Disclaimer: Original characters and part of the plot belong to Stephanie Meyer

Chapter 18 – Reunion

Bella POV

And, when I looked up at the man's face, my eyes widened and I let out a gasp of surprise as I saw the one person I never expected to see again.

My brother.

"Beau!" I gasped out and leaped at him. I pulled him into a tight hug, squeezing him to me as much as possible. His arms came around me and hugged me tightly. Tears of happiness and relief ran down my eyes. My brother is alive, my brother is alive, I continuously chanted in my hand. I did not care that he was a vampire.

"Bella," he whispered joyously. His voice had become musical, smooth and velvet, like all other vampires. He gently pulled away from me and looked like he would be crying too, if he could. His right thumb came up to wipe my tears like he had done so many times when we were young.

"You're alive!" I exclaimed aloud, my voice clearly unbelieving. "You're alive!"

He brought a finger to my lips. "Shh… People might wake up," he whispered. His voice was wary. "And yes, I am alive. Did you think it would be that easy to finish me off?" he scoffed.

I released him from my embrace and stepped back to see the woman.

The woman was more of a… girl. She was about 5'3" and looked no older than 16, at most. But what was most prominent about her was her startlingly bright bronze hair which violently reminded me of another. She had beautiful almond eyes and a petite build with a very slight muscular frame visible beneath her clothing.

And both of them – Beau and the girl – had bright crimson eyes. Human-drinkers.

My muscles coiled up again involuntarily to protect my mother, but I did not let it be seen by them.

Beau placed his arm around the girl's waist and pulled her closer and said with an adoring and loving voice, "Bella, this is my fiancé, Edith."

"Fiancé?" I was dumbstruck.

He smiled sheepishly just as Edith extended her hand. "I'm Edith. Edith Masen. It's a pleasure to meet you, Bella."

I shook her hand with a polite smile. "I would say the same to you but, given the circumstances, please forgive my cold reception," I said in a cool but polite tone.

"Not at all. I wouldn't have expected anything else." She gave me a warm smile.

"Oh, Bella, just a reminder. It's not the Edith with 'i'. Her name's spelled as E-D-Y-T-H-E," said Beau in a serious voice.

"I'll definitely remember that," I said with a smile, still looking at Edi-, ahem, Edythe. But then I gave a glare to Beau and said in a furious voice with my hands on my waist, "And you, young man, have a lot to explain to me. Now whether you do want to do that alone or in the presence of your fiancé is completely up to you."

His eyes widened in fear and he gulped. He actually gulped. It was hilarious.

"Umm- Uh-" he stuttered.

"Don't just stand there, Beau. Answer your sister," Edythe muttered to him.

I liked her already.

"Umm- I'll explain it with Edythe?" he said. What was supposed to come out as a statement came as a question.

"Very well. You both are comfortable using my bedroom as a sitting room for now? Because lights in the living or dining room in the middle of the night will cause some questions."

"Sure," both of them said together.

"Come on up, then!" I said, jumping onto the tree and swinging myself to the window in one fluid movement. Beau and Edythe stood with their mouths open.

"Are you coming up or what?" I asked with a smirk.

Beau immediately picked up Edythe bridal style. She made a noise of protest but he cut her off with a kiss. It reminded me greatly of how he used to carry me. Then, my brother jumped onto the tree branch directly in front of my window. I stood back, allowing him enough space to make his landing. He leaped off the branch and entered my room. And then put Edythe down.

Beau looked around my room once and shook his head disapprovingly. "Bella, your room's too messy. You have to let me organise it."

And here we go again, I thought exasperatedly. "Let it go, Beau," I said, my voice coming out harsher than I intended it to. my room was indeed slightly messier than I usually kept it. But only slightly.

Edythe rolled her eyes and exchanged an amused look with me. He seriously has OCD.

I indicated them to sit on my bed while I took the chair.

"So," I prompted them.

"So… From where do I start?" asked Beau.

"From the very beginning."

And then started the Immortal Love Story of Beau and Edythe.

On hindsight, I really should have made that the title of a book. It would have sold very well.