Okay, *sigh* thanks a lot, Twinkie. You got me reading those stories on your favorites (1ceinabluemoon) and got me addicted. *Glare* thanks. Anywho, here this is, and again I PROMISE you that that is not the pairing, that's just the two main characters (for this story) from those stories... if that makes sense. They are the normal cannon pairing, so now worries.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inkheart. I do not own Twilight. The characters are material of their respected owners.


Bella glanced around at the musty old tomes, marveling that something so old could look so… decrepit. Absently, she glanced at her own antique and smiled at him. The musty old light had no effect on his ethereal beauty. The rain pounding outside in the usual cloudy Seattle weather still dripped from his hair, yet somehow managed to stay off the old-timers around the room. They're like literary versions of my truck. A silent and hardly audible chuckle drew her out of her reverie as she turned in synch with Edward to see Carlisle glancing fondly at two extremely old-looking books in his hand.

Edward's smile was dazzling, "I wouldn't think they would publish something like that." Carlisle laughed and turned to glance fondly at Bella's obviously confused face.

"My father had a habit of writing in diaries. They must've found them after he died and published them," swiftly he leafed through the yellowed, paper-thin pages. His gaze turned reminiscent as he gave another smile. "I remember that."

"Sounds like you got yourself into some messes when you were younger," Edward chided like a mother hen. The doctor shrugged and snapped the book closed softly.

"What can I say, that was a long time ago." Again, he glanced at the books and ran a hand over the black cover. "I think I'll get these, they bring back memories of the better times."

"They look like they're about to fall apart," Bella absently noted. Carlisle nodded sagely as he placed the books on the counter and the young lady rang them up.

"I'll find the best book doctor there is," he reasoned, reaching for his wallet. The lady flipped to the first page and her eyes widened.

"That'll be $3,451," she practically choked. This kind of thing used to surprise Bella, but now she knew better and found it easier to just run with it. Carlisle paid the lady and then they left the bookstore, staying under the awning that offered shelter from the rain. It was actually more of a drizzle, a thick mask of all-covering precipitation.

"Hey Alice," Edward laughed an instant before she appeared beside, closely flanked by Jasper. She gave a child-like pout and looped her arm through her husband's.

"You ruined my entrance!"

"No one could ruin your entrance, Alice," Bella quickly supplied as she skeptically eyed her new outfit and the bulging bag Jasper grasped easily.

The vampire's pout flashed into a grand smile, "thank you Bella. So, find anything in that retirement home for books?" she waved her hand in dismissal.

"Actually, yes I did," Carlisle laughed, not daring to subject the books to the smothering humidity. Vampires may be immune to it, but books weren't. "My father's journals were published, but they're in a bit of disrepair. I'm going to find a book doctor for them. In fact, a long-distance friend of mine has a son-in-law who supposedly works wonders on books." At that moment Alice stopped dead, jerking Jasper as they were hooked at the arm. Her eyes were distant and her expression was blank. They gathered in a huddle around her, and Edward's face twisted in gorgeous confusion. Soon, her eyes returned to their glittering selves and Jasper placed the usual hand on her shoulder.

"Alice, what did you see?" he asked, quietly sending waves of calm love her way. She waited in a moment of suspenseful and theatrical silence, then raised a single eyebrow and quirked her mouth in a small smirk.

"Friendly fire…?"

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Meggie groaned and snapped the book closed lovingly. It was official, she had read every single book in Elinor's substantial library. She glanced desperately around the room, stopping to lovingly gaze at the rather confused Farid who was gazing at a book like it was gibberish. He turned it to it's side, then his eyes lit up in recognition… then faded to confusion again. She half wondered why he wasn't messing around with Dustfinger.

A phone rang, echoing through the musty silence and nearly prompting the young man to drop the book. Meggie hopped up and walked to the door, opening it just in time to see Elinor flash past, leaving almost a small tornado in her wake.

"Hello?" there was a pause and her face lit up with joy. "Carlisle! How are you?" Meggie was taken aback. Elinor… with a man? Confused, she sidled closer to the phone. "Oh is that so? Well, there's no need for that," the old women was radiating triumph. "You couldn't have better timing, he's here visiting. Let me get him for you," she quickly placed a hand over the receiver and let out a bark. "Mortimer! Someone would like to speak to you!" She turned back to the phone and rambled on to Carlisle about old times and had just finished another round of laughing when Mo appeared, panting at his running.

"Hello?" he breathed into the phone once Elinor had relinquished it. His eyes darted around for a piece of paper and pen, then found it on the table by the phone. He scribbled down some information. "Yes, that seems doable. Where exactly will this be?" Mo froze and nearly dropped the phone from it's place cradled in-between his ear and his shoulder. "Well, that is a bit far but…" he paused, and once again almost dropped the phone. "Sir, that's very generous of you." He scribbled frantically. "We'll be there in one week. Yes, we'll call you once we arrive." His face broke into a grin and Meggie felt the air almost rise in temperature as Dustfinger showed up behind her, peering curiously at the Cheshire Cat-grinning man. "Indeed. Goodbye for now." And then he placed the phone on the receiver and stared at it for a few moments.

Meggie's biting curiosity finally got the best of her and she couldn't stop herself from blurting out. "Who was that?" Mo jumped, then looked at the crowd he had gathered. Upon regaining his composure, he smiled and snapped the paper up, waving it in the air.

"It was one Doctor Carlisle Cullen, and he was calling about a job." He seemed to be withholding information as he looked to almost burst.

"Where was the job?" Meggie asked cautiously. Mo smiled at her, then glanced around almost to make sure everyone was there.

"How does America strike you?" Meggie felt surprise bite at her stomach and her jaw dropped. "Washington, to be exact."

"America?" Farid asked from behind her, his voice curious. Meggie turned to look at the two foreigners, only to see the same curiosity written on Dustfinger's scarred face. Meggie turned to look at her father, but his face was brutally honest.

"I can't make it, I'm going to a convention," Elinor sighed, her face clearly disappointed.

"We'll send you a post card," Mortimer quickly said, obviously too happy to be disappointed. Meggie, on the other hand, couldn't fight away a nagging frustration in her stomach.

"Mo, how are we going to pay for the trip?" but as his face didn't change, the young girl already knew that he had it figured out.

"It's not like we've ever had a problem raising money," Dustfinger snorted, folding his arms over his chest and supplying a sly grin. Meggie imagined his act and it was no wonder they could get money wherever they were. He could charm a fish with that fire.

"No need for that, Dustfinger. He said he would compensate us when we arrive for four first-class tickets!" he glanced at Meggie, Farid, then Dustfinger and smiled.

"How did he knew you needed four?" Dustfinger asked suspiciously. That really hadn't occurred to Meggie, but now it struck her as odd. Mo shrugged, still fighting off all doubts with optimism.

"I don't know, maybe he can read minds?"

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Carlisle glanced down at his two children, hanging up the phone at the same time. "So you're positive they only need four?" Alice and Edward looked at each other, then smirked at him.

"Positive." Alice said with a note of finality, but there was a slight flash of concern in her eyes..

"You would doubt us?" Edward asked innocently. Carlisle gave a smile and chuckled, gently waving them from his office.

"I made that mistake only once. It cost me a hefty amount."

"Yeah, but that Volvo's still useful," Edward laughed before leaving. "I don't get it," Edward snapped at Alice as they walked down the stairs. She shrugged and scowled.

"Neither do I." Edward growled, and Alice didn't really need her talent to agree with him. "I know, it's irritating!" she hissed, but was immediately sedated as she turned the corner and saw Jasper staring at her expectantly. Emmett let out a monstrous laugh, and jumped out of Rosalie's wrathful yet loving glare.

"Emmett, I thought the first time you tried that you learned," Edward laughed, going to sit next to his wife on the couch. They immediately bonded like a glue had been applied.

"Hey! What's up with that book doctor? He's an old crow, ain't he?" he asked, sitting down at a safe distance from his wife.

"Actually, he's rather young," Edward supplied, his eyebrows rising to show how shocked he was. "He's bringing a daughter, a little Indian boy, and an older man." His eyes narrowed in thought. "He's the strangest one of them all."

Alice snorted and came to sit on her husband's lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. Apparently, she was feeling something neither of them exactly liked Edward could practically feel the waves of calm roll off him. She gently thumped his nose and smiled fondly down at him. "Who needs depression pills with you around?" then she turned to look at the living room ensemble. "That guy, the one Edward just mentioned. He's freaky."

"That's like the Hare calling the Hatter mad." Rosalie snorted, folding her legs under her.

"True, true," Alice nodded her head, then shook it quickly. "Wait, let me explain. I see him and some other new vampire, but by new I don't mean 'new' I mean new to us." There was a lull of silence in the room. "Experienced. But, when I see that guy it's like he's covered in fire." She gave a smirk, then scowled. "But it's not burning him. It's like it's dancing with him. And he's-no they're laughing."

"You've been watching too many cartoons!" Emmett laughed, slapping his knee. Both Jasper and Alice shot him glares that would've pierced the sun. He flinched back, "ouch."

"If you think that's bad," Edward chuckled leaving the end to the imagination and eyeing Jasper. The ex-soldier shrugged and gave a small smile.

"So sue me?"

One Week Later

"They're here," Edward whispered to Bella, wrapping around her in an encompassing hug. She snuggled and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"So?" she whispered, gently kissing him. Edward gave a muffled sound as he pulled her even closer.

After a moment, Edward pulled away only as far as he needed so he could talk and muttered, "You're trying to distract me, aren't you?" She gave a quiet, rumbling chuckle and placed her nose and forehead to his.

"So what if I am?" she stared into his now blazingly golden eyes. He stared right back into hers.

"Any other day, dear. Any other day," he sighed regretfully, carefully unpeeling himself. Bella finished the job and gave him a warm smile. "I've got to go rein in Alice, you know how she gets." Visions of pink flowers and huge bows danced in Edward's mind, and he could practically see them dancing in his wife's. She scowled.

"Oh don't I? I'm her living, well not so much anymore, mannequin."

"You're the most exquisite looking undead mannequin I've seen in all my years of existence." Edward murmured, leaning in again, not able to resist from ravishing himself with another kiss.

"They're He-ere!" Alice squawked at an unusually high octave, paining the unusually enhanced hearing of the two vampires. They flinched away from each other, and Bella glared down at the floor.

"What is she thinking?" Bella hissed. Edward glanced at her for a moment.

"Would you like to know?" Bella punched his arm lightly and walked towards the door.

"I don't really know. It is Alice we're talking about. Let's go," and in a blink they were downstairs watching Emmett and Alice fight over a large ribbon.

"Let it go, you big gorilla!" she huffed, tugging.

"You let go!" he snapped back, tugging and nearly snapping Alice off her feet. She regained her balance just in time to give a futile tug.

"Emmett!" she groaned, gripping the pink fabric like her life depended on it.

"What does he want with that ribbon, anyway?" Rosalie asked Edward, taking in the sight with raised eyebrows and a hand on her hip. The mind reader chuckled and watched them argue some more.

"I don't really think he wants me to tell you," he answered, grinning at the bear-like vampire. The blonde shot him a confused stare before turning back to her husband.

"Come on, Alice! You've already got like fifty bows around the house," Rosalie grumbled, pointing, exasperated, at the twisted ribbons pinned randomly around the room. "And really, they're staying at a hotel so it's not like they're going to be here a lot." Alice froze, consequently relinquishing the ribbon. Emmett flew across the room and hit the wall, prompting a large and rather breakable vase to fall. Then, of course, the bell rang.

It all happened in a matter of seconds, yet Carlisle managed to save the vase, Esme was already at the door, and Jasper was gently coaxing Alice to return to normal. "Is everyone ready?" she murmured, her motherly voice soft as a hummingbird's wing beats.

"Yes," Edward returned, appearing next to her with Bella wrapped around his arm. In fact, the whole family was standing behind Esme by the time she was ready to open the door. The door opened to reveal the family Edward had already described, and Alice had already seen.

The father, presumably Mortimer Folchart, had his arm wrapped around a young, blonde lady, more than likely Meggie Folchart. A boy, slightly older looking than the daughter stood closely at her side. The only possibility for his name could be Farid. Last, a man stood a little bit behind the group, his long ginger hair hiding almost half his face as he examined the house. Edward really didn't even need to try to read his mind to guess that his was Dustfinger.

Edward sniffed as the scent of soot and fire mixed with the musty smell of ancient books. It wasn't too unpleasant, just new.

"Welcome!" Esme gave her best smile and moved away, taking the door with her. Mortimer smiled back, as did Meggie and Farid as they filed past her. Dustfinger, on the other hand, continued his skeptical examination of the house, then glanced at the door and met Edward's eyes. Their gazes locked for a moment, and his eyes narrowed slightly, then he slide his gaze over and continued on his search. "You can come in," Esme held out a hand to him, almost as though trying to coax a squirrel to an open palm of seed. "We won't bite."

The man's haggard face finally broke into a small smile and he walked in, sheepishly ducking his head. "S-sorry," his voice was much rougher than anyone Edward had ever met at his age. "I'm just a little… uh…" his voice trailed off as he examined the grand room decorated to the roof with pink bows. His face turned into a scowl for a quick second, then turned into confusion.

"Is it someone's birthday?" Meggie asked, eyeing the bows. Alice jumped forward from Jasper and stood close to Dustfinger. The proximity couple with the speed of the movement caught the man off guard, as he nearly jumped back.

"Nope! I decided ya'll could use a food-less welcoming party!"

"How kind," Mortimer chuckled kindly. Alice didn't even spare him a glance, instead standing on her tiptoes so she could get a better look at the taller Dustfinger. Still, the top of her head only came up to his chin, and she bent her head to look at his eyes. He, on the other hand, seemed content to look anywhere but at her.

"Mr.…"

"Dustfinger."

"Dustfinger." She stated, pronouncing it sharply like a strict schoolteacher. "Mr. Dustfinger, do you smoke?" That got his attention, as he stopped his futile, desperate search for a target of his gaze and stared down at her honey eyes. Rosalie's nearly inaudible groan was the only sound to be heard, then the visiting party burst into grins and Farid even chuckled.

"You could say that," he answered, his voice light with laughter at a private (not too private to Edward, but he still didn't quite get it) joke. A true smile lit up his face and his eyes sparkled. Edward noticed he looked noticeably younger. "And you are?"

"Alice." She smiled before dancing back and entertaining with her husband's arm. "This is my husband, Jasper. The blonde Barbie doll is Rosalie, and her gorilla," they stuck their tongue's out childishly at each other, "is her husband Emmett. Those two are Esme and Carlisle, and those two lovebirds are Edward and Bella." She sniffed at the air, then her nose quirked quickly before adding. "And that is-"

The door snapped open, a young girl running in and colliding with Dustfinger's thigh. A tall (scratch that, enormous) boy followed, a child-like grin on his face. The moment he saw the little girl starring curiously at the tall man, and the tall man starring curiously at her, he grabbed her shoulder and gently closed the door behind him. "Nessie, their daughter and Jacob, her," she motioned towards the young girl, "adopted mutt," Jacob just scowled playfully at her.

"Her name is Renesmee," Bella added quietly, glancing down at the floor.

"And you are?" Jacob asked, examining the strangers but mainly Dustfinger.

"This is the book doctor I hired, he brought his family with him since he lives so far away," Carlisle quickly supplied.

"Hi, I'm Mo," Mortimer stepped forward a bit, pulling his daughter with him. "This is my daughter, Meggie. That's Farid and he's Dustfinger." Nessie wiggled out of Jacob's grasp and walked up to the man, having to bend her head so she could look up at her. Aren't you the picture of cute? Look just like Meggie used to. Edward absently heard the man think as he stared down at her.

"Sir," she said, gently tugging on his sleeve. "You know smoking is bad for you, right?"


Sorry if Nessie's out of character. ^^' Please, if she is tell me how I can fix her. PLEASE! Well, there you go and that's not it!