Bella had been rushed to the hospital in a blur of urgency, Edward refusing to let her go, Carlisle already working through the extent of her injuries before they had even arrived. The others had returned to the hotel.
Alice had handled what needed to be handled. With perhaps too much enthusiasm. With a trip, and a shattered window, the scene of an accident was set.
And that was how they had arrived at this point.
The room was quiet.
Not the calm kind, but something strange — strained and watchful. The Cullens had taken one side of the room, Kal sat opposite them, an unspoken line drawn across the space. The distance between them deliberate. No one had said anything about it, but no one had crossed it either.
Wary golden eyes flicked toward him, then away again.
Only Alice ignored it.
She boldly sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed, her hand firmly in his. She didn't look at the others, her gaze fixed ahead, her grip steady. Certain.
No one challenged her.
Time stretched.
Then the door opened and every head turned.
Carlisle Cullen stepped inside, composed as ever, though there was a faint tightness around his eyes that hadn't been there before. He closed the door behind him, gaze moving across the room, taking in the distance between the two sides, the silence.
"Bella will be fine," he said.
The tension shifted slightly, not gone, but loosened.
"The surgery went well. There was less damage than we'd thought, thankfully. Nothing she won't recover from." A brief pause. "She's still sedated, but she'll wake up in a few hours. And her mother's already on the first flight out."
No one spoke.
"Edward stayed," he added quietly. "He wouldn't leave her."
Carlisle's gaze moved, settling at last on Kal, and Alice by his side.
It lingered there for a moment. Measuring. Thoughtful. He moved to the large couch opposite Kal — Emmett and Jasper shifting to accommodate him — and sat down, fixing Kal with a stare.
A second passed.
"I believe you have some explaining to do."
There it was. Since he had told Alice, Kal had known this time would eventually come. The time where he would have to reveal himself to her family. The moment he stopped being just Kal to them.
Kal met Carlisle's gaze.
"You're right," he nodded. "If I want you to trust me… then I have to trust you too."
His eyes panned across the room, surveying the gathered Cullen's faces. Jasper and Carolyn's focused, wary stares. Emmett's half-confident, half-evaluating expression. Carlisle's expectant gaze.
He drew in a deep breath.
"Obviously… I'm not a normal human."
"Yeah… I think we got that." Emmett's voice cut in.
No one laughed.
Five pairs of eyes turned toward him.
A beat passed.
He smiled awkwardly, hand rising to scratch the back of his head with chagrin.
Kal coughed, drawing the gazes back to him, before he continued.
"Listen…" a pause, his voice was calm, but more deliberate now. "I've known this day has been coming for a while now."
He turned to Alice, she met him with an encouraging smile. Her hand squeezed his. Then he turned back to the others.
"I've known since we started dating…"
Another pause, longer this time.
"I think it's best if I begin with a story." Kal began, "It may sound strange to you to begin with, but I'm asking you to just… wait until the end before saying anything."
He took their silence as tacit agreement.
"Well, I guess this story begins a long time ago… and actually — funnily enough — in a galaxy far, far away."
Confusion flickered across more than one face. In three, he saw the faintest flickers of recognition flashing in their eyes at the line. Only Emmett's brow crinkled in half-recollection. He continued.
"The Andromeda Galaxy. It's the nearest galaxy to our own. In said galaxy, there is… or, was… a specific planet. The planet was called Krypton. And the race that inhabited it called themselves Kryptonians. Krypton was a harsh planet, far larger than Earth, its gravity five times greater, and its atmosphere far less accommodating. But the Kryptonians still managed to thrive. They existed for millennia — long before the first humans evolved from apes — and in that time, they created a great civilisation."
Jasper and Carolyn also looked confused now. Unsure of how this story was relevant. If it was even true. Only Carlisle continued listening with rapt attention, his gaze unchanging and unwavering.
"They took their first steps among the stars millions of years before humans first discovered fire, and they spread like wildfire, building outposts, harnessing the resources of entire solar systems, and establishing the greatest empire the galaxy had ever seen…"
Jasper's brow furrowed deeper. Carolyn glanced at Kal, uncertainty creeping in. Emmett seemed engrossed in the story if nothing else.
"A millennia later, however, that empire had all but disappeared. The people had turned inward, abandoning outposts and focusing on just their home planet — Krypton. There were mass resource shortages. Artificial population controls and breeding were introduced to ensure the greatest possible efficiency.
"When the resource shortages worsened, the Council — the ruling body of Krypton — made the choice to tap into the planet's core to harness its energy. Against the advice of Krypton's Chief Scientist. It was this choice that would eventually doom Krypton…"
Jasper suddenly seemed to realise something.
"You're being serious?" he asked, "You mean this all literally. This isn't an analogy or something?"
Kal didn't look at him.
"Yes."
Jasper traded an indecipherable look with Carolyn before they both returned their attention to him.
"The planet began to die. Natural disasters became more frequent and severe. Earthquakes and radiation damaged the planet further with every passing day. But the Council refused to listen to anyone — not Krypton's Chief Scientist, nor its greatest general…
"There was a coup. The general — Zod — rebelled against the Council in an attempt to seize power. He eventually lost and was imprisoned. But his actions had only damaged Krypton further.
"Seeing no other choice, Krypton's Chief Scientist secretly hatched an escape plan. Not for himself, but for his son — the only Kryptonian child naturally-born in centuries. He built a small ship, equipped with a special engine that would deliver his son far away — to a safe haven he had found in another galaxy. The ship departed only moments before Krypton breathed its last. It held the last Kryptonian in existence, safely secured in cryo sleep."
Jasper, Carolyn and Emmett still looked perplexed, but Kal saw the beginnings of understanding flowering in Carlisle's mind as he continued.
"Just over seventeen years ago, that ship, carrying the last of its kind, finally arrived at its destination."
Silence fell heavier. Carlisle leaned forward slightly.
"Earth."
Now Kal saw Jasper and Carolyn begin to catch on too. They shared a look, a creeping suspicion blooming in their eyes.
"The ship malfunctioned — damaged by Krypton's destruction — and ejected the cryopod while it remained in orbit. The cryopod fell to the Earth and landed in rural Kansas, where it was found by a farmer and his wife. Jonathan and Martha Kent. When they discovered the pod, and its contents, they decided to take the boy in and raise him as their own."
Carlisle leaned back in his seat, mind processing rapidly. Jasper and Carolyn shared astonished looks, eyes wide, mouths open, as their suspicions were confirmed.
Only Emmett still looked normal, having yet to catch on. Kal continued for his sake.
"Jon and Martha Kent were my parents. That child… was me."
That did it. Emmett's eyes went wide.
No one spoke. Not immediately. Alice's grip on Kal's hand tightened momentarily — not in surprise, but in reassurance.
Then Emmett shot to his feet, the movement abrupt, almost violent, mouth agape in shock.
"You're—"
He stopped, like his brain couldn't quite form the word.
Kal finished the sentence for him.
"An alien. Yes."
Emmett, still standing, seemed to go limp, half failing, half throwing himself backwards into his seat.
Carolyn stared at Kal, completely still, eyes wide in open disbelief.
Jasper's gaze had gone sharp — not aggressive, but intensely focused, like he was recalibrating everything he thought he understood.
Alice didn't move. Her gaze stayed on Kal.
Carlisle said nothing, his gaze merely shifted to Alice.
"You knew?" he asked simply.
The others directed their attention to her too.
Alice met his gaze without hesitation.
"He told me the day we got together."
There was silence. Kal let them digest for a few long seconds, then spoke.
"He's still Kal," Alice said, quietly. "Nothing about him has changed. You just understand him now."
Kal spoke up too.
"If it helps, I'm not here to take over the world or probe anyone." he quipped, trying to lighten the mood. "I've been raised here my entire life. This is my home."
No one laughed.
Alice's thumb brushed lightly over the back of his hand.
Kal began slowly, "You know… I didn't know what I was either. Not at first. It was years before I found out."
That bit was a lie. The rest — as far as Kal was aware — was actually true in this universe. Pieced together from the paper trail of documents the system had created for him, and Jor-El's teachings. But that last part? That, he had copied from the movies. Besides that, the only thing he had omitted was that the soul inhabiting the child's body was not the same as the one that had left Krypton.
Kal exhaled slowly, steadying himself. Alice leaned just slightly closer.
If he was going to use the movies, he might as well go the full mile.
"My father — the one from Earth I mean — taught me everything. He showed me what humanity truly is — and told me that I don't have to be a biological human to have it. He said my powers were a gift, and I have a duty to help people. To protect the innocent and fight for justice. And he was right. I try to make him proud every day that goes by."
The silence was heavier now. More thoughtful. Carlisle's eyes seemed deeply contemplative.
"I know it's a lot to take in," Kal began, "But the first thing I want to say is that I'm not a threat to you. I love Alice. You're her family.
"And I have powers, yes. But I also have… a code, you could call it.
"You, and your family; you don't hurt people, you live off animal blood, you only hunt animals — as far as I see it, you're no different from any human. What I'm trying to say is… you don't have to worry."
There was a pause. A hard look had adorned Carlisle's face, as he ruminated on what Kal had told him. None of the other Cullens spoke, waiting for their patriarch to say the first words. Kal waited too.
"And other vampires?" The question was short. Seemingly simple. "Vampires that drink human blood. Are you a threat to them?"
Kal faltered for a moment, head lowering in thought as he hesitated to answer the question.
Carlisle pressed, his face stony.
"Will you do to them what you did to James?"
Kal's head snapped up. "What— no!"
"Carlisle!" Alice's voice reprimanded simultaneously.
Kal continued. "James was different!"
"How?" Carlisle's reply was quick. "How was he different, Kal?"
Kal sputtered for a second.
"He didn't drink human blood out of necessity. He was sadistic. He enjoyed the hunt. He loved torturing and toying with his quarry. And he was irredeemable. Alice told me vampires don't change, you can't — you are eternally immutable beings, frozen in the state in which you changed."
A pause.
"In other words, he was evil, and there was no way to change that."
Carlisle let a long second pass, steely gaze meeting Kal's own.
"And that gave you the right to kill him?"
The unexpected question threw Kal off guard for a moment. Its apparent simplicity belied a deeply profound idea.
"You wanted to kill him too!" Kal protested indignantly, "You gave me the go ahead yourself!"
"I did." Carlisle agreed, "But I'm not you, Kal."
"What's that supposed to m—"
Carlisle didn't let him finish, his voice rising as he interrupted.
"What it means, Kal, is that our circumstances are not the same." His voice, that had started loudly, slowly returned to its slow, steely cadence. "What it means is that, if I were doing the wrong thing, I could be stopped."
He let those words hang heavily in the air for a few moments before continuing.
"I saw what you did to James in that studio… and I know you were holding back."
Kal froze. The eyes of Jasper, Carolyn and Emmett all widened slightly in surprise. Even Alice seemed taken off guard. Her lips slightly parted, head turning to Kal.
"Weren't you?" Carlisle squeezed, seeking a direct answer.
After a second, Kal nodded.
Carlisle kept speaking.
"Look me in the eyes Kal, and tell me honestly… if every one of us were to come at you, would we be able to stop you forcefully? Would we even be able to put a scratch on you?"
Every eye turned to him.
Kal's jaw tightened.
"No."
Jasper suddenly seemed much more on guard.
Carolyn's eyes betrayed her own wariness, perhaps even fear.
Emmett's face revealed a strange, discomfitted look.
Even Alice seemed surprised by his answer.
Carlisle's face however, hadn't changed, eyes always locked on Kal.
"And James. That wasn't purely logical was it? It was personal, wasn't it? You were punishing him."
"Yes."
The admission hung heavily in the air.
Suddenly, Carlisle's face softened.
"Kal, listen, I know you're a good kid. And you want to be a good man. And that's why this is so important."
His voice was sincere, kind.
"You have more power than anyone I've ever seen, and with that comes responsibility. I've lived long enough to know that life isn't perfect Kal. And I'm not asking you to be either. Nor am I asking you to have no emotion. I know not everybody can be left alive, and James was one of them. He had to be dealt with. But you should know why. Because every choice you make matters more than anyone else's, because you can do more than anyone else."
The room was silent. Thoughtful.
When Kal finally spoke, his voice was soft, strained.
"You think I don't know that? You think there are times I don't feel like a stranger? Like I don't belong in this world?" He meant that. In more ways than one.
The Cullens seemed to sympathise with that, gazes lightening.
Alice reacted the most strongly. Her visage softened with a quiet, aching compassion, eyes watering up, threatening tears. Her lips parted, but for a moment, no words came out. She didn't know what to say.
"Oh, Kal…" it was quiet, sad, and it was all she could manage to produce.
"I know what I am, and I know what my abilities mean…" A beat, "But, at the end of the day, I know what kind of man I want to be."
In his mind an image formed.
Blue. Red. Yellow. Cape fluttering in the wind. The sun rising slowly behind him seemed to represent everything good. Kindness. Compassion. Justice.
Hope.
"I want to be… good." There was no other way to put it.
"I want to represent something that inspires people. To protect the innocent. To bring about justice. I want my actions to show people that the world can be a better place, that good can win at the end of the day. I want people to know that someone cares about them. That on their darkest day, the good, the innocent, the oppressed… they can call on me… and I'll be there. To help them… to save them…
"To let them hope. Because that's the most important thing a person can have. Hope."
Kal had begun slowly, but with every passing word the image in his mind solidified more, the passion in his voice rising until it reached fever pitch. Hot. Intense. Fervent.
He meant each and every word.
That last line settled over the room like something heavy and immovable.
No one spoke.
Emmett didn't move from where he'd dropped back into the couch, but the earlier shock had drained out of him, replaced by something quieter. The edges of his usual easy confidence had dulled, replaced with a kind of respect he wasn't used to feeling.
Carolyn's hands had loosened in her lap.
She was still staring at Kal, but the tension had left her posture. The disbelief had softened into something quieter, something deeper — her expression touched with a faint, almost fragile warmth. Not uncertainty or fear, but understanding.
Jasper sat motionless, but not rigid.
The sharpness in his gaze had faded, replaced by something more measured, more… contemplative. There was something new in the way he watched Kal. Recognition. Respect, earned in a way words couldn't quite explain.
Alice hadn't taken her eyes off him.
Her hand was still in his, fingers laced with his own, but her grip was gentle now. Steady. Her expression had softened completely, her eyes bright — no longer with unfallen tears, but something warm and quiet.
Pride.
And beneath it, unmistakably…
Love.
She didn't say anything. She didn't need to.
The silence stretched, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
Then Carlisle reacted.
His gaze had never left Kal.
He studied him — not with suspicion, not with doubt — but with a careful attention, as though weighing not what Kal was, but what he had chosen to be.
A few seconds passed.
And then something in his expression gave.
The faintest shift at first. The tension easing, something warmer surfacing beneath it.
And finally, he smiled.
"Well that, Kal, sounds like something I can get behind."
And he laughed. It was bright and jovial, and it seemed to instantly dispel whatever tension had been hanging in the air since even before he had arrived.
The Cullens smiled with him. Carolyn beamed dazzlingly. Emmett had a large, goofy grin on his face. Even Jasper couldn't suppress a thin smirk.
Kal felt his shoulders loosen as relief flooded into him. Alice saw it and drew closer to him, her petite form half-draping his arm, as her thumb rubbed the back of his hand. He looked down at her and she smiled brilliantly back at him. Kal admired her fairy-like features — her pale, almost translucent skin, high cheekbones and upturned nose — and for a moment, he had never wanted to kiss her more.
Then Carlisle stood up and crossed the distance between them, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"Welcome to the family, Kal. Again."
Kal let out a chuckle.
"Thanks."
Carlisle nodded.
"No more secrets though, hey?" he added on, "No big ones anyway."
"Ha," Kal let out a breath of air in amusement, "Sure."
Then he looked around the room.
"So… any questions?"
…
"Dude, I still can't believe you can fly." Emmett's excited voice sounded, "That's badass."
"Thanks, Emmett." Kal replied.
Emmett stared at him expectantly in silence.
Kal knew what he wanted. This was the third time he'd mentioned it in the last five minutes.
Kal relented, "Fine, I'll give you a flight sometime. Please, just stop giving me puppy eyes… It creeps me out."
"Alright dude! Score!" Emmett pumped his fist in excitement, as Kal rolled his eyes.
'Just my luck. In every other universe, Superman gets to hug the hot girl and fly her around.' Kal thought to himself in exasperation, 'And what do I get?' He surveyed Emmett's broad physique, face sour, 'A 6'5" (196cm) vampire slash bodybuilder.'
He couldn't help his face turning grumpier. He was definitely
"Emmett, if you try to hug me while we're flying, I'll drop you."
Emmett looked confused, but before he could reply, Carlisle walked into the room, phone in hand.
"Esme and Rosalie called." His voice was somber, "The woman managed to avoid them and escape."
A grave silence descended for a moment.
"We'll have to be extra cautious then in the near future," said Jasper, "It is unlikely she will take losing her mate lightly."
Carlisle voiced his assent, "Agreed. We have to make sure we're on the lookout and ready in case she tries coming back for revenge."
"I'll make sure to watch for any decisions she makes which could affect us." Alice stood and stated confidently.
"No more solo hunting trips, either." Jasper added, "That means you, Emmett. And Edward too."
Carlisle nodded.
"Speaking of Edward," he changed topics, "He texted. Bella's mother has arrived. I need to go to the hospital to speak to her before Bella wakes."
He surveyed the room, eyes settling on Kal.
"Until we know where Victoria might be, Bella is the priority. Kal… I'd like you nearby when she wakes."
"Alright," Kal agreed, "I'll come with."
Alice stepped forward as well.
"Me too." she said.
Carlisle only stared at her for a second, before moving on
"Okay. Carolyn, Jasper, Emmett, take the car and drive back to Forks. Help Rosalie and Esme watch out for Victoria. The rest of us will catch a plane back after they discharge Bella."
Carolyn nodded in affirmation.
"Alright then." said Carlisle, "Kal, Alice let's get to the hospital."
…
"I really am so sorry once again, Mrs Dwyer."
Carlisle's voice was magnetic, almost seductive, as his conversation neared to a close with Renée Dwyer, Bella's mother.
"No! No!" Renée hurried. "Please don't be sorry. It was just an accident — they happen. It had nothing to do with you!"
Kal had truly witnessed a master at work, he thought, as Renée practically stumbled over her words to absolve Carlisle of any blame. The infamous vampiric attraction — like that of a carnivorous flower whose beauty attracted its prey to their own demise — had clearly ensnared Bella's mother.
Kal snuck a glance at Alice who smiled brightly at Renée from his side. He thought back to their first meeting.
Maybe it had worked on him too.
"In fact," Bella's mother continued, "I should be thanking you. If you hadn't been there to start treating her even before she got to the hospital it might've been much worse."
Carlisle smiled.
"Still, I can't help but feel this is in some way my fault," he said, face guilty, "If I hadn't brought Edward—"
Renée didn't let him continue, "Oh please, Dr Cullen, it's not your fault at all. If anything, I'm glad Bella has friends in Forks that care about her enough to come all the way to Phoenix for her."
Carlisle smiled.
"Yes, many in our family have developed quite a liking for Bella. Especially Edward."
"Mmh," Alice tacked on, humming in agreement, "Bella is like a sister to me."
Kal backed her up, "And I consider her a close friend."
That may have been a slight exaggeration.
Renée smiled.
"Thank you. Both of you. You seem very lovely; I'm glad Bella has you."
Carlisle took the opportunity to close out the conversation.
"Well Mrs Dwyer, I'm going to speak to the doctors now, but if there's anything we can help you with — anything at all — just let us know."
"That's very kind of you Doctor," said Renée, flattered, "If it's no trouble, I'd love to talk some more with Alice — about how Bella's doing in Forks, that sort of thing."
Carlisle turned to Alice, waiting for her answer.
"I'd love to." said Alice, flashing a brilliant smile and gracefully dancing over to her side, taking her arm in arm.
Carlisle took his leave, nodding at Kal first and pointedly saying, "Okay then Kal, you stay here and keep Edward company." Before walking off.
Kal then watched as Alice and Renée left too, whispering as they went.
"That boyfriend of yours seems like quite the catch." Renée whispered to Alice, clearly thinking that Kal couldn't hear her.
Alice laughed quietly, a sound like tinkling bells.
"He's not too bad." she whispered back. Kal could detect the hint of humour in his tone that told him she knew he could hear them.
"Not too bad?" Renée chuckled quietly, "What more could you want? He's tall, handsome… and he seems to really like you."
She nudged Alice gently with her elbow.
"You should see the way he stares at you when you aren't looking."
"Oh really?" Alice's head turned back toward him from down the hall, bright golden eyes glistening in amusement.
Kal's ears burned and his face flushed red as the two of them looked back at him, giggling quietly.
Alice's fairy-like features now seemed almost impish as a mischievous grin curled on her face.
"I guess I like him a little too." She joked, feigning disinterest.
Renée laughed heartily as they rounded the corner, with Kal deciding to stop listening before he heard anything that might embarrass him further.
…
Bella's eyes opened to a bright, white light. She was in an unfamiliar white room. The wall beside her was covered in long vertical blinds; over her head, the glaring lights blinded her. She was propped up on a hard, uneven bed — a bed with rails. The pillows were flat and lumpy. There was an annoying beeping sound somewhere close by. She hoped that meant she was still alive.
Clear tubes tangled around her hands, something taped beneath her nose. She lifted a hand to pull it away.
"No, you don't."
Cool fingers caught her wrist.
"Edward?" Her head turned slightly. His face was inches from hers, resting near her pillow.
Relief hit her all at once.
"Oh, Edward… I'm so sorry."
"Shh. Everything's alright now." he comforted.
"What happened?" The memory wouldn't come, slipping away when she reached for it.
"I was almost too late," he whispered.
"I was so stupid Edward! I thought he had my mom."
"He tricked all of us."
"I need to call Charlie… and Mom."
"Alice already did. Renée's here — she just stepped out."
"Here?" She tried to sit up, dizziness crashing in immediately. His hand pressed her gently back down.
"She'll be back soon. Stay still."
"But what did you tell her?" Panic flared. "Why am I here?"
"You fell down a flight of stairs and through a window."
She exhaled carefully. It hurt. Then she looked down at the mound beneath the blanket that was her leg.
"How bad?"
"Broken leg. A rib. A little bruising and blood loss. You got out of surgery a few hours ago."
Bella looked downcast.
"I'm sorry." she whispered.
He looked up at the ceiling. "Of all the things to apologise for."
"For nearly dying," he said softly. "You should have waited."
"You wouldn't have let me go."
"No," he agreed in a grim tone, "I wouldn't."
Suddenly memory surged back — sharp, jagged. She flinched.
"Bella?" Edward asked immediately. His tone was sharp, worried. His golden eyes widening in worry.
"What happened to James?"
For a moment she thought she saw a glint in his eyes, a trace of internal conflict. But it disappeared as fast as it had appeared — so quickly she almost thought it had been a trick of the light.
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "What do you remember?"
Her heart leapt into her mouth. She wasn't sure whether that was a good reaction.
But, deciding to trust him and go along with it, she closed her eyes and focused on recalling the events of the night before.
"I remember…" Bella thought hard, sorting through broken flashes of memory, "Going to the studio. And then… the VHS! The holiday tape. Then… I remember him recording me… he wanted to make a video… for you."
She heard Edward suddenly breathing heavily next to her and looked over in alarm. His eyes were wide again. This time with anger rather than worry, as Bella almost swore she saw a glint of red in his eyes.
It took several seconds for him to calm himself down again, breathing in and out slowly through his mouth. It helped recalling what had happened to the vampire Bella spoke of.
"What else do you remember?" he pressed.
Bella thought hard again, eyes closing.
"I remember… him grabbing me, and… Kal. Oh my God, Kal!" Her eyes shot open, "Is he okay! He followed me!"
Bella was wild-eyed. She felt almost sick to her stomach. Had Kal died because of her?
But when she looked at Edward, she couldn't parse his expression. It was strange. Almost weirded-out she thought to herself.
"Edward!" she called out, breaking him from his reverie.
"Bella, you don't need to worry about Kal." he assured her strangely.
"Bu—"
"Trust me, Bella," Edward interrupted, "Kal is completely fine. In fact, he was completely unscathed by the end of it all. Not even a scratch on him."
Bella floundered, shocked for a second, yet she also felt relief. The nausea immediately retreated.
"B— But how?"
Edward hesitated. He wasn't sure whether now was the right time to break this kind of news. What effect it might have on her health. More than that, he wasn't sure he was able to explain. Heck, he wasn't sure if he even believed it himself.
But he had personally read it from both Carlisle and Alice's minds.
"What else do you remember after that?" He repeated the question to avoid having to answer.
Bella looked like she was going to say something about his changing of the topic for a moment, but a second later she relented.
She closed her eyes again.
"Okay, after Kal… I remember them talking, then James said tried to hunt Alice once. She was the only one that escaped him."
She opened a single eye. Edward didn't seem surprised by the revelation, so she continued.
"Then… I remember getting kicked. God that hurt. I fell. Ht my head. And I'm bleeding." Bella was more rapid now, "I'm on the floor. I can barely see. I'm… hearing loud bangs. I'm fading in and out… then…"
Bella gasped, then half a second later it turned into a chuckle.
"Someone saved me. Us. Me and Kal. And I remember, " she began to laugh self-deprecatingly, "oh god, I thought it was an angel. I thought an angel had fallen from heaven to save me."
Despite her laughing at herself, Edward didn't join in.
Her laughter trailed off.
"Edward? What's wrong?"
He faltered a moment.
"Nothing, Bella."
She didn't seem to believe him.
"What happened Edward?" she demanded, "Who saved us?"
He didn't answer for several long seconds.
"Edward." Bella pressed, "What aren't you telling me?"
"I— Well," he struggled to find the words, "Maybe falling from the sky isn't as far off as you think."
His answer didn't enlighten her in any way.
"What does th—"
"I think I hear your mother." His voice interrupted her.
"Don't leave me," Bella cried, panic rising sharp and sudden. She couldn't let him go — he might disappear again.
Edward saw it in her eyes.
"I won't," he promised quietly, then smiled. "I'll take a nap."
He moved from the hard chair beside her to the recliner at the foot of the bed, leaning it back and closing his eyes, going perfectly still.
"Don't forget to breathe," Bella murmured.
He took a slow breath without opening his eyes.
A moment later, she heard her mother's voice outside, low and strained. Bella wanted to get up, to go to her, to reassure her—but she couldn't even shift without pain. So she waited.
The door opened slightly.
"Mom!" she whispered, relief flooding her voice.
Renée stepped inside, pausing as she noticed Edward, still and silent in the chair, before hurrying to Bella's side.
"He never leaves, does he?" she muttered.
"Mom, I'm so glad to see you!"
Renée bent carefully, hugging her. Warm tears fell against Bella's cheek.
"Bella, I was so upset!"
"I'm sorry, Mom. But everything's fine now, it's okay."
"I'm just glad to see your eyes open." She sat beside her.
Bella blinked. "How long were they closed?"
"They took you into surgery last night. It's almost evening now."
"You're lucky Dr. Cullen was there," Renée continued. "Such a nice man… very young. And he looks more like a model than a doctor…"
"You met Carlisle?"
"And Edward's sister, Alice. She's a lovely girl. "She is."
"Oh, and her boyfriend too."
"You saw Kal?" Bella asked, "How was he?"
"He seemed fine, honey." she answered, "Why?"
Bella felt a lot better after her mother hand confirmed what Edward told her.
"No reason."
Renée was confused for a moment, but put it down to her daughter having both hit her head and recently awoken from being sedated.
Then she glanced back at Edward. "I talked to Alice; you didn't tell me you had such good friends in Forks."
Bella shifted — and immediately regretted it.
"What hurts?" Renée asked anxiously.
"It's fine. I just… shouldn't move."
Renée hovered, unsure where to touch.
Bella seized the distraction. "Where's Phil?"
"Florida — oh, Bella! You'll never guess! Just when we were about to leave — the best news!"
"Phil got signed?"
"Yes! The Suns, can you believe it?"
"That's great, Mom."
"And you'll love Jacksonville," she rushed on. "It's sunny, near the ocean — we found the cutest house, yellow with white trim, a porch like an old movie—"
"Wait, Mom."
Renée blinked.
"I'm not going to Florida. I live in Forks."
"But you don't have to anymore," she said. "Phil will be around more now — and I'll split on away games, half with you, half with him—"
"Mom." Bella hesitated. "I want to stay. School… Charlie… friends…"
Renée's eyes flicked to Edward.
"You want to stay in Forks?" she asked, bewildered. "Why?"
"I told you — school, Charlie—" Bella winced. Shrugging had been a mistake.
Renée's hands fluttered helplessly before settling on her forehead.
"Bella, honey, you hate Forks."
"It's not so bad."
Renée frowned, glancing between Bella and Edward.
"Is it this boy?" she asked softly.
Bella hesitated, then gave in. "He's part of it."
Renée studied her.
"Have you talked to him?"
"Yes," Renée said slowly. "And I want to talk to you about that."
Bella sighed. "What about?"
"I think that boy is in love with you."
"I think so too."
"And you?"
Bella looked away. "I'm pretty crazy about him."
"Well, he seems very nice, and, my goodness, he's incredibly good-looking, but you're so young, Bella…" Her voice was unsure.
As far as Bella could remember, this was the first time since she was eight that her mother had come close to trying to sound like a parental authority. She recognised the reasonable-but-firm tone of voice from talks she'd had with her about men.
"I know. It's just a crush." she assuaged her mother.
"That's right," Renée agreed quickly. Then she shook her head before continuing.
"There must be something new in the water in Forks," she mused aloud, "I think everyone I've met today could be a super model."
Bella smiled weakly, "The Cullens are very lucky." she said.
"I suppose so…" Renée agreed, "But it's not just them — Alice's boyfriend is very handsome too. He does have a different kind of charm to the Cullens though."
She glanced at the clock.
"Do you need to go?" Bella asked.
"Phil's supposed to call… I didn't know you'd wake up…"
"I'll be fine. I won't be alone."
"I've been waiting here," Renée added.
"You don't have to do that."
"I was nervous," she admitted. "There's been some crime around the house."
Bella stilled. "Crime?"
"Someone broke into that dance studio around the corner and burned it down. Completely gone. They even left a stolen car out front. Do you remember when you used to dance there?"
"I remember." She shivered.
"I can stay, baby, if you need me."
"No, Mom. I'll be fine. Edward will be with me."
Renée hesitated, glancing at him again.
"I'll be back tonight." It sounded as much like a warning as it sounded like a promise, and she glanced at Edward again as she said it.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, Bella. Be careful. I don't want to lose you."
Edward didn't move, but a faint smile touched his lips.
A nurse entered, checking the monitors.
"Feeling anxious? Your heart rate spiked."
"I'm fine."
"I'll let your RN know you're awake."
When the door closed, Edward was at her side again.
"You stole a car?" Bella asked, raising an eyebrow.
He smiled faintly. "It was fast."
"How was your nap?"
"Interesting."
"What?"
He hesitated. "I thought… you'd choose Florida. Your mother."
Bella frowned. "You'd be stuck inside all day."
A faint almost-smile crossed his face, then faded.
"I would stay in Forks," he said quietly. "Or somewhere like it. Somewhere I couldn't hurt you anymore."
It didn't sink in at first.
Bella stared at him blankly as his words fell into place one by one, like pieces of a ghastly puzzle locking together in her mind. She barely registered the rapid climb of her heartbeat, but as her breathing tipped into sharp, uneven gasps, she felt the protest of her ribs with every inhale.
Edward said nothing. He watched her carefully, wariness in his eyes, as a different kind of pain took hold of her—one that had nothing to do with broken bones, and everything to do with something deeper, sharper, far worse.
The door opened.
Another nurse stepped in briskly, her practiced gaze taking in Bella's expression before flicking to the monitors. Edward went still beside her, motionless as stone.
"Time for more pain meds, sweetheart?" the nurse asked kindly, tapping the IV line.
"No… no," Bella murmured, struggling to steady her voice. "I don't need anything." She couldn't afford to close her eyes now.
"No need to be brave, honey. It's better if you don't get too stressed out; you need to rest."
She waited, but Bella only shook her head.
"Okay," the nurse sighed. "Hit the call button when you're ready."
She gave Edward a pointed look, cast one last glance at the monitors, and left.
The moment the door shut, Edward's cool hands were on Bella's face. Her eyes snapped to his, wide and unsteady.
"Shhh, Bella. Calm down."
"Don't leave me," she whispered, her voice breaking.
"I won't," he said immediately. "Now relax, before I call the nurse back to sedate you."
But her heart refused to slow.
"Bella." His fingers moved gently against her skin. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here as long as you need me."
"Do you swear?" she whispered, forcing herself to steady her breathing despite the pain in her ribs. "Do you swear you won't leave me?"
He cupped her face, drawing closer, his eyes wide and unwavering.
"I swear."
He held her gaze as her breathing gradually steadied, as the frantic beeping softened back to something normal.
"Better?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," she said, cautious, fragile.
He shook his head, muttering something under his breath. She caught only a fragment—"overreaction."
"Why did you say that?" she asked, her voice trembling despite her effort to steady it. "Are you tired of having to save me? Do you want me to go away?"
His expression tightened.
"No. I don't want to be without you, Bella. Of course not. Be rational." His voice softened, but the weight didn't leave it. "And I don't mind saving you. Not at all. If it weren't for the fact that I'm the one putting you in danger… that I'm the reason you're here."
"Yes," Bella said, frowning. "You are the reason."
He flinched slightly.
"The reason I'm here," she continued, "alive."
"Barely," he whispered. "Covered in gauze and plaster. Hardly able to move."
"I wasn't talking about this," she said, irritation creeping in. "I meant the other times. Take your pick. If it weren't for you, I'd be rotting in the Forks cemetery."
He winced, but the haunted look in his eyes didn't fade.
"That's not the worst part, though," he continued in a low whisper, as if she hadn't spoken. "Not seeing you there on the floor… crumpled and broken." His voice tightened. "Not thinking I was too late. Not even hearing you scream in pain… all those things I'll carry with me for the rest of eternity." He drew in a quiet breath. "No. The worst part was knowing it would be my fault."
Bella knew she needed to stay calm. But he was talking himself into leaving her, and panic stirred in her chest, clawing for release.
"Promise me," she whispered.
"What?"
"You know what." There was an edge in her voice now, frustration bleeding through. He was so determined to dwell on the worst of it.
He heard it. His eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't seem to be strong enough to stay away from you," he said at last, voice rough, "so I suppose you'll get your way… whether it kills you or not."
"Good." He hadn't actually promised. She noticed. The panic barely stayed contained, and she had nothing left to hold back the irritation. "Now I want to know why."
"Why?" he echoed, wary.
"Why didn't you do it?" she demanded. "Why didn't you change me? You could have stopped him. By now I'd be like you."
Something in him went still. His eyes darkened, flattening into something unreadable. Realisation followed quickly—this was something she was never meant to know. Surprise flickered, then anger. His jaw tightened, his expression turning to stone.
He wasn't going to answer.
"I'll admit I don't know much about relationships," Bella continued, her voice steadier now. "But it seems simple. A man and a woman should be… equal. One of them can't always be the one doing the saving. It has to go both ways."
He leaned forward, folding his arms on the edge of her bed, resting his chin against them. The anger had been pushed down, controlled. Deliberate.
"You have saved me," he said quietly.
"I can't always be the one being saved," she insisted. "I want to be the one doing it too."
"You don't know what you're asking." His gaze dropped to the edge of the pillowcase, voice soft.
"I think I do."
"Bella, you don't." He exhaled slowly. "I've had almost ninety years to think about it, and I'm still not sure."
"Do you wish Carlisle hadn't saved you?"
"No." He paused. "But my life was already over. I wasn't giving anything up."
"You are my life," she said, more certain now. "You're the only thing it would hurt me to lose."
He stayed calm. Too calm. Resolved.
"I can't do it, Bella. I won't do that to you."
"Why not?" Her voice rasped, weaker than she intended. "Don't tell me it's too hard. After today… after yesterday… it shouldn't be anything."
He looked at her sharply.
"And the pain?" he asked.
"That's my problem," Bella said. "I can handle it."
"It's possible to take bravery to the point where it becomes insanity."
"It's not an issue. Three days. Big deal."
Edward grimaced, her words reminding him how much she knew—far more than he had ever intended. She watched him rein in his anger, saw the shift in his eyes as they turned thoughtful, calculating.
"Charlie?" he asked shortly. "Renée?"
Silence stretched between them.
Bella tried to answer. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Closed it again. He waited, and slowly, something like quiet triumph settled over his expression. He knew she didn't have a real answer.
"Look, that's not an issue either," she muttered at last, her voice unconvincing even to herself. "Renée's always done what works for her. She'd want me to do the same. And Charlie… he's used to being on his own. I can't take care of them forever. I have my own life."
"Exactly," Edward snapped. "And I won't end it for you."
"If you're waiting for me to be on my deathbed, I've got news for you. I was just there."
"You're going to recover," he said firmly.
Bella drew in a breath to steady herself, ignoring the sharp pain it sparked in her ribs. She held his gaze. There was no give in his expression.
"No," she said slowly. "I'm not."
His brow furrowed. "Of course you are. You may have a scar or two—"
"You're wrong," she cut in. "I'm going to die."
"Really, Bella." Anxiety edged into his voice now. "You'll be out of here in a day or two. A week at most."
She glared at him. "Maybe not now. But I will. Every minute, I get closer. And I'm going to get old."
Understanding settled over him. He pressed his fingers to his temples, eyes closing briefly.
"That's how it's supposed to happen," he said quietly. "How it should happen. How it would have happened if I didn't exist. And I shouldn't exist."
Bella snorted.
His eyes opened, surprised.
"That's stupid," she said. "That's like taking money from someone who just won the lottery and saying, 'Let's go back to how things should be.' I'm not buying it."
"I'm hardly a lottery prize," he muttered.
"That's right," she said. "You're better."
He rolled his eyes, his expression hardening again. "Bella, we're done with this. I refuse to condemn you to an eternity of night. That's final."
"If you think this is over, you don't know me very well," she said. "You're not the only vampire I know."
His eyes darkened instantly. "Alice wouldn't dare."
For a moment, he looked genuinely frightening, and Bella almost believed him.
"Alice already saw it, didn't she?" she pressed. "That's why what she says bothers you. She knows I'm going to be like you… someday."
"She's wrong," he said sharply. "She also saw you dead. That didn't happen."
"I wouldn't bet against Alice."
They stared at each other in silence. The room filled with the quiet rhythm of machines — the soft beeping, the steady drip, the ticking of the clock on the wall.
At last, his expression softened.
"So where does that leave us?" she asked.
He let out a humorless breath. "I believe it's called an impasse."
Bella shifted slightly and winced. "Ouch."
"How are you feeling?" he asked, eyeing the call button.
"I'm fine," she said.
"I don't believe you."
"I'm not going back to sleep."
"You need rest. This isn't helping."
"Then give in," she said.
"Nice try."
He reached for the button.
"No!"
He ignored her.
"You haven't even told me who saved me yet!" she shouted.
That gave him pause.
He debated telling her.
A second later, "Bella, I promise, once you're all healed up and out of here, I'll tell you all you need to know."
He pressed the button.
"Yes?" the speaker on the wall crackled.
"I think we're ready for more pain medication," Edward said calmly, ignoring Bella's furious expression.
"I'll send in the nurse." The voice sounded bored.
"I won't take it," Bella warned.
Edward glanced at the IV bag hanging beside her bed. "I don't think they're going to ask you to swallow anything."
Her heart rate spiked. He caught the fear in her eyes and sighed.
"Bella, you're in pain. You need to relax so you can heal. Why are you being so difficult? They're not going to put any more needles in you."
"I'm not afraid of needles," she murmured. "I'm afraid to close my eyes."
His expression softened. He smiled, that familiar crooked smile, and cupped her face in his hands.
"I told you, I'm not going anywhere. Don't be afraid. As long as it makes you happy, I'll be here."
She smiled back, ignoring the ache in her cheeks. "You're talking about forever."
"Oh, you'll get over it. It's just a crush."
She shook her head faintly, wincing at the dizziness. "I was shocked when Renée believed that. I know you know better."
"That's the beautiful thing about being human," he said. "Things change."
Her eyes narrowed. "Don't hold your breath."
He was still laughing when the nurse entered, syringe in hand.
"Excuse me," she said briskly to Edward.
He stepped aside to the wall, arms folding as he watched. Bella kept her eyes on him, uneasy. He met her gaze, calm and steady.
"Here you go, honey." The nurse smiled as she injected the medication into the IV. "You'll feel better now."
"Thanks," Bella muttered, unconvinced.
The effect was almost immediate. Drowsiness seeped through her, heavy and unavoidable.
"That ought to do it," the nurse said as Bella's eyelids began to fall.
She was dimly aware of the nurse leaving. Then something cool brushed her cheek.
"Stay," Bella slurred.
"I will," Edward promised softly. His voice wrapped around her like a lullaby. "Like I said, as long as it makes you happy… as long as it's what's best for you."
She tried to shake her head, but it was too heavy. "'S not the same thing," she mumbled.
He gave a quiet laugh. "Don't worry about that now. You can argue with me when you wake up."
She thought she smiled. "'Kay."
His lips brushed near her ear.
"I love you," he whispered.
"Me too."
"I know," he said softly.
She turned her head slightly, searching. He understood. His lips pressed gently to hers.
"Thanks," she sighed.
"Anytime."
The world was slipping away now, but she fought it weakly. One last thing.
"Edward?" she murmured.
"Yes?"
"I'm betting on Alice."
Darkness closed over her.
…
"You know, I'm betting on Alice too."
Edward spun around in his seat to catch sight of Kal's form leaning on the doorway. He hadn't heard him arrive.
"It helps when you can see the future." Kal finished.
Edward eyed him for a second. Kal could see Edward mentally evaluating him, measuring him up, assessing if he was a threat or not.
Kal stepped into the room, drawing up another seat near the wall.
"I'm assuming you know?"
Edward nodded silently.
"I read Carlisle and Alice's thoughts. I know everything you told them."
"And?"
"You're an alien." His voice still sounded disbelieving, like he even doubted the words coming out of his own mouth.
"I am." Kal confirmed.
Edward leaned back in his seat a little.
"Why didn't you tell her?" Kal asked after a moment.
Edward paused.
"I didn't want to shock her when she should be focused on getting better."
Kal studied him for a moment, then glanced toward the bed.
Bella lay still, her breathing slow and even, the steady rhythm of the machines filling the silence between them.
"She already knows more than you think," Kal said quietly.
Edward's eyes flicked back to him. "Not that."
"No," Kal agreed. "Not that." A pause. "But enough."
Edward exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting back to Bella. His hand rested lightly against the edge of the mattress, close enough to touch her, but not quite.
"I'll tell her," he said after a moment. "When she's stronger."
Kal nodded again. He didn't push it.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The tension in the room wasn't hostile, just… unfamiliar. Two very different kinds of predators, both standing still for the sake of the same fragile human.
Edward broke the silence first.
"You heard everything?" he asked.
"Most of it."
A flicker of something crossed Edward's face. Not quite embarrassment. Not quite defensiveness.
Kal's lips quirked faintly. "For what it's worth… she's not wrong."
Edward huffed a quiet breath, something almost like a laugh, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"She usually isn't."
Kal leaned back in his chair, folding his arms loosely. "You're going to lose that argument."
Edward didn't look at him. "I don't intend to."
"You already are," Kal said simply.
That got a reaction. Edward's eyes snapped to him, sharper now.
Kal held the look, unbothered.
"You're thinking long-term. Eternity. Consequences," Kal continued. "She's thinking about right now. About you. About not losing you." A small pause. "That's not a fight you win by being logical."
Edward's jaw tightened slightly.
"I'm not doing it," he said, quieter now, but no less firm. "I won't turn her into a monster like me."
Kal tilted his head a fraction, studying him. He truly believed what he had said. That he was a monster.
"Then you'd better find a way to convince her," Kal said. "Because she's not going to let it go."
Edward didn't answer.
The machines continued their steady rhythm. Bella shifted faintly in her sleep, her brow tightening for just a second before smoothing out again.
Both of their gazes snapped to her instantly.
Edward leaned forward, his hand finally settling against hers, careful, gentle.
Kal watched the movement, then looked away, giving them the moment without comment.
After a while, Edward spoke again, quieter this time.
"You didn't hesitate," Edward said. "Back there."
It wasn't a question.
Kal's expression didn't change.
"No."
Edward studied him again, more carefully this time. Not with suspicion, but with something closer to understanding.
"You could have killed him instantly," he said. "But you didn't."
Kal's gaze drifted, unfocused for a moment, as if replaying it.
"He threatened Alice."
Edward didn't say anything, but his eyes floated to Bella. He understood.
Silence settled again, heavier now, but not uncomfortable.
Eventually, Kal stood, the legs of his chair scraping softly against the floor.
"I'll leave you to it," he said.
Edward nodded once, his attention already back on Bella.
Kal paused at the doorway, glancing back once.
"For what it's worth," he added, "you staying… that matters more to her than anything else you're worried about."
Edward didn't respond.
But his hand tightened, just slightly, around Bella's.
Kal stepped out into the hall, the door clicking shut behind him.
(A/N: Important retcon. Changing the unlocked archetype from Man of Steel to 'Hopeful Superman'. Think Gunnverse's Corenswet Superman. This is for multiple reasons. Firstly, I feel it offers a much more natural progression of abilities, as the Gunnverse Superman is obviously much more in line with classical Superman, and far stronger than what Kal used to be, but still not as strong as Cavill's. Hence there's more linear progression for the Man of Steel archetype later down the line. It also fits thematically as Corenswet's Superman is portrayed as a younger, almost 'just starting out' Superman, with lots of room to grow, and Cavill's a more mature one.
Secondly, the Man of Steel Superman displays such a variance in ability. Some feats he seems to struggle with, but others that are harder he can do seemingly easily. So, I'd rather just leave it for a later unlock and use the highest estimates of his strengths.
Thirdly, it makes the system power progression more constant and balanced. The leap from Tier I to Tier II abilities isn't as large and remains fairly similar across abilities. What I mean by this is that for example, the difference between Tier I and Tier II Super strength is qualitatively and quantitatively similar to the difference between Tier I and Tier II Flight, rather than Tier II Super Strength massively outstripping Tier II Flight. Man of Steel's strength is much more in line with what Tier III would be.
Fourth, this archetype would still make him by far the most powerful character in normal Twilight, so it matters very little anyway.)