Chapter 32:

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

I grunted as I began to slip back into consciousness. Behind me, I could feel a body pressed into mine, spooning me perfectly as two strong arms wrapped around me protectively. A nose gently nuzzled my hair, inhaling my scent with content purrs rumbling in the chest behind me.

A small smile pulled on my lips as Tanya nuzzled her way to my jaw. "Good morning, love," she murmured, gently pressing a kiss to the top of my jaw.

Warmth spread through my body from both the contact and the word. Memories of the confession last night seeped into my eyes playing like a movie as I heard her say, "I love you" over and over again on replay. It was like having your favorite song roll through your mind, lulling you into a trance.

We didn't make love like in the movies or romance novels, though. We hardly even went past first base as we let our kisses, brushing of fingers and nuzzling of noses say "I love you" as many times as we wanted until I fell asleep in her arms.

I flipped in her arms, rolling onto my opposite side to look into her eyes. I smiled, raising my hand to gently stroke her cheek. "Morning," I said lowly. My thumb moved lightly across her cheekbone, and her eyelids fluttered shut in content.

"Did you sleep well?"

I nodded, leaning forward to kiss her. "Very well."

"I'm glad," she smiled. Her hand drifted from my waist to my head, gently wrapping her fingers into my hair. Her lips met mine again in a tender kiss, using her hold on my hair to press for more. I obliged happily to let our mouths move together, giving soft and tender kisses that chased away any fatigue that remained.

We pulled back after several moments, smiling like idiots. I cocked my head, suddenly aware of the silence downstairs. "Is Charlie not here?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder.

Tanya shook her head. "He left a few minutes before you woke up. I heard him writing a note, so I believe he is either making errands or going to the precinct."

I nodded and returned my entire attention to her again. My fingers began to gently stroke through her hair. "Have you heard anything from your family recently? Mostly on who's dead?"

The blonde snorted, but shook her head. "No, I haven't heard anything. Kate would have called to give us the great news," she said. A smirk pulled on her lips. "I think everyone decided to leave us alone last night to…" She leaned forward suggestively. "…clear things up."

I raised my brow and gave her a small shove. "Why do I have a feeling that if you were a guy, you would be hard right now?" I asked.

"Because I would really like to—"

I waved my hand. "Never mind," I cut her off. "It's still too early to be dealing with any Kate attitude or remarks."

The blonde didn't argue, though she seemed amused, and nodded. "Of course, darling," she smiled. "However, if you are in the mood for anything having to do with—"

"Alright." I pulled against her arms and threw my legs backwards to set them on the ground. I gave a hard shove off the bed. "I'm up." I threw my hands in the air over my head for emphasis, not turning around.

Tanya chuckled behind me. "I'll stop," she promised. There was a small whirlwind as she appeared next to me. She pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek. "I'll go make you breakfast while you do your morning routine."

I didn't have a chance to reply before she disappeared and the sound of pots and pans banging together wondered up from the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, I was walking into the kitchen to find a nice meal of eggs, pancakes and toast. A glass of milk was set out with a V8 on the table in front of the plate, ready for my disposal.

I turned my attention to Tanya who was putting the last of the now clean pans away. I swiftly walked up behind her and wrapped my right arm around her waist. I joined my left hand with hers, and kissed her bushy blonde hair. "You didn't have to do everything," I said in her ear.

Tanya chuckled and turned in my arm to face me. Her free hand rested on my shoulder. "No," she agreed, "but I wanted to, so therefore you can't say anything about it." She gave my lips a quick peck. She pulled away, turning me towards the counter. "Now go eat your food."

I held my hands up in mock surrender. I took a step forward when her hand smacked my ass. I yelped and turned around to glare at the woman who just smirked with a look that said, "Move or I'll do it again".

I quickly scurried to the counter instead of take my chances. As soon as I was (awkwardly) seated on the stool, I shoveled a large bite of pancake into my mouth. Tanya chuckled as she seated herself next to me, resting her head on her open palm while her gold eyes watched me with a smile.

As I chewed, I noticed a small piece of paper on the counter not far away. Reaching forward I swallowed and pulled the paper towards me to read.

Bells—

Afraid I'm gonna have to be on the job for a while today. I wanted to stay home until I heard the results of the test, but I wasn't able to. If the hospital calls before I get home, call me as soon as you can with the results of the scan.

—B.D.E. (Best Dad Ever)

P.S. I don't have a problem with you hanging out with the Denalis today unless you are secretly conspiring to have sex with Tanya.

I rolled my eyes. "Seriously, Dad," I groaned.

"What?"

I shook my head, crumpling the paper up in my hand. There was no way I was going to let Tanya see that. "My father," I answered. I tossed the paper onto the counter and shoveled another bite of pancake into my mouth.

"Was it the part of us having sex, because I cannot fully deny that I have several plans in that category already filed…even if we can't," she said innocently from next to me.

I snapped my head to the side. "Seriously, Tanya?"

She shrugged. "I'm a vampire with a mate, Bella. You can't blame me."

I, again, rolled my eyes and shook my head. I waved my hand in the air dismissively. "I am not going to even comment on that and continue eating my breakfast."

"Which breakfast? I could possibly count eating me as another kind of meal for—BELLA!" Tanya jumped off her stool as the milk I threw at her ran down her face, chin and neck to stain her shirt.

I smirked, setting the glass down. "I thought you needed to cool off."

She wiped her eyes with a small growl. "You didn't have to throw your milk in my face," she snarled.

I shrugged, opening my V8. "Your mouth wanted to be full of something, so I gave it something." I took a drink of the V8 as the blonde next to me growled again and took a step forward. "Should I throw this on you too?"

"What in the hell happened to you?" Irina asked from the armchair she was currently occupying in the living room with a book in her lap. Her nose was wrinkled in disgust; most likely from the more than likely spoiled milk in Tanya's hair and shirt that was still soggy.

Said blonde glared at me as I proudly walked forward. "Bella decided to get creative with her breakfast and threw it on me," she growled.

I shrugged innocently. "I was just cooling you off."

She growled. "I was perfectly cooled, thank you."

"You looked ready to jump me all morning."

"Oh please…" She waved her hand dismissively as Kate began to snigger from the couch. "I was anything but."

"Is that what you call smacking my ass?"

"I was trying to get you to move."

"Is that why you were smirking?"

"Yes, to scare you. And it worked too, because you ran off like a roadrunner with a coyote after it."

I scowled and heard the sniggers behind me. Tanya gave a proud smirk. "Whatever," I snorted. I jabbed my finger up the stairs. "Go change. You stink."

"And whose fault is that?"

"Yours if you stay down here any longer." Tanya rolled her eyes, but disappeared up the stairs, and I could faintly hear the sound of the shower turning on.

I turned around towards the two families gathered in the living room now that Tanya was gone…only to come face to face with Rosalie. I jumped back with a ninja like move that would have made me fall on my ass had her hands not secured my waist.

She smirked. "I thought you were over your clumsy stage, Bella."

I frowned. "I am," I said. "But jumping back when you discover someone standing directly behind you is kind of a natural reaction."

She hummed, releasing my waist. Over her shoulder, I noticed Irina closing her book in order to stand from her place in the armchair with a frown. Clearly, the dirty-blonde did not like me being so close to Rosalie or having Rosalie touch me, for that matter.

Before she could even stand, however, Rosalie was already taking my hand and pulling me to sit next to her on the loveseat with Emmett. I couldn't stop my eyes from comically widening from a) Rosalie Hale actually touching a human voluntarily, b) Rosalie Hale being friendly towards me, and c) Rosalie Hale's smugness as she pulled me not onto the couch, but onto her lap with her hands on my hips.

I was frozen on the blonde Cullen's lap while Irina and Kate seethed. Their usually gold eyes were now almost completely black, and their upper lips were curled back into snarls. If looks could kill, Rosalie would be a pile of ashes on the couch right now.

I glanced around the living room, and realized how…apart the families actually were. On the right side of the living room were the Cullens. They occupied every piece of furniture available on said side or floor. The left was all Denali. Kate, Carmen and Eleazer were taking up what room they could on the sectional—leaving a spot for Tanya and I—with Irina in the armchair.

That wasn't all, though. With the claiming of territories in the Denali house, there was also a difference in emotion. The Cullens—including Esme and Carlisle—were smirking, sitting up straighter with their chins held high as Rosalie smugly smiled at Kate and Irina.

The Denalis looked ready to start World War III. Their eyes had dramatically darkened as they glared daggers at the loveseat. Carmen and Eleazer had their fists clenched, holding onto the others' hand in a futile attempt to keep what control they had left. Kate and Irina were settling for basically crushing what their hands had at disposal—meaning a couch cushion and book.

The room was filled with an awkward—at least for me—silence for several minutes. The two families didn't seem to think it was as they continued to smirk or glare at the other. Both families, also, were ignorant to my discomfort on Rosalie's lap.

Now that the shock of Rosalie reacting to me in such a way was over, and having had what Tanya said last night go through my head, I was currently trying to get off subtly. I shifted my weight, trying to get the blonde's attention to let me go—or anyone's—but none saw.

I then tried tapping her thigh with my finger, but that only accomplished her grip on me tightening. It wasn't hurtful—far from it, actually—but it was enough to make me roll my eyes when the Denalis began to growl.

So, after two failed attempts, I had now decided to be obvious. I shifted my weight to the most open spot on the couch—next to just her not between her and Emmett—and tried to slide off. As soon as I began to move, however, Rosalie caught onto what I was doing and slid her arms around my waist, pulling my back flush against her chest to hold me hostage.

Dammit.

Kate finally had enough and stood. "Bella," she said stiffly. Her eyes were focused on Rosalie instead of me. "How about you and I play a video game? Here. On the floor."

Rosalie hummed. "She'll be perfectly fine here, Kate," she said from behind me. To prove her point, she rested her chin on my shoulder. "Just toss her a controller."

"I think having them both on the floor is more enjoyable for both while they play, Rosalie," Carmen countered. Her dark eyes were focused acutely on the blonde as she spat out her name.

"I'm sure Bella will have just as much fun from where she is, Carmen," Esme said in a sickly sweet voice. Her lips pulled into a smug, innocent smile.

"Does it really matter where she is?" Tanya's voice called as she came down the stairs. She had yet to be in sight, and clearly had no idea what was going on, and just didn't want another fight. "Because I really don't—"

She stopped midsentence as soon as she was in view. Her hair was up in a messy bun to dry—that I even in this tense moment found pretty attractive—and her mouth was pulled into a frown. The two topaz orbs immediately darkened.

"Then we are at an agreement," Emmett said. "Bella-Bear can play from Rose's lap." He patted my leg with a dopey grin that really didn't scream anything was out of character with him.

Tanya scowled, raising her chin as she moved to stand next to her sister. "Actually," she said, "as Bella's mate, I would prefer her to sit in my lap if she is to sit in anyone's."

Edward sneered, but forced down his comment at her claim and instead said, "But Irina had Bella in hers the other day. Surely you wouldn't change your mind about it so instantly?"

Irina joined the other two. "I am Bella's sister."

Rosalie let out a small growl from behind me. "And I am as well."

Kate scoffed. "Really?" she asked sarcastically. "You were the one who glared and growled at her every time she was around you."

The blonde behind me stiffened. Her growl raised just a pitch. Her grip around my waist tightened, and the Cullens sat forward; almost like they were waiting to jump into a fight with the Denalis. "I did not fully understand her, then," Rosalie hissed from behind me. "And that is none of your business, Kate."

"If it has to do with my sister, I'd say it does."

Rosalie's lip curled in warning. I glanced back at her nervously. I wasn't too fond of the idea of sitting on a pissed off possessive, protective and potentially instinctual vampire's lap.

Now that the idea was in my head, I was completely not fond of it.

In as calm of a way as possible, I tried to remove myself from her arms to put the situation down a little. As soon as I moved, however, Rosalie tightened her grip with one arm, took one of my hands in hers and nuzzled my hair. "While you may feel that way, Kate, Bella really is my sister after her involvement with my family. Isn't that right, Isabella?"

I felt my spine stiffen as she purred my name into my ear. My nostrils flared when I suddenly found myself swimming in the scent of Rosalie's pheromones. The tactic was enough to make my body suddenly feel heavy, and I went limp, and based on the Denali's faces, it covered me in her scent.

Holy shit…this must be what addicts feel like. No wonder humans get killed by vampires so easily.

Hmm, humans being killed…that's sad.

Bella, focus!

Right.

I blinked my hooded eyelids, trying to fight against her scent as every Denali stood at attention. Tanya hissed, taking a step forward with a deep growl. Kate and Irina looked ready to tear Rosalie apart while Carmen and Eleazer seemed to contemplate how to get me out of Rosalie's grasp.

The Cullens weren't much better as they readied to take the Denalis apart.

Just as Kate moved forward—

"Bad boys, bad boys, watcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?"

I blinked, immediately snapped out of my high from Rosalie's scent at the foreign sound. The vampires around the room seemed to be taken aback enough by the phone that they stopped their advancement.

Quickly, I scrambled for my phone, and fumbled it out of my pocket in time to see Charlie's name on the screen. I quickly slid my thumb across it and put it to my ear. "Uh…Hi, Dad," I said awkwardly. I mentally shook myself to get the rest of the vampire-hormone-scent-thingy effect off.

"Hey, Bells," he said through the phone. I could faintly hear other cops in the background. "How you doing?"

I glanced around the room. Tanya, Alice, Eleazer and Emmett had stopped glaring at the others to listen to my conversation with Charlie, but the others glared right on. How have I been? Well, I've been smacked on the ass, poured milk on my mate, been caught in the middle of a vampire show down, and have been doped up on Rosalie's pheromones. "I'm peachy."

He hummed. "I see," he said. "I suppose things down here haven't really been very eventful for me, either." Not eventful…yeah. "However, there have been a few things…"

I zoned out when I felt Rosalie shift under me. She moved her weight to be leaning against the couch cushion behind her, practically forcing me to be leaning against her unless I wanted to be uncomfortable with her arms around me. Her hand released my free one to wrap around my waist, pulling me fully against her again, and began to run her fingers through my hair to apply even more of her scent on me.

The Denalis were not happy, and I found it both distracting and annoying. I smacked her hand away, giving the blonde a glare over my shoulder. Rosalie pouted—yes, outright pouted—in an attempt to win my forgiveness. I narrowed my eyes at her.

She huffed and frowned in annoyance, but didn't do it again. I gave a small nod of approval and looked away from her after I was certain she wouldn't do it again just in time to hear Charlie say, "…Anyway, that's not why I'm calling. The hospital called with your test results."

He immediately had my full attention with every vampire in the room. I sat up straight, Rosalie loosening her grip enough to follow me. Her arms tightened around my waist anxiously while I had every pair of either topaz or dark brown eyes focused on me.

"They did?" I asked. "What did they say? Was there any growth?"

I could practically feel his smile. "No new growths," he reported. "In fact, the tumors have started to shrink more. It isn't a lot, but it is progress."

A breath I hadn't realized I had been holding blew out of my nose as a smile pulled on the corners of my lips. The Denalis smiled, their eyes immediately brightening several shades. Rosalie purred and nuzzled my shoulder behind me.

Charlie continued, "Dr. Ford says that the treatment will stay the same. If you continue to progress, he will keep it that way, but change it to a stronger treatment if necessary."

I nodded. "Good, good…" I ran my hand through my hair, desperately trying to ignore the many purrs and stares from the vampires around me. "Is that all they said?"

"Pretty much, but I can tell you the rest later when I get home, okay?" he asked.

I nodded again. "Sure. I'll see you later."

"Love you, Bells."

"Love you too, Dad."

I hung up the phone, letting it fall onto my lap limply as a smile took over my lips. The cancer was shrinking—progress was being made. It was slow progress, but it was still progress that led me a step closer to being in remission.

It would take me some time to go into remission, of course, but it still meant I had a chance. I had a chance of going back into remission, and I didn't care how long it took at the moment.

I was snapped out of my thoughts as Tanya, purring deeply, blurred forward and scooped me out of Rosalie's arms. The blonde looked like she wanted to protest, but wisely let me slip out of her grip to allow my mate to embrace me. I wrapped my arms around her neck instinctively, smiling as she purred, "This is wonderful news, Bella."

I nodded ignoring her nuzzles to replace Rosalie's scent with her own. My arms tightened just a fraction around her, burying my face into her neck to inhale her scent. My muscles reflexively relaxed at the sedative of her calming vanilla almond scent.

She pulled back just enough to kiss me, quick and passionate. The wicked grin she wore lit up her golden eyes as her happiness seemed to shimmer from her. The blonde woman in front of me looked ready to move two mountain ranges with one hand she was so confident and happy.

And, at that moment, I felt like I could too.