The Cullens had school. I met up with them afterward and, much to the blonde girl's chagrin, was let in for the first time.

I pat the seat beside me and Edward rolled his eyes, but sat down anyway.

"Good boy," I snickered. He flashed me a look as I readjusted myself, forcing him to be my footrest. "I've trained you well."

The blonde looked disgusted and I rolled my eyes.

"What are you lot standing around for? Is this not your house?!"

Edward laughed as the others scrambled to take their seats.

"Damn, I missed you." He chuckled. I scoffed. Suck-up.

"Nice to see you too."

"What's life been like for you teenagers anyway? I wouldn't know." I smirked. Edward scowled and aimed a swat for the side of my head, which I narrowly avoided. "You're rusty, Anthony. That'll have to change." He shot me a look of panic.

"I sense a fair amount of pain in my future," He groaned and sank into the couch. "Say it ain't so, Bella."

"Quit whining, Masen. It'll be good for you."

"My experience tells me otherwise." A new voice snorted. Bella's gaze snapped toward the door, where her blonde friend held the door open for his wife.

"Esme! I absolutely love what you've done with the place. It's beautiful, really!" The girl chirped as she untangled herself from Edward and skipped over to the couple.

"It's nice to see you too, Bella." Esme purred warmly. "And thank you."

"Good to see you haven't thrown yourself off a cliff while we were gone." Her husband sneered playfully.

"I sure as hell wouldn't give you the satisfaction." She snapped back. "...You don't get to judge."

"I'm not, honest.

Their tent was big enough to fit five people, but it was still very small and easy to transport. They couldn't afford the luxury of barracks on a mission, and the doctor stayed with their squad at all times, clearly capable of holding his own. That said, everyone knew that Isabella Swan and Carlisle Cullen were different from normal people, and they often stuck together in case something unexpected occurred. Bella got sick during the night, thrashing about and striking at anything within grabbing distance. Even Paulson wasn't enough to keep her at bay, and he was one of the stronger ones. Apparently the doctor had some hidden strength because he was able to wrestle the stricken girl into a corner of the tent and keep her there, although not without struggle.

"Damn, Cullen, get some!"

Chuck Paulson snickered at the sight of the sick girl squirming under him for the 7th time that night.

"Crack another joke, Paulson and I swear you will regret it!" Carlisle snapped out.

"You idiot!" Mike Newton was one of the snipers in their tent. "Do you want her to kill you? Because if he lets her up then that's exactly what she's going to do! We saw how she was earlier and you know damn well that Doc is the only reason we're not smears on the ground. Keep your fucked up ideas to yourself and go to sleep!"

"Your boy was smart, I'll give you that."

"Smart enough to get roasted?"

"It was get roasted or get cheesed. He made a decision. You can't fault him that."

"Honestly, I'd rather get cheesed."

"You're bulletproof."

"And fireproof, let's not forget."

"No, I'd actually rather forget that… particular incident."

Carlisle actually looked something close to embarrased, but there was something…darker there, Edward realized. Then he was engulfed in fire and far too weak to even think, let alone escape and what'shappeningdeargoddon'tletmedie!

Something jerked him back to his senses and the others stared at him in shock.

"What-?"

"I've told you all time and again that there's a price for abusing your powers. Now you at least know why."

"That…" Edward rasped, throat feeling dry. "That happened to you?"

Carlisle nodded.

"I was weak. Can't remember when I fed before I was captured and God forbid they find out what I really was… at any rate, I didn't eat them. They tried all kinds of things, electricity, water; it didn't work on me. I could hold my breath indefinitely and I didn't know much. I was just the medic. I went where my team did, where I was needed. I stuck by that and they gave up. For a while they left me alone, having exhausted all their resources. Imagine my surprise when the lightning scorched my skin. Or do you think I wear sleeves and scarves for the hell of it?" Carlisle snorted. "Granted I do. I rather like my scarves. At any rate, they'd soaked the shack I was kept in with gasoline. I try to escape, I burn before I'm on my feet, let alone to the door. Bella was stupid enough to get me out and carry me back to base. Couldn't walk for shit and had no blood in forever. There was no way in hell I was getting anywhere on my own. So yes, I almost got roasted. It was not pleasant, Edward. Maybe this'll teach you some self-control."

It's okay, Tony, you'll learn someday." Bella simpered, running a hand through his hair.

"Meanie." Edward scowled.

"Hey, you know what? You have stuff in common with one of my favorite Marvel characters!" She snickered mischievously.

"Why are you comparing me to Iron Man for the 12th time?"

"You share names and status as myths." Edward popped an eye open and bounced his hand off the top of her head.

"Go walk through fire." The redhead scoffed.

"Next time you try that you'll regret it."

"Crack another joke and you'll land flat on your ass, Swan!" Edward hissed. Carlisle laughed.

"Touchy," Bella snorted, hopping to her feet.

"I forgot how pathetic you two could be."

"You better pray to God that you weren't talking to me." The girl hissed, voice like ice.

"Even if I wasn't, God wouldn't save me from getting roasted over a spit. I survived two wars and a decade with you. What the hell makes you think I'm that stupid?"

"Who knows? All this domestic crap getting shoved down your throat would make any normal man go soft."

Carlisle shot the girl a look.

"If you insist." He offered. "Been anywhere interesting lately?"

"Italy is nice during the summer, and the wine is to die for, Car! Makes me wish I could get drunk."

"You mean you spent who knows how much time dragging me to bar after bar for your God-forsaken drinking contests and you never felt the effects? Not even for a second?"

"Hell no! Who needs wine when you've got war? Insanity'll do it real nice, nowadays."

"Indeed," Carlisle hummed. "And what the hell have I told you about going to Italy?"

"Your so-called royalty doesn't scare me, Car. I'm not particularly fond of the horror stories, though. Seen enough blood for my lifetime."

"Then what the fuck were you doing?"

"You said the vampires were there, not that that would stop me."

"I said go at your own risk. If any other vampire finds out about your healing powers you'll be the most wanted human in the world, and there's fuck all I could do to stop it. What, are you a masochist now?"

"No, I'm done with that. I'm just not scared of some stupid blood-suckers who think they can boss me around. I'll go where I want and not one of your kind is gonna stop me. Besides, my blood can be poisonous to vampires, so they can try for a drink at their own fucking risk. See how those bastards like the idea of burning from the inside out."

"My ultimate goal is to never find out the answer." Carlisle groused. "Anything else I should know about?" A sharp, loud "clink!" made the blonde's head snap up.

"Isabella Marie Swan, you have got to be kidding me."

"Nope!" The girl chirped, sheathing the giant metal claws that had previously sliced through the air. "You have General William Stryker to thank for that."

"Stryker… wasn't he that crazy asshole who was trying to round up people with powers like yours?"

"Mutants, yes, but I escaped. Freed most of them. Killed Stryker. And his team. And the guards. And-."

"Yes, we know, dear. You've killed a shit-ton of people. No need to go rehashing all that." Edward offered dryly.

"Thank you, Edward." Carlisle groused. "You just can't keep your paws clean, can you?"

"I really do try, Doc. It's just trouble keeps sneaking up on me."