Ungood-byes


Take me with you
I start to miss you

Cross my heart-Mariana's Trench

Cloth fell into the old suitcase haphazardly, shirts twisting with jeans. Scarves with socks. Benjamin sighed in frustration as he shoved the last of his scarves and shirts into the bag, why did they have to leave now? Another week would scarcely matter; most vampires didn't live in Egypt. Or even pass through it. Something about no clouds or rain sat heavily on cold shoulders. Who would want to do that? Oh, wait, his family. Of course.

The zipper closed with a sharp zzzpt, grabbing it off the guest bed that they had been relocated into after many of the other vampires had left; he turned off the lights and closed the door behind him. A frown settling on his usually energetic features, he looked as if he was going to battle again instead of leaving. A dark exotic knight.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he was met with a pair of huge brown eyes staring angrily as he descended. The soft white meat of an apple slice half-way to her slight mouth. Standing in nothing but an elusive white night shift, her child-like pout growing larger as the Egyptian came closer, Renesmee crossed her appendages and glared harder. Benjamin barely stifled a smile at the child, patting her on her head as he passed.

"Sorry, Little Sphinx," his smile turned tender, all the irritability melting away, "I've got to leave now."

The little girl followed him through the house, nibbling unobtrusively one her apple slice. Saying nothing. Just following. Following with an anguished face settled on her pale face.

Cars lined the garage, sports cars—shiny and sleek—they sat like soldiers ready to go to battle. Moving quickly between them, Benjamin stopped at the last one. A sleek midnight Bugatti Veyron. Dhil. The shadow.

Amun and Kebi waited impatiently leaned up against the car in silence. Homesickness had taken over their systems, flooding their dry veins with memories of their temple home. Missing the sun. The sandstone. The heat. Even the dust.

Amun glared tiredly at the little girl following Benjamin, "You have a tag-along," he said, opening the passenger seat to motion his wife to get in. They needed to leave. Now. Preferably.

"I know, Little Sphinx is angry," Benjamin smiled cheekily, opening the trunk to place his luggage along with the rest. Securing the trunk, he finally looked down at his little adherent.

"You didn't finish the story," bronze curls blowing across her face, the girl frowned up at the man. Disappointment evident on her face.

Tapping his chin sympathetically, Benjamin allowed a thoughtful frown to pull on his lips, "I suppose I didn't, but," he undid the gauzy sapphire scarf he'd been wearing, and wrapped it loosely around the girl, "we have all the time in the world, Little Sphinx, take my scarf and next time I see you we can trade. Scarf for story. Deal?" he smiled then. Wide and cheery. The dimples deep and friendly on his olive complected face.

"Deal." A sharp nod rustling her auburn curls. Face stoic.

Getting in the backseat of the sports car, Benjamin offered a slight departing wave. This wasn't good-bye. This was a beginning.

As the car disappeared around the bend of the tree covered lot, Renesmee fingered the scarf. Bringing it closer to her face to nuzzle the silk scarf. Coriander seeds. lotus flowers. Spicy and sweet. exotic. She hadn't said good-bye. They'd see each other again. He promised. But inside Renesmee's stomach tied in knots, her heart suddenly containing an empty spot. Salt water dripped down her face, sadness wreaking havoc on her sensitive half-human body. She'd never felt these emotions before. So strange.

"Hey, kiddo, whatcha doing outside?" hot hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her high off the ground. She felt no relief and happiness in his grip. Only vague protection. Even stranger.

Arms rubbing away the tears, she offered a small smile to her best friend, "Nothing." He disapproved of the Egyptian. Or any other vampire. Zafrina scared him the most. Renesmee knew better than to talk happily about them. It made him upset. Made him shiver.

"No showing today?" Jacob asked, placing her on his hip as we walked them back inside.

"Nope," Renesmee shrugged, after learning that not everyone appreciated her gift she decided it was in everyone's best interest to keep it solidly under wraps, "it is a hindrance on some occasions. I cannot touch everybody contingently to get my feelings out. That would be noted as being peculiar."

"Whatever you say kiddo," Jacob gave her a weird look, shaking his head at the words that came out of her mouth. Only several months old and already she knew more words than he did. Now, he felt like a failure. A dunce.

They walked back into the spacious living room. The last of the vampires leaving as he spoke. Empty and echoing, the near mansion felt hollow. Hushed . The Amazonians had already made their promises to have their little Halfling visit and left several days prior, along with the Irish and Romanians none of them having said much other than to stay in contact. Only the Denali's had failed to leave. But they were practically extended family; they would probably stay several weeks more for Christmas.

"That is a beautiful scarf you've got there, Sweetheart," Esme complimented, as Jacob put Renesmee down. Smiling sweetly down at the girl, "who gave you that?"

Several curious faces turned to the cute adolescent, waiting for an answer. Rubbing the soft fabric against her face, cheeks turned a soft pink, "someone special." Mysterious. Best answer

Edward chuckled from her spot behind the piano, a smug smile settling on his thin lips. Bella looked over at him, "what?"

"Nothing," He aimed another smug look at Jacob before turning to his wife, "Nessie is just going to be a handful when she gets older that's all."

"Physically, I already much more than a handful," Renesmee quipped, turning to stare at her father questionably, "to a human it is at present impossible to hold me with one hand."

Everybody merely laughed, finding the girl's logic adorable. Renesmee's cheeks burned brighter, bringing forth more laughter. Her embarrassment meant everybody's amusement. Had they been speaking fictionally? Instead of opening her mouth to speak up, she shot into her grandpa's lap to hide shyly. Carlisle accepted her with open arms, hugging her gently before settling her in his lap.

Leaning down, he whispered softly into her ear. A strong clear trumpet floating underneath musical bells, "Better keep that scarf close to you, Little One, precious things from precious people deserve to be treasured."

"Yes, Papa."

Coriander seeds and lotus flower. The scent cloying and soft next to her nose as she snuggled into it, already wishing to see the Egyptian again. Her Egyptian. Eyes drawing heavy, her mind started to wander as everybody went back to what they were doing. Playing videogames, listening to music, shopping.

Coriander and lotus.

There was no denying it. She loved the smell.