Fan-Fiction

Twilight…I do NOT own the Twilight Series it is Stephanie Meyer's.

_Second Time Around

Authoress note: I've never had to restart a story THREE times just to get things

Right; for that I apologize. I have changed the title too. Originally this was Open Seclusion. Again my apologies, I am not attempting to be a careless writer -honest.

Scene 1

It's been four years since Esme met her destruction in a crazy episode I've finally put behind me and it's been three years since I moved my family back to Forks. Bella has been one of us for almost a hundred years and Nessie is now married to Jacob. For years though I understood Edward's need for female companionship I did not comprehend - what I thought was an excessive pull - to Bella. Now I understand and am torn.

Torn because I really did love Esme, we were together for over two hundred years before she met her demise, and we truly shared both good and bad times, but now there exists a pull I've never felt before. One that I keep from my sons and daughters. If I told them it very well would be too much for everyone -except Edward and Bella. Maybe, even they'd question it. Who knows? All I comprehend at this point is it scares the daylights out of me.

Looking out the window of his office Dr. Cullen saw Christina Knight - simply called Kris- get out of her dark blue pick-up truck with KC lights. She was of medium height, medium build, with hair just a shade darker than Esme's had been and…. She was human - very much human.

Kris saw Dr. Cullen standing by his window and waved. Somehow, she wasn't surprised that he simply nodded his head and walked out of view. "He sure is a quiet man. Are you sure he knows his business?" She spoke to her friend who joined her on the hospital doorsteps.

"He is an excellent doctor and highly skilled. This town may as well be frozen in time, therefore we should be extremely grateful he was willing to relocate here from up north. If I can just nab an interview for the high school paper I'd be thrilled." Julie began putting lipstick on as they entered the foyer.

"If I didn't know better I'd think you were wanting a relationship with an older man." Kris laughed as her friend contorted her facial muscles to resemble someone eating an unexpected lemon.

"Can't blame a gal for trying." She winked and put the make-up back in the purse just as Dr. Cullen came walking down the hall.

"Dr. Cullen." I'm Julie and I really need to talk to you." Then -almost as an after thought added, "This is my friend, Kris." Dr. Cullen knew Kris was embarrassed at the way her friend was acting simply by the way her feet shuffled and hand rubbed her neck.

"I'm sorry, but unless it is an emergency you will have to talk to Dr. Fields as I have just gotten off duty." The good doctor had a hard time not laughing as Kris clearly loved the idea of her friend not having a reason to corner him in his office. But he instantly became concerned when her face paled. Turning around he hid the cringe he felt - Worthington.

Worthington's face was just as pale as Carlisle's but it was far uglier and his dark hair may have been close in color to Emmett's though it was far longer, stringier and oily than the doctor's 'son' ever considered being. However, it wasn't the man's looks that had paled Kris's face - just don't ask the good doctor how he knew. Therefore he simply smiled and offered to walk her back to her truck. "That is if you have no other business here."

"No, I don't. I just came as a sidekick for my young friend here. She has this idea an interview with you would be good for her school paper." Kris wasn't surprised when Dr. Cullen - politely- steered his eyes to Julie and declined. The trio then left the building.

"I'll see you later, Kris." Julie hopped into her father's corvette and drove off leaving her friend with Dr. Cullen.

"So, tell me how you know Worthington." It wasn't a question and she knew it.

"I…." Kris fidgeted and sighed. "it's a story I'd rather not go into here." Her eyes pleaded with him not to push it.

"Okay, but.." he glanced back at the hospital and paused. "Tell me this much. Are you in danger from him?"

"Maybe… probably…crud…I.. I don't know." Kris slid her right foot back and forth against the pavement.

"I think …" He stopped as the object of their discussion came out the front door and headed their direction. "you should meet the family." He put his arm around Kris purposely giving the impression they were together - the creep scowled but walked right by them without saying a word.

"UGH, he stinks." Kris let out as soon as the man was out of ear shot.

Carlisle's hand dropped away from Kris but knowing the creep's history made him feel obligated to urge her to go to his house. "My family is home, tell them I sent you and that you are to stay put." He didn't have to say Worthington was eying you like a piece of meat - that was obvious.

"Are you sure…" She didn't finish her sentence as he urged her to go before Worthington came back.

Scene 2

Edward, Rosalie, Emmett and Jacob sat on chairs while Bella and Nessie sat on the couch playing charades as Alice was in the kitchen cooking a meal she insisted was going to be needed. With the smell of food floating in from the kitchen - and a glimpse inside that particular room by Jacob - both he and Edward retorted, "Just how many humans are you expecting to feed anyway?"

"One, but you never know she might bring company." Everyone laughed as Emmett - sarcastically- spouted off with 'I hope they're type A'; except Alice.

"Joking, Joking. Ease up Alice. I'm still a veggie." Emmett tossed a piece of paper his sister's way as she left off cooking and joined the group. Before Alice could reply they heard the sound of an engine. Looking out the window Jacob's eyes flew open, "That's Miss Knight! She's a county nurse, what's she doing out here?"

Emmett stood up wearing the white knitted shirt with high top he'd worn 'forever' and looked out the window. "She doesn't look so good." Rosalie joined him and let out 'You have that right.'

"Wonder what's wrong?" Bella asked, but did not budge.

"I'm sure she'll tell us." Edward - surprisingly- did not attempt to read the lady's mind as he looked out the window nearest Jacob's seat. As a rule he'd have stayed in one spot, however he did not wish to be rude, hence his decision to move back to his original spot.

By the time Jacob answered Kris' knock all the Cullens appeared not to have moved out of their seats.

"Hi, Miss Knight." Bella greeted her as she entered.

"Are you hungry? I have food in the kitchen." Alice's chipper voice would -normally- have been tossed back, but Kris was just too tired to be that hyper though the sound of food was inviting.

"I have to admit I am hungry, but do you mind if I sit down first?" Kris fought against her voice dragging, but lost that particular battle.

"Sure." Alice wasn't about to be offended as the poor gal looked like death warmed over.

"Here, take my seat." Jacob stood up, "I'll sit by Nessie."

"Thanks." sitting down she closed her eyes and told them their father had sent her and to tell them Worthington was in town. "You're father said he was eying me as if I were a piece of meat." Sighing she admitted to having seen the look herself. If her eyes hadn't been closed she'd have seen pure shock jump onto everyone's face. As it was the look was gone when she managed to open her eyes.

"Is he after you?" Rosalie did not like Worthington. That 'man' was in fact a troll - one that cared little for human life; at least not the ones he felt could be a threat to him.

"I….." Kris found her mind turning back to a night she'd fought against remembering as she did so she - unconsciously - pulled her knees up against her chest and wrapped her arms around them as if trying to make herself invisible -that was not good; so the Cullen members thought. "I wouldn't' be surprised if he were."

"Find them! Get them! And for crying out loud destroy them!" A high pitched male's voice was shouting as flames licked themselves against tall buildings. People were screaming, bleeding and dying. The box, the corner farthest away…"

"Miss Knight are you alright?" Jacob and the others spoke as she'd started visibly shaking.

"It was a nightmare… so much blood." Her voice spoke but her eyes were glazed over. All kept quiet as she kept talking. "Worthington….he was there spear-heading the killing. Well, he wasn't actually doing it, but he was orchestrating the whole event - though I have no proof it's something I just know." Her jaw set hard and her eyes matched the rock her black sapphire her finger sported.

"Did he know you saw him?" Bella asked.

"Very well could. I was fortunate to have help in getting away." Those were the only words Kris would say - especially since she felt a sense of someone trying to enter her brain. She bit back a laugh when saw Edward's eyes fly wide open and everyone else's when her eyes looked straight at him and informed him, "You know it's not nice to probe someone's mind don't you? And , no, I'm not a shield, nor am I vampire."

"You know about Vampires and shields?" Bella was the first one to find her voice.

"Honey, I've known about vampires for a very long time, and , yes…" She scanned the room before replying, "I know you all belong in that group, but I'm not worried." Surprise registered on their faces and asked her why not.

"You're eyes aren't red." Again everyone's eyes widened.

"How did you know about the eye bit?" Rosalie asked in a defiant tone as if that knowledge alone was a crime.

"Honey, anyone ever tell you to use less starch in your under clothing?" Kris asked and found everyone but Rosalie laughing.

"All the time, but she doesn't listen." Alice chirped and sat down on the couch nearest the woman who had recently entered their home. "Mind telling me how you know about us?"

"Would you throw me to the dogs if I didn't?" Instantly Kris realized Jacob might take offense and apologized. "I don't mean you - or your people - Jacob.

"I know." Part of the man wanted to scowl - and yet, he knew that expression was a very old one. Therefore it was easy to comprehend the remark had not been aimed at any one person.

"No, but in time you will." Alice chirped again as she stood up.

"Of course, doesn't take a physic to know that one." For some reason Kris felt herself getting extremely irked, hence, she found herself not caring if she made Jasper mad, "You know I can handle getting ticked off at your sister without your help."

"You know all about us!" Rosalie temper began to blow.

"Boo hoo, get over it." Kris's own temper was having a hard time staying under wraps. "It's not like I've blown your cover since you moved in, now have I?" It was clear -even to Jasper- that she didn't need help in feeling towards his sister what he himself was feeling.

"Well?" Kris's fist bawled up in annoyance.

"No." Rosalie crossed her arms and kept her pout to herself.

"Where's Dad?" Bella asked concerned he wasn't home yet.

"I haven't the foggiest. He just sent me here and told me to say put." Kris closed her eyes too tired to care and suggested one -if not more - about anything and instantly feel asleep leaving everyone confused.