Rising Sun….

"Boys! It's time to finally come in! Your cousins are here and are excited to see you again!" It had been years since the Cullen family was finally able to settle down, without the complications of outside elements. Renia and Jasper did the impossible when they gave birth to twin boys, Nicholai and Alessio, Maalon following soon after with the birth of her young daughter Yvaine, and lastly Monique with her daughter Lyra. Roy got married soon after to the love of her life Dylan, giving birth to her first son Tristan and a little after to their young daughter Xenia. The children were older now, Nicholai and Alessio now appearing to be 17, Yvaine 16, Lyra 16, Tristan 15, and Xenia 8. Currently, Renia and Jasper were just settling into to their new country home in Austin, Texas, people in Forks beginning to realize that Renia was younger than her age gave her credit for. Summer was ending in a few days, as the boys would be attending a new school, with new peers soon.

Footsteps sounded through the large forest that encompassed the country home, Nicholai and Alessio, bounding up the wooden steps of the back deck, covered head-to-toe in mud and dirt, their blonde mops of hair sticking out at odd angles. Renia rolled her butterscotch eyes, ushering the boys inside, as they thundered upstairs, taking showers in the respective hallway bathrooms, emerging clean and fresh, dressed in new clothes, hair slicked back neatly. Yvaine, Lyra, and Tristan were all waiting at the foot of the stairs, their parents gathered in the living room to reminisce over photo albums and baby books. "Bout time you got here" Yvaine quipped, "what were you two doing out there anyways?" foliage and leaves were covering the threshold of the back door, evidence of the wrestling the boys partook in against each other, earlier in the day.

"Oh you know" Alessio murmured, "just a little wrestling against us boys" Alessio was the taller one of the twin boys, 5"11 with light blonde hair and golden-speckled eyes, thin lips and a slightly muscular build like his father. He was athletic and headstrong, charismatic amongst other people. He himself had already taken on a mate, a young vampire from the Denali Clan named Zofia. She was timid and small, with a mass of dark brown hair that fell in curls down her back, freckles dotting her face and skin, wide golden-eyes taking over her face, framed by sooty black lashes. The two met when Renia and Jasper still lived in their beach-side house in Forks, instantly connecting at one of the Cullen's annual balls, soon after Zofia trying desperately to set the other twin up with her sister Katreena. To say that didn't end well was an understatement, judging from the dents that the woman left in the walls of the large kitchen or the broken shards of glass from when she smashed the window.

Rolling her eyes, the teenagers made their way outside to the back deck, crowding around the large table that took up most of the flooring's space. Yvaine, now 16, took on a spitting image to her mother, from the dark brown curls that made up her hair, to the deep brown pools that were her eyes. Her skin was a perfect tan shade, hints of freckles dusting along her nose. She was sometimes loud and cheerful, always smiling and laughing, a happy ray of sunshine against the dark clouds. Her current boyfriend Benjamin was waiting patiently back in her home town of Houston, Texas, a tall quarterback for the high school's football team. Lyra, now 16 as well, had light brown hair with dark brown tips that fell a little a past her shoulders with dark brown eyes and a subtle dimple in the middle of her chin like her father. Like her cousin; Lyra was headstrong and charismatic, always in the presence of friends. Her boyfriend Lucas was waiting back in Houston as well, a charismatic soccer player for the school's team.

Tristan stood out amongst the crowd with pale skin and dark black hair like his father, dark brown eyes standing out against his long bangs like his mother. He as well had a significant person to call his own, Ilianna, which was shy and quiet and loved books almost as much as he did. As the teens chatted, Nicholai realized that he was the only one amongst his family beside Xenia that didn't have someone of his own. Slightly shorter than his own twin, 5"9 with dirty blonde hair and gold-eyes, Nicholai kept mostly to himself and rarely communicated with the human population. He enjoyed the solitude of his bedroom, music almost always playing from his speakers, as he curled up with a nice book. Face freckled and eyes wide, Nicholai resembled his mother, and rarely got into sports like his older brother. He enjoyed playing the piano and the saxophone, and was slightly less muscular than Alessio.

Zofia rounded the large country home, dressed prettily in a light blue summer dress and white sandals, her hair pinned back on either side and tied with a white ribbon. Alessio stood instantly, enveloping her in the cover of his arms, Nicholai staring longingly at the sight. "I wish I had something like that" he thought quietly. Now, Nicholai was extremely happy that his brother found the love that he was looking for and soon hoped to find the same love as well. Sitting Zofia in his lap, Alessio went back to chatting with Tristan, Yvaine and Lyra talking quietly amongst themselves with Zofia.

Later in the evening, once the adults joined their children in the backyard, Emmett suggested they all have a rousing game of the Hunt, a fairly easy game in which whatever player kills the most animals wins. Rushing off in different directions, everyone was determined to come out victorious, as well as full and satiated. Nicholai was the first to pause after taking out two deer in quick succession, turning away from his path to begin walking towards the edge of the heavily forested area. Neon lights were shining brightly against the asphalt, cars and trucks lumbering on the smooth roads that made up the main street. Fixing his clothes and wiping excess blood from his lips, Nicholai began walking across the street, diners and coffee shops making up the strip of concrete. Houston was slightly different from his home town of Forks, less rain making up the seasons, and the bitter winds of cold, seeming to evaporate in the dry heat.

Men and even women passed him by in large cowboy hats and worn leather boots, muttering quietly in southern twanged accents. A small music shop at the end of the strip caught his eyes, the building poorly lit and the door opened for anyone to come inside. A sweet fragrance wafted from inside the building, filling his nose with the scent of winter cranberries and dark cherries. Blood began to rush all throughout his body, his still heart beating rapidly against his ribcage, as his mouth filled to the brim with venom. Clenching and unclenching his fist, his whole body shook with the blood lust that was beginning to overtake his system. The blonde vampire took slow, deep breaths, shutting his eyes tightly, as he leaned against the brick wall behind him. "You are better than this" he chanted to himself. Getting himself back under control, Nicholai took cautious steps, like a new born fawn just beginning to walk, towards the music store. Soft classical music was playing from the tiny speakers in the ceiling as he stepped inside, his eyes scanning the shelves upon shelves of instruments, ranging from trumpets and violins, to harmonicas and harps. The walls were painted a dark purple color with musical notes covering the back and side walls in black paint, dimming lights hanging from the ceiling, with guitars and violins standing up on display for the customer to play of their own accord.

"Can I help you with something?" a sweet voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Staring in awe, the young girl in front of him furrowed her brows quizzically. She was petite, barely reaching to under his shoulders, with dark brown hair that shone golden in the light, ice blue eyes staring at him from the cover of dark lashes. Her entire being gave off the tempting smell, the sound of a pulse under smooth skin, the color of freshly churned milk, like music to his trained ears, as her lips pursed softly. "Just…. Just looking around" he whispered quietly. The young girl nodded hesitantly, going back to her place behind the register. Nicholai breathed in deeply the smell, his feet shuffling across the floor, as he pretended to look at the dozens of instruments, all the while glancing at the woman from the corner of his eyes. Occasionally she would brush a strand of hair behind her ear, flipping a page in the novel on the glass counter, her eyes sometimes peering up to glance at his taut back.

Towards the back of the store was a glossy black, baby grand piano with shiny black and white keys. Sitting down on its wooden and leather bench, Nicholai's hands instantly took to the keys, playing a sad, almost longing tune that rang clear throughout the building. His long fingers expertly worked with the instrument, holding some notes longer than others, until he finally ended, a low chord humming through the piano. Soft clapping came from behind him, the vampire whipping around to see the cashier clapping in awe, her blue eyes widened increasingly. "That was truly amazing…" she praised. Nicholai's lips quirked up half-way, his blonde curls tipping towards the girl. "Thank-you" he murmured abashedly. It was silent for all of two minutes, the pressure of the bench shifting subtly, as the cashier sat beside him. Her tiny fingers were overshadowed against his, pressing lightly against the keys, the soft tune of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, wafting to his ears. She played flawlessly, keys flying past her small fingers, as the song picked up and slowed down in patterns. Placing his hands on the keys beside her own, he began to join her, not thinking of exactly why he was….

Their fingers would occasionally brush; the song ending on a rather low note that sent Nicholai's still heart through the roof. The woman beside him smiled shyly, placing her hands in the comfort of her lap. "I'm Sarah" she introduced quietly, looking up at his stone face with blue eyes.

Tipping a small imaginary hat to her, he held out his rather large hand, "Nicholai" he whispered quietly….

Author's Note: I'm baaaack! Okay guys, this is one of my newest stories called Rising Sun and it is set a few years after the Epilogue of the Better Eclipse! Jasper and Renia have moved Nicholai and Alessio to Austin, Texas due to the citizens of Forks finally realizing that Renia is younger than her age gives her credit for. It is the end of the summer and the twins will be beginning school in just a few weeks. Maalon and Monique live just a few cities away in Houston, Texas with Embry and Seth and their daughters Yvaine and Lyra. Roy lives in Forks still with Dylan and their children Tristan and Xenia, as well as the rest of the Cullen's. First I want to make a few things clear concerning the children so no one gets confused.

Nicholai and Alessio: Vampires, Ages 17, Live in Austin, Texas

Lyra and Yvaine: Humans, Ages 16, Live in Houston, Texas

Tristan and Xenia: Vampires, Ages 15 and 8, Live in Forks, Washington.

I hope that this little note helps to decrease confusion. Also I want to point out that Alessio is mated to Zofia (they are not married as of yet however) and the Denali Clan has moved to Austin so that Zofia may be closer to Alessio. She will be attending school with the twins. Yvaine is dating Benjamin and Lyra is dating Lucas. Tristan is dating Ilianna, and of course Xenia and Nicholai are dating no one. On another note all the names except for Ilianna, Benjamin, Lucas, and Sarah, all came from their respective websites when I Googled 'Vampire Names' on Google. Also note that I do NOT own Twilight or Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, and all of the characters except for the Cullen's and Denali's are MINE! And lastly, since this is my story things are able to go my way, but to give you guys a little insight; I know it's sunny in Texas! Since the Volturi are no longer in power, vampires have a little more freedom than they are used to. With that said, Nicholai and Alessio get up very early in the morning, before the sun even comes out and go to school, and then at the end of the day walk to their cars calmly without being detected (let's just say these students are very oblivious!).I hope you guys do enjoy this story and as always, please remember to REVIEW!