Bella

I held my breath, keeping as still as my new body would allow, making sure to stay downwind of the scent of the one I was hiding from. But he was close…and getting closer. I shifted, moving behind the tree slowly, and chanced a sniff. He was getting closer, and once he caught sight of me, I was done for. I was the last one left…he'd gotten the rest of my family. The wind shifted and I contemplated climbing up in the tree…but he was good. He'd probably see that. My only hope was to wait until he moved on and then run in the opposite direction. I inhaled almost silently. I was getting better at that, analyzing scents, learning where things and people were without looking. Vampire senses took a while to get used to, but I was learning. Jasper had been teaching me just the day before, helping me out and training me. I was still a bad fighter…he said that, like many newborns, I went for the easy kill, and could be easily outsmarted, so I'd shoved him out of the tree. He'd laughed, catching himself easily and promising that he wasn't trying to insult me.

The footsteps faded and I reminded myself of the situation at hand. 'Stay or go, stay or go…' I had to make a decision…fast. I was the last one left. Even Edward hadn't made it. I pivoted, placing my hands on the tree, and got ready to climb, telling myself that I could use the trees to get me away, and hopefully he'd give up soon. I would have to wait him out…even the house wasn't safe. I lifted myself, moving silently and carefully, being patient as I let my instincts take over. I could climb a tree with no problem, but doing it silently…well that took getting used to. But I was doing well. I made it to the lowest branch and hoisted myself up easily, staring down at him with a feral grin. He was moving away from me, his sharp eyes going back and forth across the clearing, his senses obviously on high alert. I took a step back, still silent, and looked over at the tree behind me. All I had to do was step…the trees were so close together here, and I was grateful for a moment before moving back, making my way through the thick foliage, avoiding touching the leaves as much as I could. I just had to stay upwind…Jasper had taught me that too. It applied to hunting and…well this situation as well. If he couldn't smell me or see me, then maybe I could get away…and then what? Wait him out, I reminded myself, forcing myself to be patient and wait for him to get a little further away.

He lifted his nose to the air, turning in my direction, but not looking up, and then began walking back to the tree where I perched. I held my breath once more, freezing into a statue, then told myself to move, getting as far away as I could. 'Higher.' I told myself firmly. 'Higher and further away!' I climbed upward, making no noise as I pulled myself higher, climbing the tree easily until I ran out of tree, perched above the foliage. I could see the roof of our home in the distance and felt a pang of regret. 'If only the house was safe! I'd be fine…but it's not.' I glanced around, then leapt from the tree I stood in to another, easily maneuvering and making no noise.

My newborn speed had gotten me further away than any of the others. Edward might have gotten away, but he'd gone after my fiancé first. I hadn't looked back, knowing that my only chance would be to get as far away as possible, and I'd been on my way to the heart of the swamp when he'd come along. If I could just get a little deeper into the swamp…there the smells were nearly overwhelming, animals and plants and water to cover our tracks…wash away the scent. I hardened my resolve. If I could get to the swamp, I decided, I would be safe.

I moved faster, taking a chance that he was far enough away that he wouldn't see the trees move or hear me. I could probably outrun him, but I didn't want to chance it. He'd proven himself excellent at outsmarting people. The trees thinned out a little, but if I could find a good hiding spot in a place he wouldn't think to look, then I might have a chance. I slipped down the tree when the water came into sight, looking around just in case. He was nowhere to be seen, and I couldn't smell him anywhere nearby. I landed in the water with a quiet splash that could have belonged to a deer or even a fox or wildcat. These swamps were full of animals. I hurried through the water, looking around, then crouched in a bush, backing into more foliage, my eyes open and ears alert for any sign of…footsteps. I heard them approach and felt worry start to overcome me.

I'd backed myself into a corner…if he got closer, if he picked up my scent, he'd scour the area…I berated myself for thinking he wouldn't come here. What was I supposed to do? I heard him come closer and panicked, jumping up and making a run for it. I needed to get further away…the footsteps were behind me now, not catching up but tailing me, letting me know that he saw me, that he had all but caught me. If he managed to get a hold of me, I had no chance. I couldn't fight to save my life! I ran faster, using my strength as I dodged through the swamp, splashing loudly in some places where the water was deeper. I made a sharp turn, trying to lose him again, but he tailed me easily, his footsteps growing closer, and I leaped, reaching for a tree branch and pulling myself up as quickly as I could, racing through the trees like a monkey, swinging from branch to branch as I turned corners and changed heights, hoping to lose him, and after climbing to the top of one of the taller trees, I stayed absolutely still. I couldn't hear him anymore.

I leaned my head back, letting myself exhale marginally, finally relaxing a little. 'Okay, again. I just have to stay here…or find a better hiding spot, and then….' My thoughts were cut off when I heard a loud snarl, and someone was tackling me. I hit the ground first, and although it didn't really hurt at all, I cried out, twisting and fighting his hands. 'Get away get away get away!' I told myself over and over, trying to use my strength, but teeth brushed against my neck, a low growl coming from the man pinning me to the ground, and I went completely still.

"Gotcha."

I sighed, my arms going limp at my sides while my brother chuckled, climbing off of me. "I win." He announced cheerfully, and I rolled my eyes.

"I almost got away!" I argued, sitting up, and he snorted.

"Yeah right. I had you right where I wanted you." I pouted, scrunching my nose, and he put an arm around me. "You did really well. Better than anyone else." He admitted softly, his hand on my back, and I smiled at him.

"Who did you get first?"

"Edward, but he can't be it, so Emmett's next." I nodded, just glad it wasn't me. I'd spent the last four hours hiding just so I didn't have to be it again. When we'd played our first game in our new home, as the newest member, I was declared to be it. So feeling like the new kid in preschool, I'd stood in the house, my eyes closed as I counted, my nose in a corner. Finally, after reaching twenty, I'd scoured the area, trying to make my new senses work for me, but my siblings had years of experience, and I'd been overwhelmed by the new smells. It had been a full two hours before I'd caught Edward's scent, the most familiar to me, and had raced through the swamp, feeling more like a bloodhound than a vampire as I tracked him. However, I'd been proud of myself when I'd caught sight of him in a tree, easily overtaking him with my strength, and he'd chuckled as I'd celebrated, after pinning him to the ground of course, my lips against his neck as he'd wrapped his arms around me.

"Bella, you still have to catch everyone else." He'd told me, laughing. "I can't be it anyway." He'd reminded me, pointing to his head, and I'd groaned, dropping down on his chest in the circle of his arms. "Good luck." After a quick kiss, he'd gone back to the house. After an incident that Esme referred to as 'the time Emmett and Edward destroyed an entire house,' we were forbidden from playing in the house, especially not hide and seek or wrestling, so it was out of bounds. She had allowed them to hide on the roof…before Emmett had tackled Alice and sent them all the way down to the first floor. Therefore, it was only used as a waiting area. Helping was also not allowed. They had a whole different game for that, apparently.

I'd found Emmett next. He wasn't great at the game, but he was strong enough to get away if he was caught. They'd explained to me that in order to be out, the other person's teeth had to touch their throat. Of course, as they'd demonstrated when Emmett had tackled me in order to give me some first hand experience, we never actually bit one another. Still, it had been frightening for a second when I'd looked up to see my giant brother on top of me, his teeth at my neck. But I had a feeling Emmett had been gentle with me. After I'd tackled him, finding him hiding in the moor by some bushes, he'd gone down pretty easily, giving in when I'd gotten close to his throat. I hadn't had much training in fighting, and only the guys were really rough with one another when playing.

The expansive moors and swamps on our property were an excellent playground, and as I'd learned while living with my family as one of them, they loved to play together. Baseball. Soccer. Tennis. All extreme versions of course. But one of my favorites was hide and seek. While Carlisle and Esme sometimes played, they'd opted out today. Carlisle was arranging for Charlie to come visit, and Angela as well. Alice wanted to have the wedding as soon as possible, but I wanted to wait for Charlie and Angela to arrive. I was sure Charlie would bring Sue and Leah and Seth, and they could all be there as well….honestly that sounded better than a big wedding. It would just be my closest friends and family, and I was fine with that.

"I didn't think you'd ever catch her!" Emmett grinned from the porch. Edward smiled as well, flashing over to my side and kissing my cheek.

"She's good." Jasper agreed easily, releasing me to Edward, and sitting beside Alice. "Again? Emmett, you're it."

"Nah." Emmett wasn't as big of a fan of this game as I, preferring games that allowed him to use his massive strength. We would often drop games and pick them up later, as I'd learned in the last week. Nights were fairly boring, and even with our hobbies and personal pursuits, we still had plenty of free time. Esme was spending most of her time with the blueprints for the house, deciding what she wanted to do with the outer walls…if she wanted to install glass like she had with the last one, or if she wanted to keep it in the original style. Carlisle helped her, since he didn't start his new job here for a week or two. He was still going to be a doctor at a local hospital, but he was also teaching at the University that Edward and I would attend…soon. Actually, I hadn't done much work on my own control. After the events of the last month, Carlisle wanted me to take it easy…for all of us to, thus the abundant free time to teach me all the games they loved to play. "Wanna spar?" Jasper grinned, nodding, and I could tell that Edward did too. I wasn't a fan. My more experienced brothers could pin me in a second, even with my strength, although Rosalie and Alice were just as dangerous, but Edward always let me win, not wanting to risk hurting me even if I was a lot stronger now.

"Go ahead. I'm going to go find Carlie." I told him, kissing him quickly, then heading inside while they all ran off to find a clearing far enough away from the house that they wouldn't accidently destroy anything or worry Esme.

"Looks like he found you." Our mother said with a smile, glancing up from where she and Carlisle were looking at some blueprints in the kitchen. I nodded, joining them. Her arm went around me, and Carlisle smiled at me gently. "You're getting better." I looked down at the blueprints sheepishly, but she was right…I could feel it. My senses were getting easier to cope with, and I could focus much more easily. I wondered if these games had anything to do with that…training me to gain some control over my new body.

"Would you like to help?" Carlisle wondered, gesturing for me to come closer, and I nodded, moving between them. His lips pressed against my hair as he pulled me to his side for a moment.

"I don't know anything about architecture." I told him with a rueful smile, starting to back away, but he took my hand.

"Here. Let us show you."

Edward

Jasper grinned at me, the invitation clear in his mind. He wasn't going to attack first. He wanted me to come at him. I hesitated, feigning left, then right, taking a step forward and two back, trying to circle, moving away…anything to get him to come forward. His thoughts were racing, trying to keep me from guessing his next move, and I tried to focus on my own plan of attack, not wanting to rely on my talent to beat him. The others watched, chuckling when Jasper growled a little in frustration at me. Alice was laughing under her breath, and I tried to tune them all out while I watched my brother.

We'd spent the last week moving in and teaching Bella to be more comfortable as a vampire. She took to it pretty well, and immediately we could all tell that she loved being included in our games. And I loved it when she played, as did the rest of my family. Jasper especially enjoyed spending time with her, her elated mood rubbing off on him more easily than with the rest of us. But there was nothing I loved more than spending the days with her…just the two of us, running through the forest, her eyes lighting up as we would race and play like children, sometimes falling into the marshes and ponds, coming home after dark, our clothes and hair dripping wet, our clothes ruined.

I'd found a spot in the marshes, almost at the edge of the property that reminded me of our meadow back in Forks. I'd left Bella at home with the others, searching all over the property before I'd found the perfect spot, and then I'd rushed home, finding Bella curled up on the sofa with Carlie, her lips on the puppy's head. Jasper had been on her other side, rubbing Carlie's back gently, and every once in a while, she would whirl around, playfully nipping at him. Bella smiled when I entered the house, her eyes lighting up as I came into view, and for a moment, I'd paused, just looking at her.

She was my Bella…the same beautiful woman, the same sweet, gentle soul…but now she was strong like me, and I couldn't have been happier that she could now really be with my family, playing and enjoying time with us. And hunting together…I'd never quite understood the special appeal of hunting with a mate, but every time we went out to hunt together, I understood more and more until I regretted insisting we wait for the wedding. Once, in the middle of a hunt as she'd sunk her teeth into the throat of a wildcat, I'd nearly jumped her, and it had taken a moment for me to remember why a wedding was important. It only got harder from there, and when the cat had ripped her shirt, I'd groaned aloud, making her give me a questioning look as she'd drank from the cat.

"Edward?" I'd been surprised to find myself still standing in the doorway, staring at her. Jasper chuckled softly, pulling Carlie into his arms and gesture for us to go do whatever it was I wanted to. Laughing, Bella had flashed to my side, putting a hand on my cheek. "What are you doing?" She'd asked with a soft laugh, and I'd smiled, placing my hands over hers on my face, taking a moment to feel the soft warmth of her skin.

I was torn from my thoughts when I was nearly tackled…I leapt out of the way, spinning and bearing my teeth with an involuntary growl. My siblings and I couldn't help the noises…we would often growl and hiss at one another when playing or when upset. The first time Bella had growled at Jasper as he'd gone to attack her when they were sparring, she'd frozen in horror, and he'd barely stopped himself in time before actually biting her as he'd thrown her to the ground, landing on top of her heavily.

There had been a tense moment when all I'd seen was a vampire with his teeth against my mate's throat, her eyes still wide with shock and horror, and Emmett had grabbed me before I could attack my brother. Since then, she'd learned that these were just playful noises, involuntary and never meant as an actual threat. When we were angry, that's when the noises became hostile.

Jasper lunged at me again, obviously taking note of my distraction, and I ducked easily, this time paying more attention to our game. Emmett chuckled, noticing my distraction, and even Alice smiled a little. "Come on Jasper! No one's beaten him in years!" Emmett yelled.

"Bella did." Alice pointed out, but Emmett snorted.

"You know that's just because he won't fight her!" He argued. I forced myself to focus on the fight, jumping forward and pulling away at the last minute, almost catching Jasper off guard. He spun around, following me with his eyes, crouching and bearing his teeth. Suddenly, a thought flashed in Emmett's mind, and I barely jumped out of the way in time to dodge him, focused as I was on Jasper coming at me.
"Hey!" I cried, backing away from the two of them.

"Oh come on. This is never going to end, and it's more fair this way." Emmett reasoned, giving Jasper a conspiratory grin. Rosalie laughed aloud, and I glanced over to find she and Alice lounging on the ground wearing matching smiles as they watched their mates come after me. They lunged at the same time, and I twisted away, slipping between them and grabbing Emmett's arm. He snarled, but I managed to yank him, shoving him on the ground, but before my teeth could touch his neck, Jasper went for mine. I leapt off of him, jumping away. We'd all been sparring for nearly an hour now, and I was ready to get back to Bella, but I wasn't about to give up. I had too much pride for that!

Jasper lunged once more, this time getting closer, and I cursed silently in frustration when I was, once more, prevented from getting Emmett. And then Emmett had my arms. I snarled, trying to twist out of his grip, and Jasper chuckled, stalking forward. They were savoring their little victory. I growled irritably, wishing we'd been more specific about the rules, when suddenly, there was a quiet snarl, and a blur emerged from the woods, tackling Jasper. Recognizing the form immediately, I used the distraction to slam my head back into Emmett's, kicking at his knee with my heel, and then spinning, my teeth against his neck

"I got you!" Bella was sitting triumphantly on top of Jasper's stomach, and she'd obviously tagged his neck, because he wasn't fighting. She was smiling ear to ear, giggling softly, and I knew Jasper couldn't help his amusement when she was so proud.

"You little cheat." He teased, reaching up and shoving her off. "Get off." He chortled, siting up rolling his eyes. She was lying on her back, hair splayed out around her head, the sun making her skin sparkle. Her eyes, still blood-red, were full of mirth as she laughed at her brother. Her eyes met mine then, and I felt my heart flip. Flashing over to her side, I reached down, kissing her soft, warm lips with as much passion as I felt, knowing that I couldn't hurt her. In fact, her grip on my back was almost a little too tight, but I didn't mind.

"I believe I owe my victory to you." I murmured, my lips only a centimeter from hers as I pulled her up, picking a leaf out of her hair. "I thought you were helping Esme."

"I was, but then I heard you were in trouble, so I had to come save you." She teased, her forehead touching mine, and I smiled, rubbing a finger along her cheek. "Shame on you, Emmett, cheating like that." She stuck her tongue out at our giant brother, and he rolled his eyes, joining Rosalie and Alice on the over on the ground. Esme and Carlisle came out, appearing beside my sisters, and Carlisle crossed his arms just as a little black dog appeared, jumping into Bella's lap and attacking her face with her tongue. "Hey girl." She cooed, snuggling the little puppy and kissing her head. I rubbed the dog's back, putting an arm around Bella.

"Who won?" He wondered, obviously amused.

"Bella." Jasper answered with a rueful grin, nodding his head over to us, and Esme laughed.

"I was wondered where she was running off to." Esme looked around, her eyes soft and her thoughts content as she surveyed her family. She loved it when all was peaceful and happy in her family, and since Bella, that had happened more and more. "Bella, wasn't there something you wanted to show Edward?" She prompted my fiancé with a tiny smile.

"Oh! Right!" My love's eyes lit up as she turned to me. "We finished plans for the bedroom…I mean, decorating it." Since we'd moved to the new house, we hadn't done much besides the actual architecture, and some remodeling. Bella and I were sharing a large master bedroom that was, at the moment, empty of all furniture but a large bed. We'd taken the first week or so to get her adjusted to life with us and to play, enjoying some stress-free time. Of course, we all pitched in in the cleaning as well, and Bella and I had worked in the library, unpacking the books and placing them on shelves. Bella and I would decorate the room…well, she would. I would be happy with anything as long as she was, and we were planning on going shopping soon. We needed to start getting her around humans in a controlled environment so that she could start building tolerance. She hadn't registered for classes yet, and we all wondered if she would be ready to attend class by the start of the fall semester. "Come on!" She jumped to her feet, tugging me up as well, and I chuckled as hauled me to the house, past everyone else, and Carlie leapt into Jasper's arms, not happy to be ignored.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." I laughed, gripping her hand and kissing it. She was so happy…I felt it, as though I were Jasper. I paused as she pulled me into the kitchen, placing my hands around her waist, lifting her and spinning her around, my lips finding hers, and like a typical newborn, she was instantly distracted. She wrapped her arms around me, lifting her legs, and I groaned a little, hitching her legs over my hips. As she wound herself around me, pressing against my body, I realized that, if I had any hopes of the wedding night I'd planned, we would need to stop.

"Love…" I murmured, gasping as her lips moved to my neck. She'd become more and more bold, and I couldn't complain, but she was making it harder to stop every time. "You wanted to show me something."

"Mhm." I chuckled when she didn't stop, her tongue touching the skin right under my ear.

"Wedding night." I reminded her, trying to pull gently away, but I didn't have much fight in me.

"Edward…" She whined, her adorable nose scrunching as she pulled away.

"It's going to be great."

"Fine." She rolled her eyes, grabbing my hand and pulling me into the kitchen where she'd laid out the plans. "Okay, so I was thinking we could use this color…or maybe this one. But the bedding can be like this…I like this pattern, what do you think?" I could understand her excitement. As much as she didn't like shopping, she was happy to decorate our bedroom together. Grinning and nodding as I put an arm around her, I listened to her ideas on color scheme, wondering if she'd gotten any of them from Esme or Alice. "Edward? Are you listening?"

"Of course, my love."