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Chapter 111

Plannings

Jake

"Don't speed like that!" my star in the passenger seat complained.

I chuckled. And slowed down.

"I have to take advantage of the fact that I get to drive the BMW for once!" I clarified.

I was in a really good mood. WE were in a good mood. Although today was really lousy weather. It was raining almost non-stop. Marcus would come and apologize to Leah for his concerns and for not reporting. We had set off together, but hey, the BMW was just faster than his little Scrapy! So, I had affectionately christened the VW bus this morning. Marcus had given a lot of thought to wolves and vampires. Above all, he had been uncertain about what consequences all this knowledge had for him. Whether it had any at all.

We had decided very early that we would stay overnight and had very soon exchanged our soft drinks for beer.

We didn't get drunk, after all it wasn't a meaningless conversation and Marcus was very interested in what Becky and I had to share. Especially how we both lived with the animal in me on a daily basis.

We really told everything. Our love, my imprinting, my wolfish - among other things telepathic - relationship to my twin sister, our parents, our remaining - especially vampiric - family. Everything!

After everything was said, Marcus had very quickly decided to go to Leah, although I wasn't sure if this was really because of what we had told him. He had missed her very much during those three days. He loved her, that had now become emphatically clear to him despite the relatively short time. His fear of the more or less unknown had only made him shrink back.

I hadn't revealed anything to Marcus about Dad's call.

I had retreated to the bathroom when he called. While hastily undressing I had fallen into the bathtub and had almost torn off the shower curtain. I phased - lying in the bathtub - and cursing over a rough bump on my head, mentally searching for Leah.

We had no GPS signal with which I could have determined her exact location. But our telepathic connection was so good that I could name an approximate direction and distance to me. So, Dad quickly found Leah's trail again. I didn't hear any indication in Leah's thoughts that she wanted to do something to herself, which I couldn't even begin to reassure Dad about. But I wouldn't put it past Leah to do something like that.

We had got to know two of Marcus' friends. One of them I already knew from the game on Wednesday.

Actually, he had announced that he would spend the weekends with his sister and thus with Leah because of his girlfriend, but they had seen Marcus' bus outside the door. They asked amusedly if there was already trouble in paradise because he would sit at home on a Saturday evening. After the ambiguous explanation that Leah didn't have time, Marcus explicitly said he still didn't want to go to the bar today, and after a beer each, they moved on.

Except for the small matter of one of them giving Becky very furtive looks, I thought they were pretty casual.

"You tell me when I can do something for you! Whether you want to cry on my shoulder or talk. Whether you want to run through the woods or just not be alone. It doesn't matter. You tell me!", I said seriously to Leah after we got home. I knew that Marcus was on his way here, but I still wanted to remind Leah of this. It applied without reservation to my favorite sister, even apart from Marcus. If she needed me, I would be there!

"What did you tell him?" asked Edward in amazement at the breakfast table. "Two weeks ago he was thinking about whether he could hug her in front of us, and now they've been kissing for ... twelve minutes!"

"The truth!?" I said emphatically.

Mom and Dad raised their eyebrows curiously.

"That you are not better than us!"

They looked sheepishly at the table for a moment before Edward leaned in to Mom and stated kissingly that I was probably right.

Hours later - at least that's what it felt like - Marcus and Leah finally came to the dining table.

We were actually almost done eating and I had Becky facing me on my lap.

Leah came over to us, put an arm around each of our shoulders and gave us a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you!" she said, touched.

"Don't thank us. It was Dad's idea!" I said, however.

He also got a kiss. And Mom, too, for the sake of completeness.

"Where are Emma and David?" asked Leah when the two of them finally sat down.

"At home, I guess," Dad replied with an indulgent smile.

Leah looked cute. She seemed to be thinking about how much time she had missed.

"They left about ten minutes ago!" I stated.

While Marcus and Leah were eating now - Leah had to be on the verge of starvation in my opinion, seriously! - Dad asked anxiously how things would continue with Marcus' family for the time being, whereby we explained to Leah what we had overheard yesterday.

Marcus had talked to Maggie and his mother on the phone last night as well. She was with his aunt and would stay with her for the time being. Jules and he, on the other hand, would stay with Maggie for now. It was relatively cramped in both apartments, hence the split. How long was not yet foreseeable, since no one could imagine what his father might do anymore. Whether he would continue to insist on taking him and Jules with him and possibly sue for sole custody.

Marcus didn't really care about that opinion as far as he was concerned. He was eighteen and therefore of age. He would not go along. But Jules would hardly be able to resist alone. In this respect, they did not want to give their father the opportunity to catch Jules alone somewhere.

"Is it really to be feared that your father would just take Jules away against her will?" Mom inquired, startled.

"In the past, I would definitely have said 'no.' But today, there's very little left of what would have otherwise been normal with my parents. I don't know. Now that he has hit her, I wouldn't put it past him," Marcus said dejectedly. "But let's change the subject, please!" he then said firmly, which I could quite understand.

I was glad that it was much more peaceful in our family. There was little that could be called 'normal', but still ... harmonious!

"Okay. What are we doing today?" I asked immediately afterwards.

As if in answer, the bell rang.

Dad opened and shortly after Brandon was standing in the room. Dad had handed him a towel for his wet hair.

"That one like to see! Stand up his friends, sign out with no one and then eating breakfast peacefully!" he accused us.

He was flirting with the last piece of bacon, but Leah was faster and shared it with Marcus. The latter got a suspicious look because of that.

"Ah ... Marcus ... Then I guess you won't let any predators chase you away!" Brandon stated in a huff and grinned at Marcus as punishment for the stolen bacon.

He, in turn, looked at him, startled. He froze a bit, and Bran snatched the bacon from his hand quickly enough.

"Brandon knows about us, too. So does David. But no one else!" Leah explained to him.

After Leah and I 'submissively' apologized for not letting anyone know we weren't coming yesterday, I asked if there was anything planned for today.

It wasn't. Lisa and Jason were out with their parents and Jason's new girlfriend Claire was with her cousin who was surprisingly in town - Marcus' sister Jules, that is. Claire was quite nice, but integrating her properly into the group of friends was going to be a bit difficult. Like Jules, she was only fifteen and certainly wouldn't have our freedoms. Unless Marcus was there. As a chaperone.

"How's Lisa doing then?" asked Marcus curiously.

Was this the counter for the snatched bacon?

Dad nodded, I chuckled.

But everyone's eyes were fixed tensely on Bran, who was actually blushing a bit.

That interested each of us. There had been nothing clear at school, only that the two had looked at each other at every opportunity. However, the three of us had not been particularly attentive the last two days of school. Leah had been heartbroken, and Becky and I had been worried about her.

"Um ... good," he said sheepishly.

"What does that mean exactly?" Leah wanted to know.

"Well ... I ... we ..." Bran mumbled to himself.

"So?" I inquired.

"If you had been there yesterday, you wouldn't be asking!" he meant, offended ... and evasive.

We gave him a grace period, but Dad was already nodding at us in confirmation. We grinned in collective.

We were clearing the table when Alice called me. She asked if we had time to come over.

Sure, we had time.

"She specifically meant US, not you two!" I clarified and looked at my parents determinedly. Didn't seem to bother the two much. Immediately their lips were attached to each other. I told myself again: They are not better, than we are!

We were still thinking briefly about how to get on the road.

The rain had just stopped, and I felt like a little physical activity.

Marcus looked a little caught off guard when I suggested running.

I had never had two people on my back before - that is, Bran in addition to Becky - but it would work out.

Marcus held on bravely to Leah. However, he was quite pale when we arrived.

We were greeted by all the vampires and immediately went to the large dining room.

Food? Hardly likely, even if I wouldn't mind.

I was flabbergasted to see who I found there and asked what had brought them here.

"I was on my way to Daniel's when Alice called!" explained David.

"I was at my parents' house!" disclosed Zoey.

"We're home!" I heard through a phone that was on speaker.

Stan and Peter.

"So, Alice. You have the floor. What's so urgent to discuss that you call us all together here?" asked Carlisle in a measured tone.

"I have a wedding to prepare!" squealed Alice gleefully, bouncing jitterily and clapping her hands together.

We discussed the best date. Apart from those present here - including on the phone - hardly anyone else would be invited to my parents' wedding. In addition, Leah and I checked our cell phone calendars whether Mom would be free on the dates suggested by Alice. We knew part of Mom's schedule.

Alice was eager to schedule the festivities on a weekend, though she did not say why. She first suggested the weekend after next, however an objection came through the phone Jasper had in front of him.

I had not yet noticed the participant.

"I'm sorry, but two weeks might be a little tight on time!" the unfamiliar male voice stated.

Jasper explained that it was the family lawyer. Since Dad was a minor, we would have to allow some time for the marriage license to be issued. Youth Services would want to have extensive discussions with the bride and groom and their families.

11/29 - 12/01:

The weekend after Thanksgiving. Grandma Reneé would be here or we would be with her.

12/06 - 12/08:

Zoey was not there.

12/13 - 12/15:

Alice and Rose went Christmas shopping in New York. With Mom. Whether she wanted to or not. She would be 'thrilled'!

12/20 - 12/22:

Peter and Stan had planned a weekend trip to visit Stan's family and David and his family would be at Daniel's boarding school for a year-end party including a school play.

We finally agreed on January 3.

There was always a lot going on around the holidays. Plus, we were usually in La Push and Forks on Christmas days.

Alice announced a few more little things about how she envisioned the wedding.

Not too much so Dad wouldn't already see it all in our thoughts.

Now that the date was set, she had a whole two months left.

She would certainly come up with a lot more. That would be a visually stunning backdrop.

The phone calls ended, and Zoey and David immediately went on their way again.

Bran went along to Emmett's. They were discussing a strategic problem in 'Final Fantasy'. Bran was already further along in the game than Em, even though they had started at the same time. We wouldn't see him again today.

While Marcus got a tour of the house from Leah, I sat at the concert grand piano with Becky at Dad's house. She played our song. Whenever we were here, I asked her to play it. While she was doing that, I immediately thought of a Christmas present for Edward that we would all get something from.

A grand piano for our living room at home. I had noticed a few times that he liked to play for Mom at home. Or when a new melody was developing in his head, then he tapped his fingers as if on piano keys. I'll have to talk to Leah about that. And google it. I had no idea how expensive such a thing was.

While Becky was still playing, there was a soft knock and Jazz came in. He was listening to the song with his eyes closed and leaning on the instrument. Afterwards, he sincerely praised Becky for playing it more and more fluently.

Without sheet music. With sheet music, it was almost perfect from the beginning, but without a template, even unmusical me heard the little stumbling blocks every now and then.

"Edward has an almost reprehensible penchant for the dramatic. This is also reflected in his compositions. He just can't do something simple!" Jazz made fun of Dad, yet at the same time reinforced Becky's talent when she could play his tunes without notes. "It's a good thing I got you two alone," he then began. "I spoke to Mr. Corbin, our lawyer, on the phone earlier. It wasn't just about Bella and Edward, though ..." he said meekly, looking my star in the face.

I heard Becky suck in the air between her teeth and put my arms around her tighter.

She regularly talked to Jasper about the rape or things that were somehow related to it. Therefore, in normal life, she was again my strong shining star, as if nothing had ever happened. But when she was approached about it without warning, she still reacted spooked. Jazz didn't know if that would completely subside.

Mr. Corbin was the family's attorney.

Dad had said that Becky's parents' lawyer was an ordinary lawyer. Although successful, without particularly noteworthy successes. Then there was the one Mom's boss had offered. This one was already on a different level. An exceptionally career, prestigious faculty, sufficient experience, professional in his field, but not specialized in criminal law. He was excellent when it came to providing all-around service to a client. Like Mr. Prescott just now. Employment law, contract negotiations, a little family law, the rights of the company, claims for damages and protection and so on.

And then there was Mr. Corbin. One of the best lawyers in the country. Yale University. Admitted to the bar for an impressive number of states. How you say: learned from the bottom up what he was capable of today. Had fought his way into one of Chicago's largest and most prestigious law firms. It was his now. Most importantly for us, Arnold Hanks had absolutely no influence over him.

Becky and I knew that Mr. Corbin was aware of Becky's rape.

Jazz had asked him - with the consent of Becky and her parents - to request file reviews so that he would be prepared at times.

One had already prepared us for the fact that a lawyer was necessary, even if there was such clear evidence against Mike, which should be sufficient for a prosecutor without further ado.

"The Hanks family lawyer is more resourceful than we assumed. But there's nothing to worry about, Becky," Jazz said, giving Becky another bit of preternatural calm.

Jazz enlightened us about the next procedure.

Becky had filed charges against Mike, but that did not necessarily mean that legal charges were also filed. The first thing to go was the investigative process. The police and, above all, the public prosecutor's office were investigating whether a crime had been committed at all and, if so, how the guilt of a perpetrator could be proven. For this purpose, the witnesses would be questioned in detail, and indeed from all sides.

"Mr. Corbin will be contacting your parents shortly. The first thing he wants to do is meet you in person and talk to you about your testimony. The prosecutor and Mike's lawyer will also want to talk to you sooner or later, but Mr. Corbin will always be at your side. He will make sure that no one gets too close to you and, above all, that your words are not twisted in your mouth or misinterpreted. In general, all interview requests that affect you personally will be coordinated and supervised by him. He has already submitted a request in this regard. Even the prosecutor is not allowed to call on you without first arranging it with him."

Jazz also went on to explain that Becky would not have to appear at the later hearing, when it would take place in a few months. With the judge present, Becky's testimony would be videotaped beforehand. This would include a presumptive cross-examination by opposing counsel. So, she would just have to endure some uncomfortable and certainly unpleasant questioning. Everything else would be taken care of by Mr. Corbin.

Jazz soon left us alone again and I lay on the sofa with Becky in my arms.

This brought the whole thing back into consciousness, which did not pass my star by without a trace. She trembled slightly, but all over her body and chattered frantically.

But I could free her from it. With me, of course!

By the afternoon, Becky and I were at least back home.

We had taken advantage of an intermittent break in the rain to run back here.

Bran stayed with Em, their discussion far from over.

Our house was empty.

Mom and Dad were over at David's, who had picked up Daniel at noon today.

The secret illegitimate child!

We also went over.

I was curious about Daniel, whom we had supposedly seen many times as very young children.

I smirked when I saw him then.

He was a smaller version of David. Blond tousled hair that stuck out on all sides. Bright green eyes. Athletic figure. Just not quite full grown yet. Thirteen years old. Funny age. How glad I was to have that behind me!

After we had drunk the coffee offered to us, including delicious muffins - Emma had announced quite proudly that she had almost baked them alone! - Daniel showed us his room. He was quite excited about having his own here.

By dinner time, Leah and Marcus had also reappeared.

We cooked together and talked about the day.

It was relatively crowded with six people in our kitchen, but fun. It also tasted great.

Afterwards, we all sat on the couch together and watched a movie.

A very relaxed day overall. Nevertheless, I fell asleep on the sofa. But I woke up when my pillow in the form of Dad's shoulder was suddenly gone.

I was not the only one who had fallen asleep.

Only Dad was still awake.

Stretching in all directions, I picked Becky up in my arms and went upstairs. In the hallway I stood for a moment.

Right or left? Right - guest room. Left - my bed. I would prefer the latter, but the weekend was strictly over.

"Left," Dad said, just coming up the stairs with Mom in his arms.

"To what do I owe the honor?" I inquired quietly.

"Tomorrow is a holiday. Besides, tomorrow night she'll be back in her own bed at home. Enjoy your last night by her side for now!"

Damn! That I had forgotten completely. For three weeks, Becky had been living with us, so to speak, and the general opinion was that it was time for that to change again. The adults had maundered something about independence.

So, I laid Becky on my bed and undressed her. I just couldn't get over how silky soft her skin was. I gave all three tattoos and the piercing a gentle 'good night' kiss and lay with her in just my boxer shorts. I pulled her tightly against me and stroked her back until I fell asleep.

Half asleep, though, I considered what Dad had done with Leah and Marcus, who had also both fallen asleep on the sofa.

Thank you for reading!