Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Atonement

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 09:

I hadn’t been in direct sunlight in so long I felt very exposed. It was so strange. And to be wearing a bathing suit. A bikini no less.

Normally I never would have worn one. But I figured it was time to embrace the good things about being a vampire. And this body was not a bad side effect of being a vampire. I didn’t feel self-conscious because of my body. Plus I wanted to maybe catch Garrett’s attention.

It may have been childish but I wanted him to pay attention to me.

The smell of the ocean and the breeze kept the few human scents around from bothering me. In all honesty I had gotten much better about human scent. I was so used to it in my room that it bothered me less and less. I fed from a mountain lion on the drive here. The lion tore my clothes to shreds so I had to change. Still though, I felt full. My goal was to get away from even bagged blood. I wanted golden eyes. Red eyes made me depressed. Still Garrett said not to push it. The goal was not to kill people, not to worry about eye color. Speaking of Garrett if his hand brushed mine one more time I was going to grab it.

Garrett had insisted that we come to the Keys before seeing my Mom. He said I needed down time. He was walking beside me wearing old beige shorts that hung to his knees. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. The first time I had seen him without a shirt was when we emerged from the ocean after the submarine rescue. I didn’t have time to appreciate it then. I did now.

I appreciated the hell out of it now.

He was lean and ripped. He walked with such an elegant grace, even for a vampire. He always looked in deep thought. Then he would see something like a seagull or a dolphin jump in the distance and he would have this look of childlike wonder. As if he was seeing everything for the first time.

His hand brushed mine again. I didn’t say anything.

He grabbed my hand gently. His fingers hesitantly interlocked with mine. I looked up at him and he looked nervous.

“It’s okay.” I smiled. I didn’t say anything else. I like his touch. Ever since he locked his arms around my neck I have liked his touch, no matter how brief it was.

He grinned and continued looking down the beach we were walking on. The Keys really were beautiful. I used my thumb to rub the back of his hand. Nothing was said. He knew when to enjoy silence. It was one of the things I loved about him. I was starting to realize there was a lot I loved about him. After the visit with the Cullen’s he didn’t hound me with questions. He let me play with his mini spy chopper. He gave me space but let me know he was there. He was basically Garrett.

“Bella can I ask you a question?”

“Of course.” This was the first thing he had said since we started walking this stretch of beach.

“Are you afraid of heights?”

“No. I don’t think so. I flew in a fighter jet. Of course I really didn’t have time to think about it. Why do you ask?”

“I was wondering if you would like to get a different view of the island?”

“Plane or helicopter?” I laughed.

“I was thinking more like that.” He pointed to the sky.

“Oh.”

An hour later we were sitting in the back of a speed boat. Strapped up into halter of some sort with an iron bar under my ass and a parachute flowing behind us. At least two could go up. Garrett was right next to me. We were still holding hands. Our other hands held on to the straps.

“You sure this is a good idea?” I whispered.

“Of course.” He replied.

“What if I bed something? Or snap something. We fall and have some explaining to do. Or make this guy think he killed us.”

“Good point. Don’t bend or snap anything.” He said smiling.

“You two ready?” The driver asked.

“Send us up!” Garrett smiled. The rope was longer and our feet left the deck. We were rising. One minute later the boat was below us and looked very, very small.

“Oh my God.” I whispered. It was breathtaking.

“It is something. I have always wanted to do this.” Garrett said. This surprised me.

“If you have always wanted to do this, why haven’t you?”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“The first time I saw this, a man and a woman were gliding together, like we are now. I thought how nice it must be to have someone to share that with. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself at the time. Since I had turned in all the decades I had lived, I never had a girlfriend. I did as a human but not since. I have been going from battle to battle, fighting everything I could find. So the idea of doing something alone that looked so much fun to share with someone held little appeal to me.”

“Oh.” I wasn’t sure what to say to that. He had never had a girlfriend? Of course our lifestyles make it difficult to have a relationship I guess. While the Cullens were getting married every few years and going to school constantly Garrett was fighting. He never really took time for himself. He had been alone before Ty and now me.

“So thank you Bella. You are the only person I have ever wanted to take parasailing. Now what do you think?”

I took a look around. We were in the US but the Florida Keys seemed like another country. An island country. I saw sand bars, small islands covered in trees. The water was so clear. With my eyesight even from this distance I could see the tropical fish swimming in the surf. The resorts in the distance.

I took the scenery in and then looked at him.

“Beautiful is the only thing I can think of to say right now.” I whispered.

Since we had gotten on the boat Garrett had not touched me. I found myself missing his hand.

He did it earlier. Guess it wouldn’t be too awkward.

I brushed his finger and he grabbed my hand with no hesitation. I held in a smile. I didn’t want it to seem like a big deal. It’s just… I had never had much luck with guys. Edward and then when I finally got a point with Jake that I felt I could carry on my life ended. At least my old life.

I would be lying if I didn’t say I was totally infatuated with him. At first I thought maybe it was just gratitude for what he had done for me. Some type of hero worship. But it was more. I think he felt more for me too.

We rode in silence and enjoyed the view. Garrett pointed out some dolphins playing the surf and told me we could swim with them in the morning. We had two more days here. Then I would see Mom. Garrett was taking me to a play tonight. He said being in a theater filled with people would show me how far I had come.

It seemed like Garrett was always doing something for me.

“Hey Garrett? I know I’ve told you this before but thanks… for taking me in, and not killing me when I asked you too and talking to my parents and… just everything. You’ve given me a reason to live, not just exist.”

“You’re welcome Bella.” He squeezed my hand a bit. “I could say the same about you.”

We landed after being dipped in the water twice, back on the boat.

We walked back along the beach taking our time holding hands. He may have bumped me a few times in my hips causing me to laugh. I felt so comfortable around him. I needed this. When he insisted on leaving Ty behind to watch the world while we left early for fun I was so against it. I was afraid I would miss a mission. I was afraid if I wasn’t busy training constantly I would have time to wallow. But it wasn’t true. Being with him…

We arrived back at our cabin on the beach. I walked in to see my phone buzzing. I looked down and recognized his number. I let it ring. I wasn’t lying when I said we could be friends but I was with Garrett now. Not the way I think I wanted to be but we were together in the same space. I didn’t want to waste our time together. Not like we would run out. But still. Edward did not belong here.

Garrett didn’t comment on my ignoring of Edward’s call. He noticed though. I saw a little grin on his face. He walked into the bathroom and I heard the shower turn on.

I decided television would be a good distraction to take my mind off what was going on behind that door. I have had sex exactly one time in my life. The last night of my former life. I focused on blood the past year. But since I had been with him, I had realized there were more things to focus on than blood.

Like the body being washed behind that door. Wouldn’t mind being a wash cloth right now.

My damn phone buzzed again. Why did I give him my number? Friends. Right.

I picked up my phone and declined the call. Then I hit the power button. Garrett had his phone if Ty needed us. Mine was off tonight. I had learned a lot about myself since I had been with Garrett. Now I wanted to find out if Garrett felt the way I thought he felt about me. I didn’t want to be broken or weak, I was tired of timid. If I was leaving the past behind I was also leaving who I was.

Everything should tell me this would be a bad idea. If it didn’t work, if I was misinterpreting his intentions, this could make our situation awkward. It could cause me to have to leave. But I had to do this.

I waited too long with Jake. I wouldn’t make the same mistake again. I deserved to be happy. Okay maybe I didn’t deserve it. But I was going to do my best to take it.

Garrett walked out of the bathroom wet, wearing only a towel.

“Showers available.” He winked.

He looked at my phone with the dark screen.

“Turn your phone off?”

“Yep.”

“Good. I’ll be in my room getting dressed. Have fun in the shower.”

Oh damn.

GPOV

“You doing alright?”

She had started shaking slightly. Not noticeable to most. I tended to notice every single thing about her though.

She squeezed my hand tighter and a determined look crossed her face. She would be fine.

The curtain opened and the play began. Within minutes she was laughing. I was surprised and a bit pleased when she told me that she had never been to a theater before to see a play. I forget how young she is compared to me. Barely starting out in this world.

I can’t believe Edward called her. Twice. Back to back.

Of course she ignored both. Fuck you pretty boy.

That was childish. He has never done anything to me. I barely knew him.

My phone buzzed. Maybe Ty needed…

Fucking Carlisle Cullen. If that fucker thinks I am checking in with him he is out of his damn mind.

“Who is on the phone?” Bella whispered never taking her eyes off the stage. The smile never leaving her face.

I planned to keep it there.

“No one important. I’ll turn it off.”

“No! What if Ty needs us?”

True. I looked into contacts and blocked Carlisle’s number from calling.

“There. Taken care of.” I smiled. She laughed at some antic on the stage. The more involved she became the less she shook. By intermission she no longer seemed bothered by the scent of the humans at all.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” I asked.

“I’ve never had so much fun in my life.” She told me staring into my eyes.

The second act was as good as the first. She walked out holding my hand and completely relaxed. We walked around the shops near the theater. Bella wanted to visit the souvenir shop. She bought me a god awful Hawaiian shirt which gave me a great idea.

“I will wear this shirt if you wear what I want you to wear to a concert tomorrow night.”

That caught her attention.

“Why would you care what I wear? What kind of concert are we talking about?” she looked nervous. At least she loosened up about the bikini. She practically wore a robe for the first hour on the beach.

I looked over and saw what I was looking for.

“Yes or no Bella? Do we have a deal?”

She chewed her bottom lip. It was cute. I wonder if she had always done that.

“Fine. So long as you promise to wear that shirt. You can’t dress me any less than my bikini today covered.”

Oh how wrong you are Bella.

“Less? No I actually plan to dress you in more. A long grass skirt, a hat and that…”

Her eyes followed my finger to the wall display.

“No.” she said automatically. I smiled.

“No.” Now she was starting to understand. She must have seen the hats next to the display.

“No?” she asked quietly.

“Oh yes. Bella. Oh yes.”

We watched television the rest of the night. At sun up we were in the ocean swimming along the dolphins. We actually could move quite a bit faster than they could. Normally they would be frightened of us. I kept my distance. Bella swam right up to one and hugged it as it was gliding through the water. The Dolphin didn’t seem to mind.

She had been much happier since New York and I admit since saying goodbye to the Cullens. I suppose Francis was right about that one. I still caught her at times with a sad look on her face, her eyes looking at some past only she could see. But I also saw her catch herself. Once she even shook her head and then smiled.

Ty was right as well. She wasn’t broken. She was too strong to be broken.

“Garrett I am not coming out.”

“How are we going to make the concert if you don’t come out of the bathroom?”

“I look ridiculous.” I could hear the pout in her voice.

“Everyone else will look ridiculous as well. I’m wearing a hideous shirt for you.”

“I thought you liked the shirt?”

“Really?” I would have thought the sarcasm wouldn’t have been lost on her.

“Fine.” She huffed. The door opened. Oh my.

A part of me wanted to laugh. Another part of me wanted to rip what little clothes she had on, off.

Bella had a fruit basket hat on that was at least two feet tall. A grass skirt started below her belly button and went to her bare feet. The kicker to the entire outfit was the coconut bra.

“Very nice.” I murmured. “You will fit right in. Imagine this as undercover training. An essential part of many operations. Blending in Bella.”

“Jimmy Buffett? I can’t remember if I have ever heard of this guy.”

“You will love him. I partied once with him in the Seventies. Great guy. Now let’s go.”

Bella was relieved to see twenty thousand other people dressed exactly as we were. Some even more outlandish. We were seated next to a gentleman in a large parrot costume. At least he smelt male. It was difficult to tell. On the bright side the overwhelming scent of alcohol and marijuana blunted the smell of human blood. Bella’s eyes were only slightly dark once we got there and they lightened to red after twenty minutes or so. She had a much more difficult time. I assumed since this would be an outdoor concert that she would have an easier time than the theater. But the mass of humanity was difficult for her.

She did pass a major test thought. Midway through Weather is here, wish you were beautiful, a man three rows in front of us dropped his beer bottle. His girlfriend tried to pick it up and cut her hand.

Bella sniffed and her eyes turned to coal. Every muscle in her body clenched. She wasn’t breathing. She wasn’t moving all.

I reached for her elbow but she shook her head.

“I’m good.” She whispered. I watched her closely. She began breathing again. Slow breaths. Shallow. Her eyes remained closed.

Finally she opened her eyes.

And grinned.

“I’m good. Hungry as hell, but good.”

“You want to leave?” I asked.

“Nope. I want to stay.” Her voice was quiet but determined. Just like she was. Quiet and determined.

After the concert we packed our bags. We weren’t going to leave until the morning so we sat on the porch and watched the ocean roll in. Finally an hour before sun up, after hours of silence, I decided it was time to speak up.

“Bella there is something I want you to understand. I realize you probably already know this but I want you to be clear. I told you I would never lie to you. I am interested in you Bella. I care deeply for you. We haven’t known each other long but no one has ever affected me the way you have. I am not telling you this to place any pressure on you. I just want to be upfront.”

She didn’t say anything. She kept staring ahead at the waves without so much as moving.

“Don’t feel like you have to say anything just because I put myself out there. This isn’t awkward at all.” I mumbled.

She at least smiled.

“Sorry.” She whispered.

“No problem. So…”

“Garrett you know the luck I have had with men. I pretty much let myself get dominated and led into the supernatural world by Edward Cullen. Then abandoned. Once I nearly moved on and had sex for the one time in my life I am taken away and changed into what Jake hates the most.

I have horrible luck with men. Are you sure you want to take this chance Garrett? If it doesn’t work, it could be awkward. I don’t want to…”

She stopped talking. I didn’t say a word. She finally looked over at me. Her eyes were wet.

“I’m so fucking tired of thinking.” She whispered. Before I could react she was on my lap and her lips were on mine. I wrapped my hands in her hair and gripped, afraid to let her pull back. Her hands were running in my hair. Her tongue parted my lips. We joined each other and for the first time since I woke up on the filed surrounded by my dead comrades I felt complete.

We stayed wrapped up in each other until the sun was in the sky.

When she finally pulled back with a slight smile I nearly felt pain.

She had me. I was caught. There was no backing out now. No playing it safe. I had to have her now.

I kissed her gently on her mouth once more before she slid off my lap.

“That was a hell of a first kiss Miss Swan.”

“Yes it was.”

“Are you ready to see your mother?”

“Yes. Now I am. I am definitely ready to see Mom.”

BPOV

“You sure?”

“Yes Bella. You can use a touch phone. You cracked an egg this morning. Your control is fine. You will not hurt her.”

“She might run up to me and hug me.”

“I know.” Garrett said calmly.

“I haven’t hugged a human yet who survived.” I told him honestly.

“And you just said yet. Meaning you know you got this. Relax.” He smiled. Damn those lips. Seeing Mom was the only thing that pulled me off of him. We hadn’t really talked about that. Nothing needed to be said I suppose.

I was about to knock on mom’s door when my phone rang.

I looked down prepared to turn it off in the event it was Edward. Instead it was him.

“Hey.”

“Hey girlie. You doin alright?”

“Hey Ty.” I smiled. Like Garrett his voice always made me smile it seemed. For very different reasons.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Oh are you at your Mom’s?” he asked surprised.

I looked up at the sky and saw Garrett doing the same. He pointed west. It took me a second but then I saw it. Blending in with the bright sky. A drone.

“A drone Ty? Really?”

“I missed you. How you and Garret enjoying the romantic weekend away from Ty thing ya’ll got goin on?”

“It’s going very good.” I replied neutrally.

“So ya’ll fuck?”

“Damn it Ty!” I yelled.

“You’re right. Ty is sorry. Honestly it freaks me out a little. Gar like my big brother and you’re like my little sister and ya’ll about to have some southern backwoods shit goin on. I guess it’s cool since ya’ll can’t be havin no two headed babies or anything but still. Ya’ll gotta put a sock on the door at the compound or something. That’s all I’m sayin. What was it like to brush the dust off a two hundred year old dick? You have ta use a duster to move the cobwebs out of the way?”

“Oh my God Ty. I am going to kill you.” I mumbled.

“Nah. You gonna give me a big ole hug. Just wash your hands first. I don’t know what you been touchin this weekend.”

“Why did you call Ty?” I asked. Garrett just stood there with his face planted in his hands shaking his head back and forth.

“Wanted to get your mind right before you went in there. You was nervous. Don’t be. You want to be nervous about something you should worry about the embarrassing shit I have put in ya’lls rooms since ya’ll been gone. Give momma a kiss for me. Love you Bella.”

Ty ended the call before I could respond.

I slipped my phone in my pocket, grabbed Garrett’s hand and walked towards the door. Before I could knock it was open and she was there.

“Mom?”

“Baby you are beautiful.”

She was crying already. I wanted to. I had not seen her since she left Forks after an unsuccessful attempt to bring me to Florida after Edward had left.

Her hair had some grey in it. Her face had a few wrinkles. She never had those before. I had red eyes. I guess we all change.

She opened her arms and stepped towards me. I wouldn’t panic. Garrett placed his hand on the small of my back. I opened my arms and she practically fell into me.

I moved very slowly. But eventually I had my arms around her.

I wasn’t sure how she would react to my cold skin. It didn’t seem to bother her. Her tears were on my face.

I don’t know at what point, but Garrett had taken his hand off my back and walked out of the room.

Mom pulled back and tried to pull me to the couch. She jerked quickly bringing me out of my trance.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay Baby. I know you are strong now.”

I followed her to the couch.

“You are beautiful baby. You always have been but…”

“How do you like the new place?” I asked. Mom had only been here recently.

“Garrett did a great job. He must be able to read minds or something. I couldn’t have picked out a better place myself.”

“Garrett? Where is Phil?”

“Oh… we never talked about that did we?”

“Talked about what Mom?”

Garrett moved in the room quicker than I could nearly see. He sat down next to me and smiled.

“After Phil found me… after I tried to… anyway I was in in the hospital and not making any progress and I guess the stress was too much. We divorced.”

“He divorced you while you were in a damn Mental hospital!” I yelled. Mom jerked. Garrett grabbed me with both of his arms.

“I didn’t want to tell you. It’s for the best Bella.”

I wanted to find him. Track him down and hurt him. Not kill him. Just hurt him. Permanently.

“The best? He abandoned you! After your daughter supposedly died and you tried to kill yourself?”

“Bella. It’s okay. Calm down.” Garrett whispered.

“Listen to Garrett Bella. He isn’t worth getting worked up over. I am fine. I have this place and a new job teaching at a new elementary school. I thought I would never get it but I would imagine your friend had something to do with that as well.” Renee grinned at Garrett. I looked over at him. He was rubbing my shoulders.

“You bought her this house?”

“Yep.” He didn’t lie. Garrett never lied.

“Why?”

“Because I could and I wanted to. No other reason.”

I nodded. Typical Garrett. That was what I loved about him.

“I understand you have been doing very well. How was the concert?” Mom asked.

“You knew we went to a concert?”

“Yes. Ty told me.”

“Ty told you? When?” What the fuck?

“Last night on the phone Bella. You act like you don’t know that one of your men is calling me every day to say hi and talk.”

“I didn’t know.” I murmured glancing at Garrett. He was looking down.

“Yes. I hear from Ty or Garrett every day since Garrett sprung me from the nuthouse. Even on the days I hear from you Bella.”

I had no idea. Neither of them ever said a word about it. Why keep it from me? Of course I didn’t ask did I?

“I hope you aren’t angry.” Garrett whispered.

“Why would she be angry Garrett? It’s not like she has a reason to be jealous of me. Now if there are any other women you are talking to without her knowledge you might want to be concerned.”

“Mom Garrett and I are… we are…” I looked at him from help but he was waiting for me to speak.

“I know what you and Garrett are. You are each other’s salvation just as you are mine Bella. Just be happy with that. Besides Garrett would never talk to another women. It was over for you the moment you saw her, wasn’t it?”

“Yes Renee. It was.” Garrett answered her but was looking at me.

“Mom? When did you get so…” Mom didn’t normally sound so thoughtful.

“Spending six months in a psychiatric facility thinking you had no reason to live will make a person more thoughtful Bella. Now, Garrett… I finally have you here. Would you like to see the pictures of Bella growing up that I have been promising you?”

Garrett looked at me and I nodded. I wasn’t angry. I was touched. Ty as well. I wonder if they had been calling Charlie. We would be seeing him next week.

“I would definitely love to see those pictures Renee.”

Mom fell asleep in my arms that night. The next morning hugged her for a couple hours and Garrett and I left. We needed to check in. Make plans to see Charlie. I would have to come to grips with seeing Jake. I had hoped maybe he wouldn’t want to see me. I didn’t want him to see me like this. But I knew he would. May as well face it.

I promised Mom a visit in the next two weeks unless something came up that couldn’t be rescheduled. She understood. She told me she was proud of me. I tried to feel pride in that but I wasn’t to that point yet. Not yet.

We were on the road for three hours playing word games to see who would choose the radio station when he called.

“Ty you got some explaining to do.” I laughed before Garrett could even say hello.

“Garrett Bella listen up.”

Oh shit. Ty sounded serious.

“Go ahead.” Garrett said in the same tone Ty was using.

“A Hawk carrying UN peace keepin boys went down in the Bosnian wilderness. A SRT was sent in. They never came out. Another team went in. They reported being surrounded by an unknown enemy and being slaughtered. They were holding but couldn’t say who or what was attacking them. They had lost 6 out of 24 troops so far. Radio communication ended and no other word has come from the area. Trackers on the team are no longer moving but satellite flybys show no bodies in the area. Me and Connolly’s dumbasses are in the air now, headin cross the pond. Get you and shorty’s ass out to Eglin and catch a ride. See you guys there.”

“See you in Bosnia Ty.” Garrett said and ended the call.

“So. Bosnians?” I wasn’t actually up to date as I should be on foreign affairs.

“Nope. Werewolves. Sounds as if they have possibly taken out two SRT teams.”

“So…”

“You ready to go hunting Bella?” he winked at me.

“Yes I am.” I also had a few ideas for when hunting was over. This weekend was a good start. But I wanted him. He stepped up and made his intentions very clear. Maybe it’s time I made mine clear as well. Very clear. I never had much game in my life as Ty would say. It was time to step mine up.