(2) Wild Horses (E. Cullen)

Chapter Ten

It means a lot to Bambi that Sam tried. That he is trying. That her pack is trying to avoid the mistakes made with Marianne and Alistair. That they are fighting to keep her in their lives even if that means that Edward is a part of their pack. It's not going to be easy. And it won't be perfect. But they are trying. And so should she. They deserve the same effort from her. Pouting and bitching about it isn't going to change that this is her life now. That she is a wolf and a vampire and a fairy. She needs to learn how to live with it. To make the most of the hand she was dealt. She didn't choose any of this. She didn't choose to be born a mix of these supernatural beings. She didn't choose to imprint on Edward. Though the latter isn't really all that bad considering she'd already fallen in love with him before that happened. But still. Her life has been a mass of choices made for her, by her grandmother, by Charlie and Renee, by biology and fate and whatever force rules the universe. But she can choose to make the most of it. To embrace who and what she is and who she loves. She can choose to do that. Sam moves to the front door, ready to leave. He has been here a few hours, and it seems to be the limit on his wolf side being around a vampire. He glances at Bambi as she tidies away the empty pizza boxes. He knows he did the right thing here. She is a part of the pack. A sister. They have to stand together. Bambi moves to join him, to say goodbye to him at the door. Sam takes her arms in his and smiles at her.

"Come to the reservation when you're ready," He tells her. "Your pack misses you" She nods in his hands and he kisses her cheek before pulling back. He nods at Edward who nods back. Polite and cordial. Which they will be from here on out. But they all know that is all it will be. "Things will be okay" He whispers softly to her. "Some of the others might take some time, but they'll come around...we're family"

"Thanks, Sam" She offers as she opens the door. "And thank Emily for the cupcakes"

"I will" He voices and touches her arm as he leaves. Bambi smiles to herself as s closes the door behind Sam, then lets out a long breath, setting her head to the door. A long afternoon and evening. But she is glad it is over. And she is glad that it went well. Edward touches her shoulder and she turns to him, letting him pull her into his chest, his fingers dancing down her spine as she lets out a relieved breath. A weight just lifting from her. She's been torn between her imprint and her pack for long enough that her entire body has been on edge with it. A tension to her entire being. Edward kisses her head and pulls her closer, wrapping his arms around her.

"That wasn't so bad" He voices and she hums in agreement. "It could have been worse"

"Yep," She agrees softly.

"And now we know that we can all be in the same room as one another without killing one another" She chuckles softly against his chest causing him to smiles into her hair. "We'd both do anything to have you in our lives, Bambi" He whispers. "Even tolerate hardwired enemies" She nods. She understands how hard it is for them. That this rivalry is skin deep in ways that none of them can explain. They are just wired to hate one another. She lifts her head to look at him.

"I am very grateful that you did this for me," She tells him as he brushes her hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ears.

"I'd do anything for you" He promises her, cupping her cheek, she smiles warmly at him. He kisses her softly before she pulls back. Humming to herself as she moves around the apartment.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asks as she grabs a hoodie from the bed and turns to Edward as he sits on the couch, stretching out his legs in front of him.

"Talk about what?" He asks.

"Whatever you were texting about during dinner" She points out as she flicks her hair out the back of her hoodie. He leans back on the couch. He was trying to keep it from her until tonight. Just to get dinner out of the way and it is now. She sits next to him and he instantly reaches for her hand.

"Alice had a vision" He admits. "At lunch whilst you and Connor were outside" She hums in question, raising an eyebrow.

"Does this have to do with you and Sam being all hush hush when I went to the bathroom?" He nods in agreement, raising her hands to his lips.

"Alice saw Victoria...." He admits. "She'll be in the area this weekend" She purses her lips, annoyed at the prospect of this woman not leaving them alone. "I thought to warn the pack..." She softens a little, watching him. That he thought of them at all means a lot. He is under no obligation to tell the pack of the threat. He doesn't have to talk to them about anything. But he has warned them that she is coming. "Connor is going to try and persuade Bella to go and visit your mother" He brushes his fingers over her cheek. "I would try to persuade you to go with her but I know you won't..."

"My place is here with the wolves" She argues and he nods. He knows, that's why he isn't going to try and talk her into going to Florida. "With you..." She adds.

"I wasn't going to make you go" He assures her. She lets out a breath as she ponders what this means, she assumes this is Connor's idea of getting Bella away from the threat. She's not really sure how he is going to persuade her to go without telling her the truth, and if she does know the truth she is not going to want to go. She won't leave them to deal with the threat alone, even if her being here will make it worse. With Bella in proximity to Victoria, they are all going to be too focused on Bella's safety. They need to focus on dealing with Victoria. To keep everyone safe. "Are you tired?" He asks her softly, she shakes her head.

"No" She whispers, getting comfy against his side. His hand finds the blanket over the back of the couch and pulls it around her.

"Would you like to watch a movie?" He inquires and she nods.

"But something easy" She points out. "I don't want to have to think about a movie....or read"

"So no to the new 30s French Noire DVD I have?" She gives him a look as he stands, moving to find something for them to watch. "Mind-numbing action?" He asks and then hums. "Classical musical?" He continues and she nods a little behind him. She doesn't really care what it is he chooses as long as she doesn't have to sit and read it all night. He taps the spines of the cases on the shelf before he chooses something light. A black and white musical. Bambi has a wide taste in movies and music, but there is some overlap between the two of them. Classical in both senses. It's something they can both sit down and enjoy watching, listening to or even playing. He moves back to the couch as the DVD boots up on the television screen, sitting at her side before he shifts, laying back against the arm and she smirks, knowing just how he wants them to watch this. Comfortable and together. She shifts, settling herself against him, her head on his chest, their legs tangled together. His arms come around her, holding her close to him as the movie begins to play.