to watch for a moment.
Garrett carefully positioned Bella closer to the edge of the bed, and then he knelt on the floor beside the bed to gain better access. Bella watched intently as he took his first long lick up her slit, sending waves of pleasure through her body. She stretched her arms high over her head, leaning back and surrendering to the sensations with her eyes closed. She moaned, "Try to go nice and slow. I'd rather not come instantly. Let me see if I can beat your time of 45 minutes. I doubt I'll be able to, but let me give it a shot," she said with a happy smile.
Garrett skillfully worked to pleasure his wife, and Bella immersed herself in the sensations, reveling in the love and contentment she felt. As she lay back, surrendering to the pleasure coursing through her body, she couldn't help but reflect on how much she loved her life. However, despite her best efforts, Bella could only hold on for 21 minutes before succumbing to an incredible climax. "You can't win them all," she thought, after the waves of pleasure had subsided.
They spent the remainder of the night wrapped in each other's arms, relishing the warmth and comfort of their embrace. As the first rays of sunlight began to peek through the windows, signaling the approaching dawn, they reluctantly untangled themselves and made their way to the shower. Together, they stepped into the cascading water, allowing it to wash the night's pleasures off their bodies.
The next day, Bella and Garrett took Carlisle and Esme on a tour of sunny LA. They explored Hollywood, took a fascinating tour of one of the movie studios, and indulged in some shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It was a day filled with fun for everyone. Later that night, as they were all gathered in the living room, engaged in lively conversation, the doorbell rang. Bella looked at the video feed displayed in her visor and saw that it was the vampires she had been expecting, who had come for a more official sit-down meeting.
"Excuse me a minute. I'll be right back," Bella said, getting up to answer the door.
After a short while, Bella returned, accompanied by four vampires, who were unknown to Carlisle and Esme, while Garrett recognized two of them.
Bella took the initiative to start the introductions. "This is my mate, Garrett," she said, gesturing towards him. "And this is Carlisle and Esme, members of my family." She smiled warmly, inviting the two groups to introduce themselves, it was clear as day that they had not arrived together.
The two pairs of vampires, each consisting of a male and a female, stood apart from each other, creating a visible divide with Bella positioned in the middle. The tension between them was palpable, evident from the disdainful and aggressive gazes exchanged between the males. It was clear that there was bad blood between the two groups. After a prolonged stare-down, the male on the left finally broke the silence.
"This is my mate, Gwendoline, and I am Samuel," he introduced, his voice carrying a mix of formality and underlying tension. He then looked towards Garrett and said "It's good to see you again, Garrett. It's been a long time."
Garrett acknowledged the male vampire and his mate with a nod, acknowledging their presence. The second male vampire then stepped forward and introduced himself.
"Good evening, my name is Isaac," he said, his voice measured and polite. "And this is my companion, Victoria." Both Isaac and Victoria nodded cordially to everyone in the room.
Bella couldn't resist but comment, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I once knew a Victoria a long time ago. I hope you'll prove to be more pleasant company," she said, flashing a friendly smile.
Victoria chimed in, "I too knew a Victoria. A crazy bitch with flaming red hair, right?" She looked at Bella, who nodded in confirmation. "She and her mate scared me the last time I was in their company. Thankfully I haven't seen or heard of either of them in many decades. "
"And you never will," Bella responded with a sly smile. She then turned to Garrett and the Cullens. "If you'll excuse me, guys, I have some matters to discuss in the other room. Please follow me," she indicated to her new guests.
As the two sides followed Bella out of the living room, the tension between the groups was clear.
After they had left and closed the door to Bella and Garrett's study, they could no longer hear anything from the other room.
Carlisle, with a hint of concern in his voice, broke the silence and asked. "What was all that about?"
"Bella unofficially holds authority over all vampire affairs in the Americas," Garrett stated proudly. "She has been decided over the laws for vampires and any conflicts they might have."
Carlisle's complexion would have paled even further, if that was possible. "Are the Volturi aware of what Bella is doing?" he inquired, his voice betraying fear.
"It was actually Aro who asked Bella to take on the role when we moved here two years ago," Garrett explained. "It frees up the Volturi in many matters and provides convenience for vampires who don't have to travel all the way to Italy, which many are hesitant to do voluntarily."
"Bella agreed, stating that she was happy to help out but requested that cases requiring a more permanent punishment be handled in Volterra," Garrett continued. "She didn't want to take on the role of an executioner if it could be avoided."
"That's quite a responsibility," Esme remarked. "I believe it would be challenging to find someone as fair-minded and resourceful as Bella." She smiled warmly, expressing her confidence in Bella's abilities.
"Yes, she has done an excellent job so far, resolving numerous disagreements and steadfastly upholding her beliefs regarding how she feels the laws should be administered," Garrett responded. "Bella doesn't adopt an authoritarian or as strict an approach in her interpretation of the laws, as the Volturi do. Instead, she strives to find innovative and creative solutions to issues and problems within the vampire community. She has come up with many interesting and inventive ideas, including alternative forms of punishment."
They started to talk about some of the actions Bella had taken when the door to the kitchen opened, and a 4-foot-tall, green-skinned alien walked by holding a tray with five glasses of blood on it. The alien balanced the tray on one hand while giving the group a thumbs-up with its other hand. The alien kept on going out of the living room and made its way to the study door, which it opened and went inside with the refreshments for Bella and her guests.
After the alien closed the study door, Carlisle blurted out, "What the hell was that?" Both he and Esme had bug-eyed expressions from what they had just seen.
"Oh, that's Paul," Garrett said with a smile.
"Maybe you should explain a little more," Esme said, still finding it hard to believe what she had just witnessed.
"Bella named it Paul," Garrett explained. "It's actually one of her shield creations. She made it and then covered it with a realistic alien skin suit. There's a camera in its head that Bella can see through in her visor, enabling her to control Paul's movements even when she's not directly looking at him. She has been working on refining her control for two years now, aiming to make Paul's movements appear as natural as possible. Bella loves to multitask and engage in different activities simultaneously."
"That's truly incredible," Carlisle remarked, clearly amazed by Bella's abilities.
"It certainly is," Garrett replied, sporting a smile. "I'm sure you'll find this story amusing. A few months ago, Bella and I were making love in our bedroom when I looked up and noticed Paul dancing in the corner of the room, watching us intently. It was some real freaky shit."
Esme burst out in laughter, while Carlisle appeared somewhat unsettled by the revelation.
"Bella has been practicing on improving her control range, and she can control Paul from about two miles away right now. It's quite impressive, as when she started two years ago, she could only control him from one mile away. Additionally, Paul's movements have become a lot smoother, with much more dexterity in its fingers. By the way, please don't mention any of this to Emmett, as I'm pretty sure Bella is going to play a trick on him with Paul sometime in the future."
Everyone laughed, thinking about what Bella would eventually be doing to Emmett. They had seen the practical jokes between Bella and Emmett continue for a good five decades now, with only a few going too far on both sides.
As the conversation carried on, Carlisle turned to Garrett and inquired about Bella's experience in nursing school, which she had completed the previous year.
"Bella quite enjoyed nursing school and is now a fully accredited nurse, as she may have mentioned to you," Garrett said, a smile adorning his face.
"In fact, she put her newfound skills to use last year. There was an incident on campus where a student was hit pretty badly by a car, and Bella and I happened to be nearby. Without hesitation, she sprang into action, providing immediate care to the woman, stabilizing her and doing everything she could until the paramedics arrived. Carlisle, you would be immensely proud of her. There was blood everywhere, but it didn't faze Bella in the slightest," Garrett explained, his smile widening.
Carlisle beamed with happiness upon hearing this.
They continued their conversation for another hour until the door to the study finally opened, and the sound of laughter spilled out from inside. Soon, Bella and her guests emerged, wearing big smiles on their faces. It appeared that whatever conflicts had existed between the two groups of vampires had been successfully resolved.
"Thank you so much, Bella," Isaac expressed his gratitude, with Victoria nodding in agreement.
"Yes, thank you for all your assistance," Samuel added. He glanced at Garrett and said, "We should get together sometime, Garrett, with your remarkable mate here."
"Absolutely," Gwendoline chimed in. "We'll give you a call next time we're in California."
"It was my pleasure to assist, guys. If you ever encounter any issues, please don't hesitate to reach out," Bella offered.
The two groups of vampires departed together.
Bella wore a smile as the others departed, then turned to Carlisle, Esme, and Garrett. "Did I miss anything interesting while I was occupied?" she inquired curiously.
"How did you manage to resolve their dispute, Bella?" Carlisle asked, intrigued. "It seemed like those two wanted to tear each other's heads off."
"Oh, I have my ways," Bella replied mysteriously, leaving it at that.
Esme laughed, knowing it would eat at Carlisle, as he was always so inquisitive.
"So, tomorrow is your last day here. What would you guys like to do?" Bella asked, hoping to make the end of their vacation an entertaining one.
They all sat back on the sofas and discussed what fun things they could do the next day.
