XXVI. The Bigger the Family, the Bigger the Pain

For once, the vast room at the entrance of the Cullen home felt full with its addition of six more bodies.

"Isabella, welcome," Carlisle moved forward to greet me with a fond smile. "If you'd allow me to introduce you to our extended family?"

"Sure," I agreed, eyeing the three blondes and the two brunettes who had risen from the sitting area to step closer, a myriad of curious expressions amongst them. Beside me, Edward tightened his hold on my hip.

"Did you not say the human was gifted?" said the one with the strawberry blonde curls in a distinct accent. "She must already know."

I rolled my eyes. "Tanya, I presume."

"Ah, so her tricks do work," she chuckled. "Unless Edward has previously mentioned me?"

"Uh, no. I was able to pinpoint you based on your charming personality," I said flatly.

Behind them, Emmett erupted into uproarious laughter. "She's got you there, Tanya!"

Tanya didn't appear at all put out. "So I see."

"Tanya, don't be rude," her sister―the one with the waist-length, pale blonde hair―chided her. She then turned to me with a brilliant grin, "Isabella! It is truly wonderful to meet you." Like Tanya, her voice carried a noticeable accent. Her 'wonderful' sounded more like 'vanderfal' and her r's and l's devoured every other consonant.

"Likewise," I answered, while trying to remember what country her and her sisters originated from. Russia? Hungary? Slovakia? "Kate, was it?"

"I see Garrett was not exaggerating your abilities," she chuckled.

"I guess not," I shrugged as Garrett joined Kate, draping a casual arm across her shoulders. They made a lovely couple―although what vampire pair didn't? He shot me a cheerful grin and I smiled in return, "Hey Garrett. I see you didn't waste a second."

Before he could reply, Tanya scoffed and muttered, "The understatement of the millennia."

The smallest of the blondes pressed a hand to her shoulder. "Compose yourself, sister. That discussion is no longer up for debate," she reminded her quietly and turned to face me. I was struck with a flood of emotions as I faced Irina. She was not at all what I had imagined―and how could she be? I had once read about a woman full of grief for a man who'd hardly cared for her in the same way; a woman who incidentally betrayed her family and met death as a result.

The reality? She was a girl―smaller than even myself in this body, with smooth, chin-length locks that added to her youth, and a sweet smile. "Hello. We have heard so much about Edward's beloved. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Isabella."

"The pleasure is mine, Irina," I said, while I smothered my guilt. I didn't believe Laurent to be deserving of her, but who was I to decide that?

I was unable to maintain contact with her warm, honey eyes and inadvertently met Carmen's eager expression instead. The brief moment was all the encouragement she needed to step closer. "Escucho que hablas mi idioma nativo?" she asked, her accent distinctively Spaniard. I hear you speak my native language?

I grinned. "Escuchaste correctamente. Es un placer conocerte, Carmen," I greeted her with my own accented Spanish. You heard correctly. It's a pleasure to meet you, Carmen.

"Ese acento! De dónde se origina?" her eyes lit up with curiosity. That accent! Where does it originate from?

I wasn't too caught off guard by her question. Knowing the type of bloodshed that was common amongst their kind in the south, I doubted many vampires casually traversed through Mexican territory. It's likely Jasper would be the only one here familiar with my accent.

Before I could answer Carmen's question, Eleazar cut in, "I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to converse with Isabella, dear." He then turned to me. "Buenas noches, Isabella. I have had some interesting conversations with Carlisle, regarding your warnings about the Volturi. I would like to reassure you that, so long as we remain complicit to the law, there is nothing to worry about. You are correct in assuming Aro is an ambitious man, but he is also a fair one. We would not be able to live the way we do if it were not for his rule."

I tilted my head in thought. He wasn't wrong. In the context of being a vampire, someone like Aro was necessary. What rubbed me the wrong way was how much like a politician Eleazar sounded. He had freely admitted to Aro's ambitions―like the annihilation of Heidi and Victoria's coven was nothing more than an inconvenience. Not that Eleazar had even been alive at the time of their slaughter. But I didn't doubt he'd been present for similar circumstances.

It left me wondering if Eleazar truly believed that there was nothing wrong with Aro's ambitious nature, or if Chelsea's influence was really so far-reaching.

In the end, I shrugged. "We'll agree to disagree."

His resulting expression of befuddlement was comical.

Garrett snickered. "Eleazar, don't be such a stick in the mud. We're here to celebrate, not talk politics!"

Eleazar's shoulders slumped. "My apologies," he offered, while Carmen patted his arm in comfort.

"Celebrate?" I asked instead, eyeing Alice, Rosalie, and Esme who remained seated around the coffee table, a pile of magazines between them. "Edward did say you had something to ask me." I tilted my head back and caught a glimpse of his pleasant smile.

"Congratulations," he said in the direction of Kate and Garrett.

My eyebrows arched and my eyes darted across the beautiful faces around me while I waited for someone to explain what the hell was happening.

Fortunately, Kate took pity on me. "Isabella, we do have something to ask of you. If you are uncomfortable, do not feel obliged, but…you lead Garrett to me. I am eternally grateful, and so…I was wondering if you would like to, alongside my sisters, be one of my bridesmaids."

"Wait. You're getting married?" I stared, stupefied while they nodded eagerly. "But…you met like a week ago."

"At last!" Tanya threw her hands up in an exasperated gesture. "Someone who speaks sense."

Going by their expressions of long-suffering, this likely wasn't the first of her complaints.

Garrett directed her with a deadpan look. "Tanya, you're the one who insisted we do this."

Tanya rubbed at her temple, as though warring off a headache. "You two would have been on the other side of the continent by now if it were not for that. Forgive me if I was not so eager to have you steal my sister in such short order."

Kate smiled fondly. "Sister, we simply wanted privacy to get to know each other better. If this ceremony is what you require for us to receive your blessing, then so be it. Please do not despair. I will not disappear for all time."

Tanya smiled weakly in return. "No, I should hope not. This is all just very sudden."

"I'll say," I muttered in agreement.

Kate grinned. "When you know, you know."

"So? What do you say, kid?" Garrett asked.

"Depends," I said. "When's the ceremony?"

"We were hoping to have everything ready by this weekend," Kate said eagerly.

"Oh. I'm sorry," I offered sincerely. "I'll be out of town this weekend." I didn't offer any explanations beyond that. Portland was already complicated enough without having to explain it to the Cullen's extended family.

To my shock, Tanya shot me a toothy grin. "Perfect. We will simply extend it by another week."

I eyed Kate's pout and Garrett's eye roll with trepidation. "Please don't do that on account of me."

"Oh, but we insist," she said while eyeing the happy couple with a disgruntled frown. "The more time we have with our beloved sister, the better. She will wait."

"It wouldn't be the worst idea. Having an extra week to arrange this would make things easier on our end," Alice piped up from where she sat on the couch, her sketchbook on her lap.

"Oh, very well," Kate agreed, much to Tanya's satisfaction.

Tanya then turned and strutted to my side. "If you would relinquish your darling girlfriend Edward, we have much to discuss with her."

Above me, Edward rolled his eyes, and instead of releasing his hold on me, he guided me to where the rest of the woman had converged, only dropping his hold on me once I sat snuggly between Alice and Rosalie on the white sofa.

"Don't get too comfortable," he warned me. "I'll need to drop you off at home within the hour."

"No worries. Esme will soften Charlie up if I'm even a little late," I winked and then looked to Esme, "Charlie can't say no to you." It was because of her that I hadn't heard a single complaint from him in the midst of my absence from home this entire weekend.

"I'm simply grateful he's been so willing to share you with us, sweetheart," Esme beamed.

Edward strode off to properly greet Eleazar and Garrett, and Jasper and Emmett vacated the area to make room for the rest of the women. I accepted the magazine Alice dropped into my hands, and realized it was one compiling different types of flower arrangements when I began flipping through it.

"Place a tab on that one," Rosalie suggested before I could flip to the next page, and handed me a set of sticky tabs. I eyed the display of red marigolds and white gardenias, dotted with gold hyacinths.

I stuck a tab at the top and asked, "Is this the color scheme we're going for?"

"Yes. Mainly the red and white, but gold is also acceptable," she murmured while flipping through her own magazine.

Going by the lack of scathing glares directed towards me, I assumed Rosalie and I had reached neutral territory.

I relaxed against the cushions and flipped through the next few pages, a little more confident now that I knew what to look for.

Beside me, Alice tilted her sketchbook in my direction, "What do you think so far, Isabella?"

"Um, shouldn't that be a question for the bride?" I asked, but nonetheless ran my eyes across the knee-length dress Alice had drawn and colored.

It was white and poofy at the shoulders, with elaborate patterns on the hem of the elbow-length sleeves, the waistline, and the fringe of the skirt. Over it was a crimson vest with patterns consisting of roses. It was coupled with a pair of black boots and atop the head of the faceless model was an elaborate crown of red flowers, dotted with holly, gold and scarlet ribbons trailing from each side.

"These are the bridesmaid dresses," Alice explained. "Your opinion counts!"

"Oh. It's…foreign," I said, for lack of anything else. It was hard to criticize Alice's work when I was unfamiliar with the sisters' culture.

"Yes, we decided on a traditional Slovakian ceremony," Tanya said, glancing up from where she sat in between her sisters. Rather than occupy the couch across from Esme and Carmen, the trio kneeled on the thick carpet, crowding the coffee table. "Let me see what you have there, Alice."

With a chipper grin, Alice flipped the sketchbook in their direction. The sisters ooh'd and ah'd.

"That is simply divine, Alice!" Irina grinned. "I cannot wait to wear it myself."

"You have outdone yourself once again," Tanya smirked. "Have you begun the design for Kate's dress?"

"Of course," Alice sniffed. "It's actually completed. All that's left is to design her flower wreath. And then I can get started on the men."

"I am positive it will exceed all our expectations, Alice," Kate said blithely, like the most unconcerned bride I'd ever had the fortune of seeing.

"It will," Alice chirped, and placed the sketchbook back on her lap, flipping over to a different page where she had composed a white, floor-length, sleeveless dress with dramatic ruffles splayed across the shoulders and bodice, paired with a long, white shawl with red patterns just above the tassels, matching the red patterns on the hem of the dress.

It was just as foreign as the bridesmaid dresses, but beautiful regardless.

"Are we making the flower wreaths by hand, or ordering them?" Rosalie wondered.

Alice pursed her lips. "They'd have to be made the day of, if we want the flowers to be fresh."

"I'm sure Esme and I can take care of that, mija," Carmen offered.

"That's perfect. Thank you, Carmen," Alice beamed.

"It would be simpler if we assigned roles now," Irina suggested. "Alice is already busy making the dresses. How about I make a list of everything that needs to be ordered?"

"I want to order the shoes myself, but everything else Esme or Rosalie can take care of," Alice allowed.

"Okay, we will certainly need some lights―maybe fairy lights? Or candles? Or both," Irina decided with a firm nod, jotting it down on a sticky note. "Some gossamer. Maybe an arch for the ceremony…"

"Allow me," Tanya cut in. "I'll design the layout of the scene and tell you exactly what we need."

The two leaned over a blank piece of paper and began a rough sketch.

"I'll choose the florist," Rosalie added belatedly.

"…I feel like I should somehow be contributing to this," Kate said idly, leaning back on her palms and watching her sisters.

"You could start thinking about your vows," I suggested while watching Alice color in the flower wreath she'd just designed for Kate. "Or make a playlist for the reception."

She sat up and shot me a grin. "I knew I asked you to be my bridesmaid for a reason," she winked, picking up a pencil.

"I'm honored," I laughed. "Really, this is the last thing I expected when Edward said his cousins were visiting."

She glanced up and leaned a cheek against her palm, "Funny. When Garrett dropped in on us, your involvement with our dear cousins was the last thing we expected. Cousin Edward is a little odd, but I was more surprised knowing Carlisle had allowed it. From what he has shared, he was once very close with Aro."

"I'm aware," I agreed, "But Edward never exposed your secret. He wouldn't endanger his family so casually."

"Right," Tanya cut in, "Garrett shared with us that you have a strange gift of knowing."

"Something like that."

"And you could not have waited another century to send him our way?" Tanya asked. And although her tone suggested she was joking, the resigned look in her eyes said otherwise.

I shrugged, "I didn't realize it would cause your coven so much grief."

"Do not mind her, Isabella," Kate laughed, "She is simply being dramatic."

"I am not. I have every right to be concerned," Tanya muttered.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Enough about that. Tell us, how did you charm Edward? God knows Tanya has been trying for decades."

Tanya huffed but did not dispute her.

I glanced over, but realized the men had disappeared. Although it was unlikely they had gone far, seeing as Edward was my ride home.

I pursed my lips and admitted, "Between you and me, I think it was the mystery aspect."

"Oh, you bet it was," Alice trilled, "He hardly ever shut up about you. I mean, I was as curious as the next person, but he tends to get a tad obsessive."

"I believe you," I snickered.

"See? I told you you were coming on too strong," Kate chided her sister.

Tanya flipped her curls over her shoulder with an expression of unrepentance. "Hard to keep an air of mystery when the boy can read your every thought."

"I guess I do have that advantage," I conceded.

"Two gifts! And while she is still human. Only Edward could have such impossible standards."

"I do not think it is as complicated as that," Irina refuted her, and then glanced towards me, "He is different―happier. It is likely that is simply it―you make him happy, Isabella."

I blinked and smiled softly. "Yes, I hope so."

"Es verdad," Carmen tittered. It's true.

"Yes. If Edward had allowed it, we could have had fun together. But…I doubt it would have been anything more than that. I have never seen the boy look so relaxed," Tanya shook her head in disbelief. "You are it for him, Isabella."

I nodded, at a loss for words. Tanya's approval was unneeded, but unexpected.

Above her magazine Esme shot me a fond grin. I returned it and was relieved when the conversation turned to what kind of music should be played at the reception.

"Perhaps, we should stick to folk. It would feel more authentic," Tanya suggested.

"Aw, come on. We can afford to be a little modern. No―Tanya, do not cross that off! I like Britney Spears!"

Before I could wrap my head around the fact that Irina was a fan of Britney Spears, Edward popped by, hair and coat slick with rain.

"Time to go," he said.

"Alright," I reluctantly agreed, setting my magazine down.

"Don't worry, Isabella. We're kidnapping you after school tomorrow," Alice reassured me.

I laughed and followed after Edward. "I'm counting on that. I'll see you all tomorrow!"

The girls gave me their own variations of a goodnight, until I finally made it through the front door.

"What have you been up to?" I asked Edward, eyeing the water clinging to his skin.

"We were out back," he said, and I understood once I was no longer under the cover of the porch and was hit with the light patter of rain. We hurried over to his car.

Once we were settled inside, Edward started the car and continued, "Eleazar was showing us some of the fighting styles traditional to the Volturi. Garrett wanted to compare it to the style of fighting from the Southern Wars."

"Well. That's one way to welcome Garrett into the family."

"He's a veteran. I don't believe there was any other way," he laughed. Edward then said, "You certainly made an impression on Eleazar."

"What? You mean when he gave me his little speech and I completely shot him down?" In retrospect, I could've been more polite about that.

Edward smirked. "That was hilarious. But no, I meant regarding your gift. Although Garrett had already made him aware of your mental shield, he was taken aback by the strength of it. He said it was beyond the realm of what he believed to be possible."

I blinked. "That sounds a bit theatrical."

Edward shook his head in disagreement. "You have to understand, he was comparing it to the gifts of vampires. Gifts, that unlike yours, have already been enhanced by the venom."

"Oh. Okay. I see how that could leave an impression," I admitted.

"More specifically," he continued, "He was comparing it to Renata's gift. She is Aro's personal guard, and although her shield is physical, not mental, he deduced that yours was likely a hundred times more potent."

I nodded. "That makes sense."

Edward shot me a look. "You're not surprised."

"Renata is only able to push out her shield at max, a couple meters. Although I don't know the full extent of my shield's potential, I know it's capable of covering much more ground than that."

"That's…incredible."

I smiled. "Tell me that once I'm actually able to do it."

"I have no doubt you will," Edward said with a grin.

Knowing how irritatingly slow my progress was at the moment, his vote of confidence was nice. My smile softened. "Thanks."

I waited for Charlie to take the first bite of his chicken quesadilla, before asking, "So, would it be cool if I spent the weekend at the Cullen's again?"

Mouth full of food, Charlie was unable to immediately shoot me down. When he finally swallowed, he asked, "Will Edward be there?"

I shrugged. "We can kick him out."

Charlie arched a skeptical eyebrow. "…I don't know. You've been spending a lot of time there this week. Don't you think you might be overstaying your welcome?"

"That's unlikely," I snorted and quickly backtracked in the face of his stern expression. If I wanted to go to Portland without him being the wiser, I needed to convince him of this. "They love me," I assured him. "…Alright, there actually is something going on. I've been sworn to secrecy, but if you think you can handle a secret, I am willing to share."

Charlie rolled his eyes at my dramatics. "Bells, I think I know how to be discreet."

"Really?" It was my turn to eye him skeptically. "Then why did I hear from Leah, who apparently heard from Harry, who must've heard it from you, that I'm so lousy at driving, a monkey could park better than me."

Charlie's face turned red. "I did not say that! I mean…I didn't phrase it like that! I said a monkey might have better luck―…I'm digging myself into a hole, aren't I?"

"It's okay. Go ahead. I'm curious to see how deep you can dig."

"Point taken!"

"Look, chief. I just want to be sure that as soon as you hang out with Billy and Harry, you won't start gossiping like the old women you are."

"Hey! No need to be disrespectful."

It was hard to take him seriously when I could see his lip twitching. "I'm sorry. I just need you to understand where I'm coming from."

Charlie heaved a sigh. "I won't say a word. Scout's honor. Now, out with it."

I grinned and leaned closer, whispering, "So, a couple of Edward's cousins are actually in town. One of them―her name is Kate―is getting married. It's just going to be something quick, so we're all in a frenzy, trying to put everything together. And get this―she asked me to be a bridesmaid!"

"That explains why you keep asking my opinion on flower arrangements," he whispered back.

"Why are you whispering?"

"…Because you were whispering!"

"Sure. Blame it on me."

Charlie directed me with a sharp look and I snickered.

"Anyway, Alice is actually making our dresses. The last of her materials just came in, so that's the plan for this weekend." Not a lie. I just wouldn't be around to see her work her magic.

"And these cousins? Are they girls?" Charlie asked.

"Yep. Except one of them brought her husband. And obviously the groom is around," I shrugged. "The guys really aren't much help with most of this, so they're hardly around even when I am over there. By now, Edward is sure I like his family better than him," I snickered again.

He chortled, "And is it true?"

"Of course I like Edward best! Just don't tell him that."

"Another secret? That might be too much," Charlie sighed.

"That's not even funny," I pouted. I could really do without Charlie spilling the beans on the Cullens while at the rez. I was surprised the peace had lasted as long as it did, but I was sure sooner or later Billy Black would be at my doorstep with a stern face and a lecture on the tip of his tongue. "Regardless, you're usually off fishing on weekends, so you'll hardly miss me."

Charlie's expression grew contrite. "I'm sorry, Bells. I leave you alone too much. Maybe you'd like to come with me, next time?"

I paused and cast my gaze down. "Actually, I don't like the water much. I had an accident not too long ago and I don't think I'm ready to go back."

"Bells? What happened?"

"Um, I'm just not the best swimmer and the current was rough. It's fine, I'm fine. Obviously, as you can see, but it's not an experience I'm eager to repeat." I wasn't totally sure why I was sharing this with him, but I think it had to do with the hope in his eyes when he'd asked me to join him on one of his fishing trips. I didn't want to let him down. Spending time with him wasn't a chore. But getting on a boat wasn't something I could do any more. At least, not yet.

"…Alright," he relented. "You need to be more careful, Bella. But I'm relieved you're safe."

My voice was small when I said, "Yeah, me too."

Friday afternoon found me back at the Cullen household, as it had most of the week. The only difference was that I had a packed bag of clothes stored in Edward's car, and he was currently booking a hotel not too far from where I planned on staying. We intended to leave within the hour.

For the moment, I was enduring Alice and her measuring tape, while Irina and Tanya awaited their turn.

"Right, all done," Alice finally murmured. "Irina! You're up next!"

"Can you not just eyeball it?" she pouted, but stood from the sofa regardless.

"You cannot eyeball perfection," Alice sniffed. "Think of it this way. Once it's your turn to be married, I won't need to do this again seeing as I'll have your numbers memorized."

"Hm, I am not sure I want to do all this when my time comes."

"Why ever not, sister?" Tanya glanced up from where she was perusing Alice's sketchbook. "It does not have to be something so traditional. Alice can design you a modern gown and you can dance to Britney Spears all you like."

Irina rolled her eyes. "That is not my issue. I just meant, we are immortal―how is all this of any consequence?"

Tanya shrugged. "It is fun and it keeps our sister around a little longer."

"Well, when I meet my beloved," Irina began, "I think we shall simply elope before Tanya is even aware he exists."

Tanya laughed, "Yes, we shall see about that, Irina."

Alice glanced up from where she was measuring Irina's bust and called after me, "Isabella, where are you off to?"

"Just getting some fresh air," I said in my best light-hearted tone, before sliding the glass door open and heading out back.

Outside, the dreary clouds hovered, threatening to unleash a torrent at any second. For now, it remained blissfully dry.

"Isabella."

To my surprise, it was Jasper who'd called my name, strolling casually in my direction.

"Hey," I said. "Did Alice send you my way?"

"Not at all," he shook his head. "I've just noticed you've been feeling funny lately." To my relief, he didn't put a name to the emotion. "Anything I can help with?"

I pursed my lips, before mouthing soundlessly, "They can hear us."

He smiled in understanding. "An easy solution to that." He crouched down. When I simply stared at him, he said, "Well, go on. We ain't got all day."

I belatedly realized he meant for me to hop onto his back. I hesitated for another second, before I caught on to the fact that Edward knew exactly what was going on. His trust in Jasper was surprising, but encouraging.

Once I'd clambered onto his back and secured a hold on him, he didn't waste a second. In a flash, we were off.

A/N: Yay! We finally get a scene with Jasper! And it only took 26 chapters x)

If anyone is interested in seeing the dresses that Alice designed, feel free to check out the links on my profile! :)

And don't forget to drop a review before you go on your way! :D