Recommence ° Edward Cullen[Rewriting]

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Chapter Twenty-Four | A Place For You

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Alex breathed deeply as she braced her arm on the edge of the steam-heated tub, eyes half-lidded in her relaxed state. The water of the bath was just shy of too hot, warming her marred skin wonderfully. Underneath the bubbles of the bath, the scars from the bullets remained, still healing but the blackened skin was gone, first leaving severe bruising in its place although now it was yellowing and fading. A soft hiss behind her drowned out the muffled voices downstairs. Moments later, a triangular head slid over her shoulder.

Ember draped herself over Alex, significantly bigger than before. At the rate the serpent was going, she'd achieve fifteen feet within the next week. "Enjoying yourself, leech?" The flick of a pink tongue was her only response, the woman huffing in amusement as she raised her other hand from the water to run her fingers along the crest of her pet's head. "Ssso warm." Alex hummed softly with a small smile, one that widened into a cheeky grin when the door of the bathroom was opened with a groan.

"You're the worst," Edward grumbled, a hand over his eyes as he peered inside. Alex chuckled, eyes glinting with some mirth as she propped her chin on her arm. "Were you saying something downstairs?" She asked, eyes wide with faux innocence, "I really couldn't hear you down there." Even behind his hand, she knew he was rolling his eyes which made her lips twitch up. "Blameless isn't a good look on you," her grin was wry, "but what I was trying to say is you're staying. Like I said, them knowing makes no difference." 

Alex's lips tugged down into a slight frown, mirth receding ever so slightly. "Really? They know everything?" The man mirrored her frown for differing reasons but it wasn't his voice that responded to her but instead one from just outside the door. "Probably not but it helps a little going up on the food chain." Edward shot his brother a look of fond exasperation over his shoulder but chimed in as well. "Carlisle has been around hundreds of years, love. He's witnessed worst things," the vampire tilted his head to follow an invisible voice, "similar things."

Alice's melodic voice floated up to the bathroom, easier to hear without strain now that the door was open. "Alex, Edward was willing to risk his life for you yesterday. I know what you fear but we as predators? We have our things, our people, that we protect no matter what and I think you were somewhat right. You've never had anything to truly call yours until your dad and Bella, until Edward," Alex blinked owlishly at the latter, glancing at Edward who steadfastly avoided her gaze, "and it makes sense that you'd protect them, regardless of your true nature. You truly could have left us for dead after he risked his life for you but you didn't.

"You stayed instead. For him or for us, you stayed and from there it's simple. By protecting him, you protect us and so we'll protect you." Funnily enough, it would be protecting them from the danger brought on by Alex herself whether she was the threat or she attracted it." A bewildered expression darkened her face as she laid her cheek on her arm, peering up at Edward with furrowed brows. Sensing her gaze, the man peeked impishly between his fingers to meet her eyes. "It's that easy for the emotionally stable." The woman blinked, snorting a laugh even as Rosalie said, "Well, I for one still think she's more trouble than she's worth but that's just me."

Alex huffed, smiling to herself at that. "At least someone's sane in this household." She teased, flicking droplets of water at Edward. His hand fell fully from his face as he levelled her with a look of fond exasperation as she tried and failed to muffle her snickers. Ember slipped away with an irritated his as she was jostled by the tremble in Alex's shoulders. Half-heartedly, the woman reached for her, still laughing as Edward now aimed his gaze heavily at the wall when she rose ever so slightly from the layer of bubbles.