Hey! I got over a thousand words this time! Yay! Thanks everyone for the reviews. For anyone who wants to learn more about Laura will have to read her story 'Shake 'em up!'
Carlisle stared at the phone in his hand as if it could explain what his son had just said to him. A human new about them? How?
"Edward? Are you sure? How does the human know?"
He heard Edward sigh through the phone.
"Yes, I'm sure. She gave me a blood flavored lollipop. As for how she knows- she said she would explain that at closing."
"Who is she Edward?"
"I don't know her surname. She insists I call her Laura. She doesn't like Bella at all."
Carlisle could hear the amusement in his son's voice. He chuckled,
"What time do we need to be there?"
"Carlisle, she wants to speak with you."
"Put her on."
"Mr. Cullen, this is Laura Angelus. Has your son ingested anything besides blood since he was turned?"
Carlisle gave his phone a puzzled look,
"No, Mrs. Angelus, not that I know of."
She sighed.
"Vampires." she grumbled exasperatedly. Carlisle fought a smile at the tone. "That explains it. And call me Laura sweetheart."
"Only if you call me Carlisle." he answered with a smile. She laughed happily,
"Well, Carlisle, have you eaten since you were turned? Or any of the rest of your coven for that matter?"
"No. We don't have the need. Why do you ask?"
"Carlisle, you do know that there are certain proteins and vitamins that your bodies need that blood doesn't provide, don't you?" she asked worriedly. He gave the phone a startled look.
"No, I didn't, but I don't know of any food that we can digest."
"I want to know who your Sire was so that I can find him and beat him with a stick." she demanded. Carlisle laughed.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. I think he's dead anyway."
She grumbled about idiot Sires and ignorant vampires for a few minutes before finally saying,
"Well, lucky for you, I do know foods that you can digest and I serve them in my restaurant, so your boy will be well fed by the time you get here. Then the rest of you are going to eat. I don't care if you want to or not."
Carlisle had to fight another laugh.
"Yes ma'm."
"Oh, none of that 'ma'm' business. I'll let you get back to work. We close at eight."
"Very well. I look forward to meeting you Laura."
"And I you, Carlisle." she answered warmly, hanging up the phone. Carlisle sighed and put his phone away. He had a lot to think about.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Marauder's Diner 8 o'clock ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Laura flipped the 'Open' sign to 'Closed', looking for the Cullens. She bit back a smile when a Mercedes pulled into the parking lot, followed closely by an M3 BMW. She opened the door as the vampires left their cares and headed for her small restaurant. The first to enter were a blond man with kind smile and a brunette woman on his arm, looking decidedly nervous. Then came a small, pixie like vampire with spiky black hair on the arm of another blond, covered in scars and a wary look on his face. And finally, yet another blond runway model with her nose stuck in the air, followed by a huge, bear of a man with an easy smile. They all entered, and all but the blond woman, they all smiled at her, though a few were nervous of suspicious. She led them to the back to the diner, to Edward and Bella, and called,
"Harry, Neville, Luna, Michael - could you grab that food I cooked a few minutes ago and bring it out? They're here! And all three of you behave!"
"Three?" asked one of the vampires. Laura smirked and answered loudly enough for the other for to hear.
"I really don't need to worry about Neville. He's a sweet, well-behaved boy."
She laughed at the two indignant, male 'Oi!s' and soft playful laughter that met her announcement. One of the blond men, the first to come in, stepped forward and held out his hand, a smile on his face.
"I am Carlisle and this is my wife Esme." he told her.
"I'm Laura," she answered, shaking the offered limb and smiling at the petite woman. "I'll introduce the other four when they get in here. Who are the others?"
The pixie bounced to the front, dragging the other blond male with her.
"I'm Alice and this is Jasper." she chirped happily, pointing at the man beside her. Laura smiled once again and held out a lolli she took from her apron when she noticed the uncomfortable look on Jasper's face.
"It's a blood Lollipop. It'll help stave off the craving until your food gets here. Did Carlisle explain about that?" she asked, worrying her bottom lip, smiling again when Jasper nodded. She looked at the third, unnamed couple expectantly. It looked like the blond was unwilling to speak, but the burly one had no trouble introducing both of them.
"I'm Emmett and she's Rosalie. Don't be offended if she doesn't speak to you - she's like that with everyone."
Laura laughed at that,
"I'll keep that in mind. Wouldn't want my hormones tripped because I think I've done something to make her angry. I'm pregnant." she clarified at the puzzled look. She caught a brief look of longing on Rosalie's face before it quickly disappeared to be replaced once again by a sneer. Laura smiled happily when her husband, brother, and friends came with the food, setting it on the table she'd led them to. It was behind Edward's table and big enough the young vampire and his Singer could join them. Rosalie sneered at the food, causing Laura to frown.
"Sweetheart, I understand that you don't like the fact that an outsider knows what you are, but that doesn't mean you have to be rude. I'm giving you food free of charge from my restaurant. The least you could do is try it." she told her. Rosalie continued to sneer, but Esme looked embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Angelus. She's usually not this rude -"
Laura smiled and waved off the apology.
"Don't worry about it, poppet, I don't blame you."
She turned back to Rosalie and crossed her arms.
"Listen. I'm being nice here. I don't have to tell you jack shit. I don't have to let you in my place of business, and I most definitely do not need to feed you. I'm doing this because I want to. So, wipe that sneer off your face and get your head out of the mirror. The world does not revolve around you and I do not bow to your will. Eat the damn food or don't - I really don't care, but you will not be rude to me in my restaurant." she told the arrogant vampire. Without waiting for an answer, she turned back to Carlisle and Esme, taking a deep breath.
"What do you know about Wizards?"
