EPOV

'Well this is just utterly ludicrous.' I thought angrily. I was leaning against my piano away

from the others.

The scene before me made no sense what so ever.

With all the smiles and laughter flowing through the room, you would never guess that three fully matured oaks were lying on their sides in the front yard.

I glared toward the female with nearly black hair, Ashley. She was sitting in a chair across from Carlisle, talking and looking perfectly relaxed. I didn't know what she was playing at, for some unfathomable reason her mind was off limits to me, but I wasn't going to let my guard down near her.

I moved on to the rest of the group.

The tall one, with the dark brown hair hanging in his eyes, was remarkably like Emmett. Within thirty seven minutes of entering the house, Emmett had challenged Aaron to a video game play off. As if the fight hadn't happened, or had been merely for sport. They were slowly making their way through Emmett's beloved vast collection of video games. they were currently in the middle of a game called 'Gears of War2' whatever the hell that was. They were totally mesmerized by it, the only time one of them would speak would be to playfully insult the others gaming ability or yell out 'HEAD SHOT' and burst into laughter. The resemblance between the two of them both physically and mentally was something to worry about indeed.

Lastly I focused on the shy one, Ashlyn. She was talking with Alice, Esme, and Rosalie. She looked comfortable enough, the only physical way to tell differently was her body language. Every so often she would use her light brown hair as a curtain between the others, as Bella had done with me so many years ago. I frowned. The minute she had shown herself, I, along with the rest of my family, had felt the burning urge to protect and comfort her, as though she were family. Even now I can't muster any hostility toward her. I would have to be careful around her, though I didn't sense any malicious plans or evil intent in her mind, better to be safe than sorry.

" But how do you all manage it? It must be painful correct?" Ashley was asking Carlisle with a look of awe on her face.

" Indeed it can be very painful to endure, and it is difficult for many of us, but we all decided that human lives were too important to take on a whim." Carlisle answered seriously.

Ashley frowned, as though she suddenly felt like a monster. Well she is one, we all are, she is just better at it than we are

Always polite Carlisle quickly added.

"But there is nothing wrong with being natural vampires. You are just doing what is natural, instinctive."

While Carlisle strongly disapproved of taking humans as food, he would not make someone who couldn't resist the temptation feel bad or angry with his or herself.

Ashley was quiet for awhile, thinking. Then she turned to look at Ashlyn with a sad expression on her face.

I turned to Jasper, desperate to know what she could be thinking. He caught my eye and shrugged.'She fells pity and sadness, for her friend I'm sure. My guess is that Ashlyn doesn't like to kill humans. I don't think they ever knew this way of life was possible. Now I'm guessing she's worried she won't be able to change, for her friends sake.' Jasper thought to me. Again he shrugged.

I nodded in agreement, it made sense. Going from her thoughts, Ashlyn was a very kind person, as big a pacifist as Carlisle no doubt. I couldn't imagine the pain it caused her to have to hunt.

Ashley turned back to Carlisle with a determined look in her eye. A decision had been made.

" Carlisle, I know that I have only just met you, but would you please do something for me?" She asked seriously.

Carlisle hardly hesitated. "Of course. What is it?"

Ashley dropped her voice so Ashlyn wouldn't hear her." I want you to help Ashlyn. It kills her to hunt humans, and I'm not at all confident in my ability to help her into an alternate lifestyle such as this." she whispered desperately.

Carlisle's eyes widened on shock.

"I'd be more than happy to help Ashlyn adjust. But if you don't mind my asking, what will you do?" he asked.

She looked sad for a moment. " I've been a vampire for over four hundred years Carlisle. I don't know if I have the strength to deny myself what I've had for centuries." she turned hopefully. " But Ashlyn is young, hardly seventy years of age, I believe she can change Carlisle I truly do." she finished confidently

I'll admit, I was very surprised to hear her request something so kind, noble even.

" It will be more difficult for her to do this on her own. Also if you and your brother remain natural vampires, she will always be tempted to hunt humans, no matter how badly it hurts her." Carlisle said sadly.

" I understand that. Which is why I would like to ask you to please accept Ashlyn as one of your own." Ashley finished, her voice fading toward the end.

" NO! I want to stay with you and Aaron!" Ashlyn cried jumping up from the couch with devastation etched into her soft face. Suddenly Aaron was by Ashley's side, looking confused and worried. Ashley on the other hand had ignored Ashlyn's outburst and remained focused on Carlisle.

" Will you Carlisle?" She asked calmly.

Carlisle hesitated, looking back and forth between Ashley and Ashlyn. Finally he answered.

" I will take her in as though she were my own, and help her to adjust." he said solemnly.

" No, I don't want to stay here, you and Aaron are my family!" Ashlyn pleaded desperately. Again Ashley ignored her, only Aaron showed any reaction to Ashlyn's distress by moving toward her fractionally. " Please, this isn't fair! This should be my choice."

"What wouldn't be fair would be for me and Aaron to continue making you live the way we do. This is what's best for you Ashlyn. Aaron and I will leave, you will never have to kill a human again." Ashley said firmly, but even I could see the painful sadness that filled her eyes.

" You two can't leave me, I can't do this on my own." Ashlyn sobbed tearlessly.

" You won't be alone." Everyone turned to look at Bryan who had just spoke for the first time.

" What do you mean?" Ashlyn asked.

"I'm new to this way of life, its hard, but you and I could help each other through it." he finished, staring Ashlyn in the eyes.

It was then that I paid attention to what was going on in Bryan's mind. What I heard there was confirmed by the utter adoration in his eyes as he continued to look at Ashlyn.

He had fallen for this fragile vampire.

Aaron and Ashley must have reached the same conclusion, because suddenly Ashley was glaring at Bryan distastefully and Aaron's thoughts had turned to those of a protective brother. Only Ashlyn remained more or less oblivious to Bryan's feelings.

" I -I can't, Ashley please don't leave me." she whispered holding on to Aaron's arm and burying her face in it. He reached over with his other arm and put it around her comfortingly.

" Ashley, maybe we should think about this for a few days." he said looking down sadly at Ashlyn's shaking shoulders.

" The longer we drag this out the more painful it will be for all of us in the end Aaron." Ashley said shaking her head sadly.

It was quiet then, the atmosphere to thick with tension for anyone to want to speak just yet. Everybody's mind's, except Ashley's of course, were thinking over the possibilities.

' I really want her to stay.' Bryan was thinking ' Look how beautiful she is, I hate to see her so upset, I wish that was my arm she was clinging to. I hate to see her this way but....I really REALLY want her to stay.' Bryan thought hopefully.

' The poor thing, this must be so hard on her, but it is very selfless of Ashley to do this for her friend. Ashlyn is so polite and gentle, I am so happy that Bryan has taken an interest in her. He deserves a good mate.' Esme thought maternally.

' Almost had him too. Stinkin drama, now its gonna be stuck at a tie.' Emmett complained on and on.

As far as I could tell nobody was against her staying with us.

Suddenly Carlisle spoke.

" Ashley if I may? I think Aaron is right. Maybe you should give it a few days, you can stay with us during that time of course. Also if you three believe you can handle it, I think you should attend school with the others."

" You must be joking Carlisle!" I yelled looking at Carlisle as though he had sprouted another head. " Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? They aren't like us." I said, suddenly feeling the need to spell it out for him. Before he could answer Aaron spoke.

" For your information BOY" he sneered "We have been around for centuries longer that you have, we can control ourselves." he said glaring at me.

Ashley nodded " That's correct. We feed when and ONLY when we wish to hunt. Even Ashlyn can resist if she is well fed."

" It would only be for a few days Edward." Carlisle said reassuringly.

" That school is full of humans, why take such a gamble with other people's lives when-" I was cut off by Alice who until now had be very still.

" From what I can see," she started before giving Ashley a peeved look. " Which isn't much, no one will die tomorrow." she finished confidently.

" See? Nothin' to worry about." Aaron said grinning and reaching over to high five Alice, who laughed before she complied.

" Her visions are subjective, they can change, "Alice glared at me and I turned to look at Ashlyn " people can die."

She flinched and I felt very bad for having said it, though it was very true.

" Edward," Bella said disapprovingly.

" Edward that was very rude of you." Esme said scolding me while taking Ashlyn's hand.

" You better hold your tongue boy." Ashley started angrily

" You could get hurt." Aaron finished glaring daggers at me.

I rolled my eyes, causing both of them to growl threateningly.

" I'm just saying what you all already know." I said.

" Either way, in the end it is up to you." Carlisle interrupted, disrupting the tension between us.

Ashley gave Aaron a look. He grinned and nodded. Then she turned to Ashlyn who looked back hopefully.

Next, with a pleasant and polite smile on her face she said in the most annoyingly chipper voice,

" That sounds like a wonderful idea Carlisle."

I frowned while the others rejoiced and smiled. I had a feeling Ashley would start using that voice and demeanor only when she planned on spiting me. But it was just a feeling.