His First Choice (A Twilight Story)

Darling

Night One
The pack had left for the night to rest. According to Alice's vision, the army would be here in less than two days, which didn't give us a lot of time to prepare. After Edward and I's latest emotional encounter I disappeared to find Rosalie and Alice. As strange and distorted as our family was, they were still my sisters, and they were always who I went to for advice.

Of course, now wasn't exactly the time for relationship advice considering the man you needed advice on was actually a century year old vampire who was currently protecting his very recently ex-girlfriend from a revenge seeking angry vampire who's mate he had killed last summer.

But hey, when is it really a good time to ask for relationship advice?

According to the look on Esmes face when I walked into the garage to find my family huddled around a map, now was not the time to ask for advice.

Carlisle and Emmett were explaining to Jacob how he would carry Bella to our designated meeting place to wait for the army. The rest of us, besides Jacob, Edward, and myself, were to wipe out the newborns without involving or endangering Bella. That was the goal anyways.

Edward had insisted on staying with Bella at the campsite to protect her since he had gotten her into this mess, and Jacob had insisted on staying with her seeing as he is her mate. I, however, had been hand-picked by Esme to accompany them. While originally I was to be with the pack and the rest of my family to fight the newborns, Esme had pointed out that should Victoria figure out our plan it would be wise to have our strongest asset with Bella - and that was me.

I knew that my family would be able to handle the newborns on their own, but I still wanted to join them. Both to cover their backs if they needed it and to effectively relieve some stress I had taken on the last few days. I knew I could argue a spot along side them in the fight, but the way Esme had instructed me to stay with Jacob, Edward, and Bella told me that it was more than just Victoria she needed me to watch out for.

The air was heavy between Jacob and Edward. I wasn't sure of the relationship Bella and Edward had before this all happened, but it was safe to say he cared about her. He had always been deeply involved in everything he did. His music, his family, his beliefs...

"Marceline, first thing in the morning you and Edward will circle around the field and then take seperate trails to here," Carlisles voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I nodded as I leaned over Alice to better see the map he was pointing at. As I tilted my head to follow his hand around the trails, I realized the map had been drawn. I recognized the delicate strokes of Alice's pencils and smiled to myself. She had drawn it during one of her visions, and based on the rough lines from one side to the other Jasper had helped her.

"Jacob and Bella can use our room tonight," Alice quipped as she took Jaspers arm, "We're going out tonight. To be strong for the fight."

"I think that's a good idea," Carlisle said, "Esme, Rose, you two go with them tonight please."

I watched my adoptive father carefully. He looked stressed. His timeless beauty cracked beneath the worry lines that formed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Bella led Jacob up to Alice's room as the others left for the night. Carlisle remained lost in thought as Edward, Emmett, and I stood awkwardly in the garage. This was going to be a long night.

Day Two
I had spent most of the night in Rosalie's room with Emmett. He had left sometime before the sun came up with Carlisle to eat, leaving Edward and I alone in the house with Jacob and Bella. I wasn't sure if Edward hadn't left because Carlisle didn't trust me alone with Bella or if Edward was still weary about leaving Bella alone.