As Always, Love Bella

chapter seven: Reactions

Dear Edward,

Allie said her first word yesterday. Emma-Mey hasn't said hers yet, but I'm sure she will soon. "Dada" was Allie's first word. Jake was delighted.

The both of them are doing so well. They're very good for such young children. They don't cry unless they're hungry or need to be changed. I've even had time to start my novel. It'll be awhile before it's finished, but I'm on my way to crossing another thing off my list.

As Always, Love Bella.

~*~*~*~*~

Lizzie

~*~*~*~*~

I felt Edward's hands tighten around me, and I gasped as I realized just how strong he really was. It only took a few seconds before his grip began to actually physically hurt me.

"Hurting me."

The words had only just left my mouth when I felt myself being pulled out of Edward's arms faster than I had ever thought possible. I felt air rushing past for me for several seconds, and I closed my eyes so I would not throw up from the momentum.

"What happened?"

I opened my eyes to discover that air was no longer rushing past me. Rosalie's emotionless face stared above and past my head, and I followed her gaze to see yet another gorgeous blonde I knew to be Carlisle Cullen looking at me worriedly.

"Edward found out about...about what happened to Bella."

I saw a flash of emotion flicker onto Rosalie's face for a second or two before it became emotionless once again. Yeah, this family was definitely damaged. I mean, if what Grandpa Charlie had told me was correct then Carlisle was her father. Why would she hide her emotions from him? Family was supposed to support each other, not just pretend everything was alright.

I knew from experience that pretending that things were okay did nothing to make them that way. And ignoring things? Ignoring things helped even less.

"Lay her on the couch, Rose. Do you mind if I examine you, Lizzie? My other daughter Alice has already told me that you have a broken wrist, but I'm afraid I didn't catch the other injuries before she left to assist Edward. I assure you I am a qualified and practicing doctor. "

The smile he gave me in an attempt to reassure me triggered my speech filter to go faulty.

"You sure you won't decide to drain me for a midnight snack? Only, I'm rather fond of living."

I closed my eyes in mortification for several seconds, and blushed again. Sometimes I cursed the Black blood in me - at times like this, when it decided to take over and make me say something stupid. It would serve me right if they did decide to have for me for a little midnight snack.

"Well, Lizzie, you are most definitely Jacob Black's daughter. "

I was relieved to hear an underlying tone of unconcealed amusement in his voice. Maybe I would not become a midnight snack after all. If my filter stayed around maybe I could even survive to become lunch tomorrow.

"My family and I do not drink human blood. We feed off of animals, and I promise you I will not change my mind and decide to make you my midnight snack. Rose, be careful of her wrist when you lie her down."

From Rosalie's expression I could tell that my filter slip was not as okay with her as it was with Carlisle. She did not put me down quite as gently as she could have, and I winced as my wrist and ankle were jolted. They really did hurt.

"Her injuries are causing her quite a bit of pain, Carlisle. If she's anything like Bella she won't tell you that."

Jasper was the only one to speak, but Alice, Emmett and Edward were standing by the door too. I had not heard them come in, and that surprised me. I was always aware of my surroundings, some my mom had always said I had obviously inherited from my dad.