AN: Hey guys

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There's a little bit of fluff in here. Huzzah, no? D

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Chapter Two: Zuri

There wasn't much I could do about Edward's attitude. I just hoped it ended soon. He hadn't kissed me at all since the first night he claimed he had to go hunting, and that was two whole weeks ago…

What did this mean?

Alice had never told me about that vision she had at lunch that day- and I hadn't asked. She still wasn't being herself; she never smiled me, and she no longer talked cheerfully with me. In fact, she barely talked with me at all during those dreadful fourteen days.

Emmett and I talked more and more. He drove me to and from school every day, he took me shopping with Rosalie, trying in vain to get her to warm up to me, he talked buoyantly with me as I cooked dinner every night, and he helped me with my homework when I needed it. Alice and Edward seemed to take so little interest in me lately, that Emmett became my best friend. I hadn't seen Carlisle, Esme or Jasper for more than two weeks, because I hadn't been to the Cullen's house in about a month, and Jasper graduated last year. I began to feel like a boring and normal 18 year old, hastily finishing senior year. I fell into a routine.

"Isabella?" Mr. Richards, my physics teacher, jerked me away from my thoughts.

"Yes, Mr. Richards?"

"Please pay attention, Miss Swan."

Bobbing my head lazily, my eyes drifted to him. I mumbled a pathetic little apology, but either he didn't hear me or blatantly ignored me.

Either way, he started talking about momentum again.

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Today was different, I could tell.

For one thing, Edward picked me up and drove me home, and he rambled on about some literature project he was starting that had never been done at a school he'd went to during both car rides. It was adorable, the way he babbled on and on. I wished that I had that class with him.

And for another thing, Alice spoke to me. She was grinning like a lunatic all day. When she said hello in second period, which was the fateful hour of gym, instead of the monotone mumble I'd gotten used to, I received a lovely chirp and a warm smile. Her eyes, which had faded to a brassy color as she sunk into a depression after that vision, had specks of yellow in them. My Alice was returning.

Plus, Emmett was absent. He was at my side every day while his siblings were excluding me, and I had gotten so used to him picking me up in Rosalie's convertible each morning that I literally tripped over the doorstep when I saw Edward sitting calmly in his Volvo. Before I could fall flat on my face, however, his cold arms were around me and I was carried to the car like a princess.

Edward had that incredible ability of making me feel special, like royalty.

Was my Edward back, too?

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"Bella," Edward said, watching me intently as I moved briskly around the kitchen. When I move briskly, the outcome can't be good.

"Yeah?" I responded, thrilled that he said my name. He said it that morning too, but all in all it had been too long. His flawless voice sounded a little nervous this time, though.

I focused on my nails while hurrying to the fridge. What could possibly make him feel anxious at this wonderful time, besides the fact that I wasn't concentrating on my feet while walking?

"Do you want to come to my house tonight? Esme misses you, you know, and Jasper wants to see you before he leaves. And I have a…surprise…for you." He smiled timidly, hope in his eyes.

Of course my mind chose this moment to send my legs the message, 'Trip over the air.' I was heading back to the stove, barbecue sauce in hand. My head would've collided with the low cupboards' wooden handles if Edward had not been there. His hands hooked themselves around my waist for the second time that day. I hadn't noticed in the morning, due to my mind blanking itself out when I caught sight of Edward's beautiful face, but he was cold again. So was I imagining things that one time, or did he get warm every night?

I shook off the possible techniques in which Edward could've been "getting warm" that had grown wilder and easier to picture over the long, lonely nights.

He set me upright and stayed behind me, his vice-like grip never loosening on my waist, even after I had regained my balance.

"Are you alright?" he whispered, and I gripped his hands, folded possessively on my stomach, for more support. I shouldn't have bothered; he was already holding me up. But I couldn't help it, for his seductive murmur made me weak in the knees, especially after it had been so long since I heard even his normal voice.

I nodded. He chuckled.

We stayed like that for a moment, but the sound of the cruiser pulling up made him back away slightly, although I could swear he was reluctant to.

"So?" he inquired.

It took me a total of 13 seconds to clear my head and remember his question that made me fall.

"Well yes, of course I want to go!"

The door slammed and Charlie marched into the kitchen.

"Go where?" he grumbled, and I mentally rolled my eyes. Charlie and Edward had informed me that rolling my eyes physically was particularly annoying and requested that I not do it anymore. Their simultaneously suggesting it bothered me some, but I could never refuse Edward's eyes or lips, for that matter, when he wanted something.

I opened my mouth to tell him where, but Edward was too quick for me.

"I asked her, Mr. Swan, if she would like to accompany me to my house this evening. My parents haven't seen her in a while and would like to. She has replied that yes, she would like to go, as you must've heard when you came in. Now it's up to you, sir."

Even Charlie could not dismiss the politeness or the hope in Edward's voice. I was just astounded once again by how smoothly he could handle adults. If I had that much confidence I would win every argument, with either parent or teacher or, even more satisfying, Edward himself.

I really did want to go see Esme and Carlisle and Jasper, plus I missed Emmett already. And Edward had a surprise for me…I hated surprises. On the bright side, however, I could ask Alice when we got there what it was.

That is, if Charlie permitted me the freedom.

"Oh, please, Dad. Please?" I begged, widening my eyes and grabbing Edward's hand purely out of habit. I could feel him staring at me, trying not to laugh at my imploring face. But when I snatched his hand he sobered up, tilting his head down to stare at our intertwined hands.

It took a minute of my maintaining that pleading look for Charlie to give in. I finished up his dinner—a barbecue-pork sandwich—and Edward, still holding my hand, dragged me out of the kitchen.

"Bye, Dad!" I hollered as he pulled me out the door.

It was below 32° and hailing. The weather appalled me each day as Christmas grew nearer. Watching me shiver, Edward frowned and his black fleece jacket instantly draped me. On me it utilized its actual purpose; it warmed me right up on the short walk to the car.

Edward stood patiently beside the passenger seat door, observing me bend my legs, stiff with cold, and lurch awkwardly into the car. He laughed at me, and I blushed violently in response. He closed the door and was beside me a moment later, grinning like a fool.

"Are you ready?" he asked, joy practically emanating from him with every word. I felt it, for it was tangible, floating around my head, and smiled. I loved to see Edward happy.

"To see your family and have fun, of course, but you know I hate surprises!"

The lovely grin on his lips grew wider until it looked painful. It made me giggle,

I turned to face the window for the first time.

"How do you do that?" I demanded, aghast. We were at his house already! It was silly, but I sometimes still doubted his abnormal abilities.

He clucked his tongue in mock-disapproval, mischief dancing in his eyes.

He hopped out of the car, blurred past the windshield, and materialized beside my door not a second later.

Wrapping his right hand daintily around my waist, he eagerly slapped his thigh to an unrecognizable rhythm with his left while we walked up the front steps and to the grand, mahogany double doors. It was frustrating, not knowing why he was acting so cheerful today, after so much time spent moping.

Edward reached for the door handle but to no avail; it swung open of its own accord, it seemed, before his fingers brushed the silver. Inside the house there was nothing unusual to be seen, except…everyone was gone. I shuffled through the door and still—nothing.

"Hello? Anyone?" I called. No response.

Edward could see that I was starting to panic, so he led me to the piano, which was still located just to the left of the door, and sat me down on the starch white leather bench. "I'll be right back," he murmured, and then he disappeared.

I waited a tad impatiently, tapping the bench with my fingers. True to his word, he was back in front of me a minute later, and when I peeked around his shoulder I saw his whole family, save for Jasper. Everyone was grinning hugely, even Rosalie. I gulped.

"She doesn't know, right, Edward?" Alice asked nastily, somehow still maintaining her idiotic smile.

So much for her telling me what the surprise was.

Edward kissed my forehead quickly, joined his family, and turned to stare at me beside Alice. "Nope."

They just mingled there in the middle of the cavernous entry hall, and I heard Alice whisper hurriedly to Edward, "I knew she didn't know—I just like teasing her!"

I glared. That was meant for my ears, otherwise I wouldn't have heard it. The whole situation was beginning to aggravate me.

"No, I don't know, so tell me already! You guys know I hate surprises!" I yelled, but their grins just turned into evil smirks.

"Let me out! Alice! Help!"

The voice came from far above, as though someone was screaming through a hole in the attic floor. Most puzzling, though, it sounded like an…eight year-old? She wasn't really whining—it was more like she couldn't believe her surroundings, whatever they were.

Alice frowned, clearly disappointed. "Shh," she whispered, giving no sign as to where the whisper was directed. I didn't hear a peep after that, and yet I could barely hear her soft shush, so the little girl must've been a vampire.

Was that the surprise? They found an eight year-old vampire?

Esme vanished from her spot behind Carlisle, and I saw a quivering shape at the top of the stairs. It was her—running. I'd never seen Esme run before. She was back five, silent minutes later, carrying a squirming young girl in her arms. She walked down the stairs at human speed. Carlisle moved forward to help her, and the two of them situated the child in front of me. When they finished they walked to Alice, who remained by Edward in the middle of the entry hall, and whispered something in her ear. Emmett leaned forward to listen, Edward kept his eyes on me, ready to examine my reaction, and Rosalie simply stared at the kid standing before me.

Finally I too turned my gaze on the girl. Based on the way she was presented to me, almost as though the family had practiced the introduction, and the expectant looks now on all of their faces, intent on either my own face or the child still standing in front of me, she was the surprise.

She wasn't a vampire, that much was clear.

Her hair was a deep shade of auburn: a dark brown similar to my own, red glinting off the shiny locks under the bright candlelight coming from the elegant chandelier above her. Impeccably straight, her hair drifted down to her shoulder blades, long and obviously freshly combed. Round eyes filled up her face, their irises like blue crystal, twinkling with curiosity and innocence in the firelight. Her nose was small, a cute button nose that fit her young figure. Salmon colored, perfectly sized lips pouted at me. No doubt she wanted the right to speak again, but I wasn't finished assessing her.

Her skin was a creamy vanilla, thicker than mine at sight, but more delicate by far. She stood at what looked to be four feet, eight inches. If this was an accurate guess, then she was about four inches smaller than Alice. She was impossibly skinny, lacking any curves at her age.

Done inspecting, I simply gawked at her, amazed by her beauty and confused by her presence there. I couldn't feel my expression, but it must've been a pretty comical combination of the two, because Emmett was laughing hysterically and everyone else was snickering.

Fed up with my ridiculous audience and by not knowing this tiny, breathtaking child's name, I cleared me face of everything but delight, smiled welcomingly and thrust my right hand out towards her.

She didn't budge. Instead she widened her eyes until I was lost in the periwinkle blue of them, opened her mouth slightly, and took a giant intake of breath.

I hastily stuffed my hand back into the immense pocket of Edward's jacket, but my smile remained, sweet and inviting.

The little beauty twisted around to stare pleadingly at Alice. I looked up too and locked eyes with Edward. My smile slipped. He was eyeing me with…want, it seemed. Blood flared up from my heart to spread rapidly over my cheeks. Why at that moment, I still don't know.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Alice nod and the child turn around again.

Ripping my gaze away from Edward's would've been impossible, had Emmett not walked to my side, placed a huge, icy hand on either side of my face, and turned my head gently to the left and down to the girl once more.

"Thanks," I mumbled. He only smirked. My cheeks grew warmer.

"Hello!"

I started. I couldn't believe that that high, smooth, sophisticated voice belonged to the petite girl before me; I would've been less surprised to hear that the Volturi lost a battle against Hitler.

"Hi," I breathed, and she smiled, stunning me to the core. Could she be so gorgeous and be human, so mature and yet so immature, so young and yet so intimidating? Were such perfect babies born?

"I'm Zuri, what's your name?"

Zuri. Such a fairy-like name, and the second I thought that, it became a possibility.

"I'm Bella," I said, and held my hand out again. She shook it. Her temperature was no warmer than mine, and no colder either.

I felt Edward's eyes on me. Looking up, he said, with a small smile on his heavenly face, "She's not one of us." I raised my eyebrows and opened my mouth as another question bubbled up to my tongue.

"And she doesn't know about us, either," Rosalie shot in, answering that question. She wasn't glaring at me for once, just looking.

I blinked my gaze away from her to focus on Esme, who cleared her throat and said lightly, "Shall we adjourn to the living room? Zuri, sit next to Bella so you can explain everything to her."

That was when I noticed that I was still holding Zuri's hand, and she didn't seem eager to let go. Her wrist was a fragile stem, and her fingers were long and slender, a beautiful blossom of grace. She took her right hand carefully from mine, replacing it with her left and skipping to my side. Edward beckoned, and I walked nervously to the living room. Zuri was silent, staring fixedly at my face as though it was a work of art. I reached the plain white leather couch and sat down in the middle. Zuri hopped up on my right and Edward perched on my left, sliding his arm nonchalantly around my waist.

Edward squeezed me encouragingly. I took that as my cue and turned stiffly towards Zuri. It felt like butterflies were having a piñata party in my stomach.

"So," I said cautiously, and Zuri's head jerked up. She smiled again, and I glimpsed her teeth. They were like white daisies, perfectly straight, bright white and alluring. My face felt green with envy.

"Are you…uh…" I choked out. "I mean—how old are you?"

"Seven."

"How did you meet the Cullen's? Or…how did they come across you?" I thought for a moment and then rushed to add, "If you don't want to tell me, by all means, don't. I'm only curious."

She rubbed my hand comfortingly, as it was still in her grasp. "It's fine. Curiosity never killed the cat. It is, indeed, an intriguing story."

I gaped. She was smart, too.

"How did the Cullen's come across me?...Alright, well. I was five years old when my parents passed on. They took a private jet to Russia. They were photographers, see. They were headed for the immense forest out there, not a particular airport. Their pilot was great, he dropped them safely off in the middle of a meadow in Northern Russia. Everything went downhill from there. Sure, they both got some good shots, but the film was soon destroyed.

"When they ran out of camping food, they began their hike to a nearby village. They discovered a path after about five miles of walking. In no time they reached civilization. Food. Heat. Clean clothing. They took refuge in a shabby hotel. That night, the killings began. My father was killed, his body vanished overnight. All of his belongings were reported ruined, like his clothes and luggage bags—ripped to shreds, his reading glasses and wedding ring—removed after the murder and snapped clean in half. The film in his camera was burned, useless ashes scattered amongst the broken wedding rings. Why the murderer did such a thing is still a mystery to all who hear of it.

"My mother phoned the children shelter I was staying at in Portland, Oregon, because I lack any living relative. Most of them were mountain climbers or studied a certain jungle species, and died in the wilderness. Anyway, my mother phoned and told me the tragic news. I heard her death over the phone. She murmured a soft "I love you," and mere seconds afterwards she screamed. The scream was cut short, and I heard a peculiar sucking noise, like two people kissing or an octopus's suction cups. Then a new voice came onto the phone. It was smooth, almost like velvet, if voices could have textures." A vampire, certainly. The way she described thinks like me was uncanny. "It was obviously male, and he sounded about 25, or around there. He whispered, "Your mother is dead now. I'll come for you next. I love you. See you soon…Zuri." I don't know how he knew my name, and I haven't a clue why he said he loved me. Taunting me, I suppose. I was frightened and, at the same time, stuck. All I wanted to do was hear that voice again." I could relate to that addiction.

"There was an article in the newspaper about my parents, who were quite famous at the time. It told everything I have told you, plus a little about me and what became of me. I was moved from the shelter to a nearby orphanage. I was distraught at first but, being so young, was more concerned about the present second, about having my teddy bear and my blanket. Actually, the blanket was my mother's. It still smells like her…" Poor girl. She's so young. So why does she sound as educated and as sure of herself as a 30 year-old college professor?

"When I was six years-old, I was visited by countless people, interested in having a young daughter. Alice came. She talked with me, but mostly stared into my eyes with a burning intensity I wasn't used to at the time. I remember being afraid of her incessant gazing with those otherworldly eyes. Mainly, though, I was terrified of her voice, so crystal clear and smooth. Like velvet. When she realized this, she opted to stare at me. She came four days in a row. Then she left, and I recall feeling sad, believing that I would never see her again." I know that feeling. But for me 'sadness' and 'madness' are sort of the same thing.

"But on my seventh birthday she arrived once more, signing all the government and possession papers for me, Zuri Patterson. I was thrilled, but not sure what to expect. Never did I think I would be so welcomed into this wonderful family." You?, I wanted to say. At least you're a sight to see, like them. "Jasper has to leave, but no one will tell me why. Alice has explained that in public outside of Forks I am to say that Edward is my father. She told me this morning that tonight I would meet my "pretend" mother. That's you." I took a ragged breath through my nose. "She informed me that, except for the eyes, I look like a combination of the two of you. I see that she is correct and I am delighted to meet you, Bella. My past is traumatic, yes, but I am so young and the world is mine. I hope to make my future a happy one, with you as my mother." She wrapped her slight arms around me.

It was a lot to drink in. Edward's hand was gripping my waist tightly now, reassuring and the only link I had to reality at that moment. A minute passed and Zuri remained latched onto me, so I slowly placed my arms around her small body. I was surprised at how natural it felt, having her in my arms.

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Edward tucked me into bed an hour later, after warm food and loving goodbyes.

"Is that where you've been?" I asked, my eyelids drooping.

"What do you mean?" he muttered, smoothing my hair down my back.

"At night, when you leave. And is that why you're warm, because you're holding her?"

His hand halted at my shoulder blades, chilling my bones. I couldn't see his face, for my own was buried in his chest. I waited.

"No."

I could hear honesty ringing in that single syllable. "I'm assuming I'll find out everything in due time, so I won't push it. But will you stay here tonight, please? I never sleep without you."

His right hand resumed its stroking, while his left hand dipped under my chin, lifting my face to his and forcing my eyelids to fall open. He swooped down, his lips smashing mine. I felt his energy and responded, my body doing its best to slam him against the wall. He released my lips about 20 blissful seconds later, and his eyes were wild, his hand reaching down to pry my legs from his beneath the quilt. I panted into his face, and he panted into mine. I had gone too far, but I didn't care. He didn't seem to mind terribly, but I knew it saddened him that he couldn't respond to my lustful actions as Jacob surely could. Maybe that made us even. He holds a horrible secret above my head, perfectly aware that I hate surprises, and I taunt him when he kisses me until he breaks a barrier or two out of frustration and want.

An eye for an eye.

"Yes, I'll stay the night. I'm sorry you never sleep, I really am. Due time, as you said. In due time, you'll know everything." He took a deep breath. "You can ask questions tomorrow. Some I may not answer. Be patient, love. We'll visit Zuri if you'd like." He watched, smiling, as my eyelids fluttered closed. "I love you, Bella."

I shivered, remembering the "I love you's" in Zuri's story.

"Love you, too."

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Tell me what you think, people!! And tell me if you're curious enough or whatever that I should keep going. Next one up tomorrow!

-marlise