Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
*Please read* It doesn't usually make a difference whether you read the WTST or the DID chapter first, but before you read this I think it's better for you to read DID chapter 7 (chapter 8 according to FFn) before you read this chapter of WTST. Thank you
This chapter is dedicated to Noble, Fadewind, Bibika94, BellaNessieCullen, Justandsimplyme, Alphabloodwolf, Lsb123, Alexsandra and Skys the Limit 7507
We hadn't been out hunting as long as I thought we had, it had barely been an hour. Grace and I made out way downstairs to find someone because we needed to check in with the family before we knew what was gonna happen next. The first person we found was Dad, he was in the informal sitting room talking to someone on speakerphone. I cautioned Grace to be quiet just in case it was Liza; she was so ridiculous at the moment that any little thing upset her.
"Oh. So you want me to talk Liza into coming home." The guy on the other end said. He had an accent I didn't recognise. "You want me to go against the promise I made her as a friend to be understanding and not pressurise her where her family is concerned? Are you going to ask me to spy on her next?"
"I would do nothing of the sort, but Liza needs to be with her family." Dad stated calmly, not fazed in the slightest by the false accusations.
"Then come get her, you know where she is." The person challenged and I went to retort but Dad held up his hand and I kept quiet.
"And I have a feeling you already know how stubborn Liza can be at times." Dad said carefully.
"She's not stubborn. She's just… just gets a little obsessive. Not unlike someone else I know." The person said significantly and it was clear who he was referring to.
"Wow, that was a rather harsh blow." Dad said with a chuckle.
"Don't patronise me!" The guy snapped.
"Forgive me Mal, that was not my intention. It is merely that I have never known such animosity from you since you were a child and infatuated with Essie."
Mal? Why did that name sound familiar?
"I don't like being asked to betray my friend's trust." The Mal guy said darkly.
"But we are your friends too." Dad pointed out and it suddenly clicked into place, the guy was Malachite, an orphan half vampire Mom and Dad had to raise in Volterra.
"Yeah. But from what I hear, all you decided to side with Essie and nobody cared about listening to Liza's point of view." Malachite said and I shook my head, wondering how Liza could have wrapped him around her finger so quickly.
"That is what she said?" Dad mused.
"Yes." Malachite said firmly.
"Tell me Mal, has she told you why she is angry with us, or Essie in particular?"
"No. But she'll tell me when she's ready." Mal said in sure tones. "So don't say anything."
"But would you rather know now, for Liza will not tell you. Not anytime soon." Dad cautioned.
"I don't want to know." Malachite said firmly, stubbornly.
"The reason that…" Dad began.
"Matters not." Liza's voice came over the speaker, cutting Dad off just as Mom came in the room. "How dare you do this Father?"
"I am trying to help Liza. Help you mostly. You are being most unreasonable, can you not see that?" Dad pleaded with her and I admired the fact that he wasn't raving at her, I would have been.
"I am not being unreasonable in the slightest." She began and I couldn't help thinking, here we go again. "You were being unreasonable to expect me to accept this new development without a bye or leave and now you go to poison my friend against me? I have no one in this world; you even took my twin from me. Now you seek to steal my only friend when all I wish is to know how my brother and his girlfriend fare?" She continued, her voice rising with every syllable as she worked herself into a state.
"Liza, please be calm." Dad said soothingly.
"No." Liza said firmly, stubbornly. I guess her and Malachite suite each other; I tried not to laugh, it was sad more than funny.
"Vela! You will see reason." Dad said, trying out his nickname for her. It was the name she would have had if our parents had got chance to name us, it was the name of Dad's mom, my grandmother who died nearly three thousand years ago.
"You see reason Father." She snapped.
"I am losing patience with you Vela." Dad said, and it was clear by his tone that he was on the verge of getting angry. Dad didn't get angry often, it took a lot to make him lose his cool, but Liza was pushing it over the whole baby issue, mostly because she was hurting Mom so much. "Mother cries most nights to think of you so far away and not in contact."
I shared a look with Mom, it was true, I hadn't realised. Not that Liza would care.
"Then she should have thought about that before. Perhaps she would not be so… She should have thought…" Liza stuttered, not wanting to let her friend know why she was acting like this, I'm sure he'd think she was being unreasonable too.
"We want you to be part of this, can you not see. You were the first one Mother wished to tell, but you hung up on her the other day and ignored all her other attempts to contact you. Are you really going to let this unfounded anger stop you from being there when your little sister is born?" Dad finished, despite the fact Liza had hung up on him.
"See, she's still acting like a brat." I observed.
"Tony, don't." Mom said softly. "Liza's just angry right now, and I know what that's like. How it can stop you thinking straight. She'll come around eventually."
"And then be stroppy cause she missed out on the birth and the first however long it takes her to get back in touch of our sister's life." I pointed out.
"She got in touch when she thought you were in trouble." Mom stated. "That took a lot of guts, believe me. She even spoke to me."
"Wow, she spoke to her mother." I said bitterly, angry with Liza cause I couldn't argue this out with her and make her see sense when she hung up whenever anyone tried to broach the subject.
"Tony." Grace said, placing a hand on my folded arms and I sank down onto the sofa beside her. "I don't want you to be angry with your sister. Think of this as your chance to mend bridges. Liza wants to talk to you, to know that you're ok. She wants to know that I'm ok, so let's tell her."
"She might not speak now." I sighed and glanced forlornly around the room until I got a thought from Dad that made me angry with Liza all over again. "She was being a whiny brat. I probably would have shouted at her and you know me, Tony 'cool as a cucumber' Black."
"That is not your middle name." Mom joked.
I grinned knowing that she was trying to break the tension by cracking a joke. It worked and Dad smiled slightly at first, but then his grin widened.
"At least she is in safe hands." He stated, sounding relieved.
My parents were so worried about Liza, but I was getting to the stage where I was starting to think what's the point? Liza will do her own thing, as usual, and no amount of us worrying about her will bring her back any sooner. She'll come back when she decides and not a moment sooner.
"Malachite?" Mom gasped in wonder as she read the name from Dad.
Dad nodded.
"He's with her?" Mom asked incredulously.
"He was the dhampir friend she asked to take her call. They appear to be firm friends. Apparently he is the only one who understands her." Dad said a little sarcastically.
"Only because she wouldn't let you tell him why she run off." I grumbled.
"Who cares? She's got Mal with her. At least that's something." Mom said as if this made the last month of worry ok. "At least she's not completely cut off. And knowing Mal he's probably convincing her to come back in his own way. Even if he told you he wouldn't do it, he probably is."
I wasn't sure if Malachite was some kind of wonder kid or if this was blind faith on Mom's part. It would take more than a few friendly words from and old family friend to get Liza to change her mind.
"Do you think that you have a little too much faith in the boy?" Dad asked, and I felt a little shocked that his thoughts had run along the same track as mine. Especially since he actually knew Malachite. "He does have the tendency to run at the first sign of trouble."
"Only twice." Mom countered. "The time he came on to me and I trampled all over his young heart, and the time I broke his heart by being that ice cube. It's not danger he runs from, it's hurt."
"What if Liza hurts him?" I asked, since it was a possibility.
Liza had the tendency to make guys like her big time without even noticing it. It was just something about her, I don't know maybe it was how small she was, she looked like she needed protecting, although a lot of guys had learned not to cross her.
"I don't think there's much chance of that." Mom scoffed, and I frowned, wondering why.
"Why not?" I asked aloud.
"Because Mal is like my brother, it would be weird if he had anything with Liza." Mom said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
"Mom. Mal hasn't been around you for years, and if he could overlook the 'like a brother' thing with you, I'm sure it won't even factor with Liza. But there's no guarantee there'll be anything romantic between them anyway. She's saving herself for Simon." I pointed out, which was the biggest factor in why Liza never noticed that guys liked her, or she wouldn't entertain them even when she did notice.
"Simon Leighton?" Grace asked. "She'll have to wade through screaming fan girls and a rigorous security detail to get anywhere near him."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Have you seen any new releases over the last few months?" Grace asked.
"We've been a little busy." I stated.
"Right. Well anyway, Simon is the toast of Hollywood. He came out of nowhere to star in three Hollywood blockbusters. It was all thanks to the straight to video sequel of Our Dark Mistress. Everyone wants a piece of him." Grace looked down sadly. "Poor Liza, she's got a fight on her hands."
"Wait. Simon's a movie star?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Oh." I bit my lip. "I wonder if Liza knows."
"Maybe you should tell her." Grace suggested.
"Yeah." I agreed. "Dad, can I have the phone?"
"She's switched off the phone she's been using." Dad stated.
"Again." Mom added with a sigh. "She bought a pre pay one, probably so she can throw it away later without being tied into a contract."
"Contract!" Grace gasped.
"Sorry?" I asked.
"Liza sent me an e-mail back in September with her new number. She said it was her new contract phone, but I wasn't to give it to you." She explained. "I thought that was a little weird at the time."
"So you barred me but not Liza?" I teased.
"I don't want to jump Liza's bones whenever she contacts me." Grace said with a grin and I coughed slightly, trying to remind her that my parents were in the room.
"Ok. We can use the computer in my room. Get the number and I'll text her. She might be more rational if we're just writing to each other." I reasoned.
"That's gonna cost a lot in texts." Mom said. "You don't want to use up Liza's credit."
"Then we'll go on one of the IM services." I stated as I got to my feet. "We'll just go sort this out then we can talk."
Grace nodded and I led her up to my room and switched on my laptop. I let her settle into my desk chair while I went into Liza's room and borrowed her chair. The computer had reached the password screen by the time I set the chair next to Grace and sat down.
I felt my cheeks burn as I typed out the password, allowing Grace to know it from my mind.
"That's really your password?" She asked.
"HAIByMOLAWei2G. 'How about I buy my own lunch and we eat it together.' I used to love when you said that and I thought no one else would guess it." I explained.
Grace smiled and kissed my cheek as the laptop set up properly. I smiled and logged on to the Internet. I had to sign out of my account for Grace to sign in and when she did she winced, there was a lot of unread mail, some of it was marked as urgent.
"My agent is freaking out." She said with a sigh and she clicked on the latest e-mail and I almost gasped at what I read.
Grace, where the hell are you? You were supposed to have the first draft of chapters one through five ready by yesterday. The publishers are threatening to pull your deal! I only got them hanging on by the fine print in the contract. If you don't get in touch with me by the end of today I'm gonna report you as missing.
Garry.
Grace sighed and shook her head as she pressed reply.
"Are you in trouble?" I asked.
"No. He's just overreacting. I know for a fact that the publishers won't even look at the first drafts, they'll only be interested in the full article to give to the betas. Plus they've signed me for five more books, they can't pull the plug, same way as I have to drag the story out." She explained as she typed her reply on screen.
Garry, relax! You didn't take your medication again did you? I'm perfectly ok, I promise, pressure just got to me this week and I took a few days hiking to gain some new inspiration. You know the real reason I return to the Pines is for a rest and a bit of new inspiration. So just relax and stop bugging me, you know I don't like it when you do that. It spoils my writing buzz.
So just take deep calming breaths and I'll send you the drafts tomorrow at the latest.
Grace
"That aught to hold him until tomorrow." She stated as she clicked to access all the e-mails Liza had sent her. "It was the last one I think."
Sure enough Liza's phone number was there on the screen and I typed it into my cell to store it ready for when I text. Then I wrote a quick text that I hoped would get her to talk to me, and if it didn't well… Liza was more selfish than I thought.
Liza I need you right now Sis. Do you think we can talk? Maybe on MSN? Tony x
I hoped she'd say yes and I found myself praying as the message was sent. I sighed with relief when I got the delivery report, although it was an anxious wait until Liza replied.
Give me half an hour and I will be on line xx
I nodded at my phone as if Liza would see me. Then I turned to Grace who was still wearing her bloodstained nightdress with my sweater over the top.
"Would you like a shower?" I asked.
Grace blinked and looked at me, she'd been far away for a moment.
Liza's gonna be half hour and I thought you might like to freshen up a little. Alice left a pile of clothes on my bed for you to change into. I explained.
"I am feeling a little sticky now." She said, "Guess my body hasn't adjusted to running a little hotter yet." She joked as she got to her feet and went over to inspect the clothes.
She picked out a long cotton dress that was a midnight blue before she turned to me.
"You wanna join me?" She asked.
"What?" I asked, feeling a little shocked.
"You've been in them clothes for over twenty four hours, you probably need to shower too." She stated.
"Yeah, but we might get carried away."
"I promise to behave myself." She said with a smile as she took my hand and led me to the bathroom.
"But Liza will be on in half hour, if I'm not on she'll get stroppy and she won't talk." I protested.
"Then we'll get out in time." Grace said as she flittered to my bedside cabinet and picked up my alarm clock, setting it for fifteen minuets time. "We'd better get on with washing." She said as she pulled me into my bathroom and placed the clock on the back of the sink.
As Grace and I stripped off our clothes I realised that this wasn't for anything sexual, she wanted my company. She didn't want to be alone, and given that she hadn't long woken into this new life I didn't blame her. I would be whatever she needed me to be, and right now she needed a companion who would scrub her back and wash her hair. I did enjoy it because I was treating her and I was sad when the alarm went off, but I thought about the fact that we could do this again in the future and it helped me find the strength I needed to step out of the cubicle.
Right now I had to reassure my twin that I was still alive, and hopefully get to talk to her without her jumping to the wrong conclusions. I wiped quickly but had to wear a towel around my waist as I went to grab some clothes. I threw them on and went over to the laptop where I logged out of Grace's account and singed mine on.
Grace came and sat beside me as I started up the messenger and waited for the prompt to say Liza was online. It took ten minuets, in which time Grace wiped her hair with a towel and run a brush through it. I wiped at my hair too, but since it was clipped fairly short it didn't take long to dry.
Finally Liza's prompt showed and I clicked on it, typing a greeting. To my relief Liza responded and she actually chatted with me. She wanted to know how Grace and me were. She wanted to know everything; although I was sure Dad had told her friend. Anyway, Grace thought show would be better than tell, so I snapped a photo of her on the web-cam and sent to Liza. She didn't quite believe the picture was real or recent at first, but then she seemed to accept it as fact and she was as confused as the rest of us.
Suddenly I had an idea, Liza liked nothing more than trying to help me with my problems and I decided to use this now. I knew that if I could just get her home we could talk and sort it all out. I asked for her help and she agreed, as long as Mal could come with her. But why would I be against that? He was sort of family anyway and I'd put up with anyone if it meant having my twin back.
I punched the air when I read:
Liza says:
-Then I will come in your hour of need dear brother.
I was falling over myself with joy, wanting to praise her. I typed as fast as I could.
Tony says:
-I knew I could count on you Sis
-There's no better sister in the world
-You're my favourite sister, you know that?
Liza says:
-Yes :L
-But there is hardly competition since I am your only sister
-And even if I were not, it would be wrong to play favourites
And then I went too far, although I didn't realise it at the time, it was such an innocent phrase.
Tony says:
-Ok
-So it's wrong to play favourites
-But you're my twin, there's bound to be a little bias
There was a pause on Liza's end then she began to type.
Liza says:
-You make me nervous Tony
-If I were not so sure I would infer that…
There was another pause, a longer pause.
Liza says:
-Mother is to have a girl
Tony says:
-No
-She's not even pregnant!
Liza says:
-Don't lie
-I gleaned she was pregnant from what she said the other day
-Now you have confirmed it
-And confirmed the worst
-A sister?
-I am truly replaced
I kept typing no in between every post, begging her to see reason, but she cut off and I looked at the screen feeling lost. I had to rectify this because I might have just made it ten times worse.
I picked up my phone and began to text with shaking hands.
Liza, look I'm sorry you had to find out like that, but you're not giving us much choice. We're not replacing you. We all want you back.
I sent the text and got the delivery report, but I didn't think she'd respond so I text again.
I really do need you right now. No one can replace you. Do you really think they could? You're my other half, we're not a whole person when we're apart and no one can take your place because no one can know what sharing the Time Before was like. No one can know what we shared growing up. No one can ever replace you
I sent the text and rose to my feet, moving swiftly down stairs with Grace close on my heels. The text went through, I'd got the delivery report so Liza hadn't switched it off.
"Can someone ring this number?" I asked, bursting into the informal sitting room where everyone was gathered discussing where they'd go for the next three days to give Grace and me a little privacy.
"Why?" Marlin asked, but Mom was already on the phone having read the urgency from my mind.
"I think I just made things ten times worse with Liza." I stated.
"It's not your fault." Mom said. "You didn't even tell her really, she guessed."
"And she was coming home." I moaned, sinking into an armchair.
Grace sat on the arm and hugged me. I returned her hug with one arm as I text Liza again.
The only one replacing you is yourself. How can we include you when you're being so difficult?
I sent it, then closed my eyes in pain, thinking that wasn't the best thing to say.
I miss you Eliza, please come home to me. I need you now more than ever. Grace needs you too, are you really going to spite your friend because of us? We just want you home.
I sent that one too, and I went to begin another one, but the phone was snatched from my hand.
"It's not gonna help." Alice said softly. "You're just making yourself upset, but at the moment you need to concentrate on Grace and we'll sort out Liza."
"But…" I began to protest.
"Alice is right." Bella said, tapping my shoulder. "You have to think about Grace for a while. As soon as we know something we'll let you know, but otherwise we're gonna do what we would have done if Liza was here too."
"Which is?" I asked warily, I wasn't really in the mood for games when I was worried about Liza.
"We're going hunting up in Alaska." Bella said with a smile. "Now no arguments, you two will have fun and we'll see you in a week or so."
"But Liza…" I protested.
"Anthony Black, if you carry on like this I'll alpha you into forgetting about Liza for a few hours." Mom warned.
I glared at her and was tempted to call her bluff.
"I mean it Tony. We'll get hold of Liza, somehow, but she's our responsibility." Mom said softly, and she tapped my cheek. "You have to think of Grace for the time being. There's so much she has to learn and experience, and you too. I know you're worried about Liza, but you can't let that get in your way."
"We want to help Liza." Grace said firmly.
"Grace honey." Mom said, placing her hands either side of Grace's face. "We understand that, but right now you're going through a transition and the next few days are vital. You need to concentrate on you. Tony does too. We'll worry about Liza and you can do that once you've settled down. But for now just relax and have fun and leave the worrying to us."
"But…" Grace and I both protested.
"We'll hear no more." Dad said firmly. "We are going to pack and then in an hour the house will be yours to use as you see fit."
"And we'll keep trying to contact Liza." Mom stated. "So we're gonna pack and I think you two have some things to discuss. You may as well do that now, than waste time later."
I went to protest again.
"Tony!" Mom said firmly.
I sighed and got to my feet, pulling Grace with me.
"We'll be in our room." I murmured and Grace and I left.
"Our room?" She asked as we climbed the main staircase.
"Well, what's mine is yours now." I stated.
"Including your problems?" Grace asked.
"You don't have to share in those." I stated with a frown.
"If I share in the good I share in the bad." Grace stated. "So the first thing we'll talk about is Liza."
I sat down on my bed with my back to the wall as I sighed.
"There really isn't much to talk about." I said as Grace sat beside me and I put my arm around her so she could snuggle up to me. "Liza's been acting like a brat ever since Mom said she wanted a new baby. I really don't see what the problem is, we're moving on with our lives, why can't Mom and Dad? Aren't they allowed to know what it's like to raise kids from babies and not be forced to stay away from them until they're more or less grown up?"
"Do you think that might be part of Liza's problem?" Grace asked.
"What do you mean?" I replied, as I entwined my fingers with hers.
"Maybe she's upset that this baby will have the things you couldn't." She suggested.
"Like what?"
"Your parents for a start. Your new little sister will have them from the word go, you and Liza didn't even see a picture of them before you found them in Volterra."
"If that's her problem why didn't she just say? We could have talked this through. I mean that's the biggest problem I have, she just didn't want to talk about it. She got angry as soon as Mom mentioned it and when I tried to calm her down she accused me of taking sides and then she left. She headed to college and we haven't heard from her since." I said sadly.
"Liza can be a little difficult at times." Grace said carefully. "Didn't you think about going after her? You know where she is right?"
"She still wouldn't talk to us." I said with a sigh.
"It's worth a try." Grace said with a smile.
"I'll think about it." I said with a frown. "Because Mom's right, you're still going through the transition now, or adjustment is more accurate. I shouldn't worry about Liza when I need to worry about you."
"Why do you need to worry about me?" Grace asked with concern.
"Ok, not so much worry, but I should be giving you my undivided attention. You've just gone through a life changing experience Miss Pearson and I need to ensure that every bit of you is good." I joked and kissed along her jaw.
Grace giggled.
"I can't wait for that, but I think there's something we need to discuss first." She reminded me.
"Oh yeah." I said pulling away. "I mean it's not one hundred percent certain because you're one of a kind. Just like I always knew. Anyway, as far as we know you're the first made half-vampire. Don't even know how it happened, but half vampires are different from vampires in some ways. Like we have heartbeats and blood and body heat. And the women can conceive and carry babies to full term, something a vampiress can't do cause her body can't change."
"Right. So I can have a baby, at some point in the future." Grace said, and she was happy about this thought. She didn't want one right now, but knowing there was a possibility in the future made her happy.
"If you are one hundred percent half vampire, yes." I said, since there was still a chance she might be more vampire than human.
"Ok." Grace said, nodding her head, then she smiled. "At least we don't have to worry about you imprinting on someone else now." She added, leaning her forehead against mine.
"No." I said, rubbing her nose with mine before kissing her, then I pulled back. "And that brings us to the other thing we have to discuss, because I don't want you freaking out later if it applies to you too."
"If what applies to me?"
I took a deep breath before I explained to her about the wolf girl fertility cycle and how it usually applied to half vampire women who got imprinted on. Grace listened intently, she was a little perturbed by the idea, but she wasn't too put off. She accepted it as part of her new life now, in fact she welcomed it over the consequence free sex she was joking about earlier.
"What do I need to do if I don't want to be pregnant yet?" She asked.
"The same thing as a human." I stated. "Carlisle developed a pill that works on dhampir and there's other methods."
"Like what we used when I was human?" Grace clarified.
I nodded.
"Ok. Have we covered everything?" She asked casually.
I nodded again.
"Then I guess we just wait for your family to leave and we can start." She said with a smile.
"Even though you might…"
Grace put her finger to my lip.
"Tony, I'll have to face it sooner or later. I'd like to get it out of the way and see that it's not so bad, than have time to fret over it and build up into something more in my mind."
I couldn't argue with that logic.
"Yeah." I agreed.
"Then let's go see your family off and we can begin." She said and kissed my lips before pulling me up off the bed and we headed back down stairs…
Three hours later everyone had cleared out for the weeklong 'hunting trip to Alaska' and we finally had the house to ourselves. The first thing I did was set up a nice comfortable area in the recreation room with all cushions and blankets in a makeshift bed. I liked the thought of just using these three rooms for our pleasure purposes; it seemed a bit ridiculous to have to traipse all around the house when there was no one else here.
Grace and I took to the pool, I was wearing my normal swimming shorts, but Grace had a new confidence, although I wasn't sure if it was from being vampire now or if she'd developed it over the years, but she wore a two piece. She looked stunning in it and I weighed up the pros and cons of giving swimming a miss and going straight in for the bed.
We spent a couple of hours in the pool and it was so weird to play with Grace again, but now that playing was heavy on the flirting and it really made me feel great. It culminated in Grace sitting on the side of the pool, just where the depth meant that I stood a head shorter then her. She pushed back her wet her from her face, droplets of water running down her body in a way that was divine.
She was looking over herself, looking at the change the venom had worked in her. She ran a hand over her stomach.
"Not even a blemish." She said. "It's as if I never got shot."
"That's the venom for you." I explained. "It healed you right up."
"Not completely healed." She said softly as her fingers stopped at the bottom of her old scar, it wasn't as prominent as it used to be; it was just about visible now.
"That wound was a deep one that had already healed." I said. "And I'm glad it's still there." I added and ran my fingers up and down it gently.
Grace sighed as her body became excited.
"Do you know what I thought the first time you showed me?" I asked.
Grace shook her head.
"This." I said, placing my fingers to her temple to show her my old memory.
"Oh." Grace observed as she rested her hands on shoulders.
"So you see why I like it?" I asked as I followed the line my nose, feeling the contraction of her stomach muscles as I did so, before I moved past her cleavage.
Grace lips came down to meet mine, and now the kiss was slow and deep and there was only one inevitable outcome…
The alarm went off on my phone, the one set automatically in case I missed my clock, and I had to fumble to find it in order to stop it. It was three in the morning, but with Grace sleeping against me it seemed like too much of an effort to get up for work. Maybe I could just ignore it…
"What's that?" Grace asked, her breath brushing the bare skin of my chest.
"My alarm." I murmured, keeping my eyes closed.
"Yeah. What's it for?" She asked.
"For work. I forgot I start back today. I was gonna ignore it, pretend to Bob that I slept through it, but I'm awake now." I said with a sigh as I sat up.
"You're going to work?" She asked.
"I should have called Bob yesterday, but I forgot so he's expecting me now." I growled. "And I'm awake now, so I can't just bail on him." I groaned. "Stupid moral compass."
Grace was watching me with a slight smile on her lips.
"How long will you be gone?" She asked.
"Five hours, well five and a half if we leave room for travelling. Whatever I'll be back before you know it. Probably before you wake up if you go back to sleep now."
"Hmmm…. But how could I possibly go back to sleep now without you hear to keep me warm?" Grace asked, snuggling into my chest, and I almost lay back, but then I thought of another solution.
"Then come with me to work. I know Bob won't mind." I stated in teasing tones, but it was the truth.
"How about you phone Bob and take a sick day?" Grace said seductively as she ran her fingers over my chest.
I felt my body start to stir for her, but I also had a responsibility…but then I hadn't had a sick day since I started working for Bob. I hadn't even taken a fraction of the holidays I was due. One little sick day wouldn't hurt.
"Good idea." I said as I placed my lips to hers, would you like to do the honours? I added, as I pushed my cell phone into her hand.
Grace pulled away from me laughing.
"You have to go to work." She said with a grin. "Now get your lazy butt up out of bed."
I laughed, rolling my eyes as I stood and she slapped me butt playfully as I went to walk away. I turned to her, grinning widely as I said, "You're making it harder for me to leave you."
"Just get to work Tony. The sooner you leave, the sooner I can get back to sleep and the sooner you'll be back with me."
"I like your logic." I said, leaning down to kiss her.
"Just bring me back something nice to eat." She stated and kissed my lips.
I was in a real good mood as I had a quick shower, a really quick shower since time seemed in short supply. I dressed and entered the rec room once more where Grace was sitting up in our little nest waiting for me. She smiled and I smiled back, I really didn't want to go.
"You can't shirk your work just because you found love." She said firmly.
I nodded and headed for the door, but I paused before I left.
"Any problems, just ring me." I stated.
"I will." Grace promised.
"Then I'll see you later."
"See you later my love." She said with a smile and I wanted to get back into bed. "Now go."
With that instruction I left.
I was at the store just a second before Bob pulled up so he had no idea I was running a little late. If I was late he knew I was late he'd want to know why since it just wasn't me and I wasn't really up to talking about it at the moment. I mean, I wanted to tell everyone that Grace and I are together, but it seemed like it should be something we do together. It made me a little edgy and I was quiet to compensate.
I was restless as I went through the morning routine. Bob noticed and he was dying to ask me but didn't know where to begin. He had so many questions but couldn't decide on which one to ask first and I wasn't going to help him any. I was willing the time to go faster so I could get back to Grace, but this morning seemed deliberately slow.
A lot of the customers thought I was more abrupt than normal, but they could forgive me this one time since I was usually so pleasant.
I wanted to be back with Grace and suddenly the mundane seemed boring to me. I would much rather be snuggled in bed with her right now, than be standing here taking for Eloise morning usual.
Then I felt her presence before she opened the door and I looked up, a smile spreading across my face as Grace entered the shop wearing a flowery dress that belonged to Rose beneath a mac that was Esme's. I forgot she didn't have any of her own clothes and I made a note that we'd have to stop by her place on the way home.
Eloise looked too to see what I was smiling at since I'd been so surly only moments before, and I felt the shock in her mind as she took in the beauty of Grace. Luckily the change wasn't too drastic, not like it would have been if she'd turned full vampire, but it was enough to enhance the beauty she already had.
"I couldn't sleep without you." Grace stated before she glided up to the counter and reached for my cheek.
I leant over the counter and gave her a kiss while I felt Eloise's eyes on us.
"Won't be long now. My shift's almost over. How about I buy you breakfast?" I asked, our faces inches apart.
"How about I buy my own breakfast and we eat it together." Grace replied, grinning at the dialogue we'd exchanged often in school.
"Oh my god! You two finally got together!" Eloise gasped and I could tell that she was genuinely pleased for us. "How? When?"
"Friday night Tony came over to my house and he finally made me see sense." Grace said with a smile.
"Wow." Eloise observed again, I was sure she was tearing up. "Well I'm happy for you guys. I…we have to do something. A meal or something when I'm not so busy."
"That sounds great." I said.
"Oh, you guys." She gasped and hugged us, although the counter was between me and the women.
Eloise stood back and shook her head in wonder one more time before she left.
"What was Eloise all excited about?" Bob asked as he emerged from the back, he'd been hiding from Eloise because he hadn't had the guts to talk to her yet.
"That Tony and I have finally accepted the inevitable." Grace sang.
"Oh hey Grace." Bob said, giving her the once over that didn't make me too angry because I knew that all Grace's looks were for me. "What you been up to, because whatever it is it's clearly doing wonders for you. You should keep it up."
"I intend to." Grace said, giving me a shy look that Bob caught and his eyebrows shot up.
"Oh my god! You two are finally together!" He exclaimed. "Bro, why didn't you say? I would have given you this morning off."
"I can't shirk work just cause I found love." I stated, quoting Grace from earlier.
"I would have accepted a sick day." He said with a grin.
"I'd rather keep them for real sick days." I stated.
"I told him to call in sick but he refused." Grace said, her voice low and husky as she caught Bob with her eyes. "Do you think that was foolish of him?" She crooned. "When he could have spent the time in bed with me?"
I took note of how Grace's eyes locked Bob in place, although I knew her focus was his neck. Bob swallowed hard; he couldn't find his voice as he became trapped in Grace's seductive gaze. I realised to my horror that she was going in for the hunt.
I was around the counter quickly and I placed my arm around Grace, both comforting and restraining. She tore her gaze away from Bob and turned her face into my chest, inhaling my scent deeply. Bob shivered as he was released from Grace's gaze.
"You know what. Why don't you go now?" He said, not realising how he was saving his own life in that moment. "There's only half hour left of your shift anyway, I can cover. I'll just tell the girls you're not too good, that way you can take the rest of the week off."
"Are you sure?" I asked, since I knew how much he hated the others helping him out on the earlies.
"Tony. You're my best friend dude. So's Grace. I want you both to be happy. Now all I ask in return is that I at least get to be an usher at the wedding." He said with a grin.
"Sure." I said with a chuckle as Grace continued to bury her head into my chest. "I may even make you head bridesmaid." I said with a wink.
"As long as Liza designs the dresses I don't care." He replied jovially.
"She sure will." I said with a laugh. "Well if you really are sure, Grace and me will leave now."
"Yeah. Now get out of here. You're sick remember."
"Thanks Bob." I said with a chuckle.
"Thank you." Grace managed before I led her from the shop. "I don't know what came over me then." She whispered, once we were outside. Her legs were weak and I had trouble supporting her without people getting suspicious.
"Did you drive down?" I asked.
"Yeah." She said, handing me a set of keys. "It's an Aston Martin. Wouldn't have touched it, but those are the only keys I could find."
"Dad really should get better at hiding these." I muttered as I led Grace to the car.
I opened the passenger door and helped Grace in before I made my way round to the driver's side. I slid in and started the engine. Grace had buckled her seat belt, but then she curled her legs up onto the chair and turned to face me.
"What happened in there?" She asked as I pulled away from the curb. "I was fine and then all of a sudden Bob was just this sack full of blood to me. I knew that talking nice to him would get me his blood. I lost myself in the thought of what it would taste like."
"You'll get moments like that." I said. "I mean for a newborn you did great. Most wouldn't even be able to be within a mile of a human without hunting them, never mind talk to them in a room."
"Am I a danger to people?" Grace asked, looking perturbed by the idea.
"I…I really don't know." I admitted sadly. "I mean you seem to be dhampir so you should have more control than the average newborn, but I don't think we should take it for granted either. At least you seemed to calm when I got near you."
"But I can't spend the rest of my existence glued to your side. I've got my carrier, you've got your job." She stated.
"Yeah. Well I might just ease out of that now." I conceded.
"What? Why?" She demanded in shock.
"Because I can't bear the thought of saying goodbye to you at the moment." I said truthfully.
"But what happens when I have to do a book signing or I've got a meeting with my agent?" She asked.
"I'll just go wherever you go." I said with a shrug.
"Doing what exactly?" She asked, thinking of all the practical arguments.
"I don't know. We'll think of something. But your career is much more important than my job here." I replied, and it was the truth.
"But what about your life here?" She asked softly.
"Well I guess it'll be a bit of a wrench, but I'd have to go under soon anyway. This way it just happens five years sooner than I'd planned." I answered with a shrug.
"Go under?"
"Yeah. Like underground." I explained. "At least in this neck of the woods."
"Why?"
"Why do you think?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Look at me Grace, do I look any different than I did ten years ago?"
"At the moment you do, but I'm seeing you differently now, but when you turned up on my doorstep I thought I was having a flash back to high school." She said with a half-hearted chuckle.
"That's because I really haven't aged since then. I guess it is kind of a hard thing to imagine until you see it for real. But I'm rambling. I haven't changed in all that time. I got away with it so far because I was away and when I came back people had no scope for the intervening years. And I was playing mid to late twenties, which is how us Quileute shapeshifters look when we stop aging. Soon I'll be past thirty and will have been back five years without seeming to change, then people will start to notice that something's up."
"That means I'll have to go underground!" Grace gasped and I saw in her mind as her literary dreams crumbled.
"Ah but it's different for you." I stated.
"How so?" She asked, as the slight frown appeared that she wore when she wasn't sure if I was making fun of her.
"Well you're an author. If you wanted to you could gradually become a recluse until eventually you won't be seen in public, but you still release a book every year."
"I guess it could give me an added mystique." Grace mused.
"Or you could fake your own spectacular death in a couple of years and then ghost write through somebody else. You'll still be getting your work out there."
"But someone else will take the credit?" Grace asked solemnly.
"I'm sorry." I said sadly.
"Well you don't exactly think of someone's career when it's a life or death situation." Grace said softly. "Anyway. I know of an even better plan. I could carry on writing for the next ten years, then I'll fake my own death. Ten years later I'll pose as a student trying to get a book published, I'll change up the style a little and maybe write in a different genre. Then when people start to comment on my resemblance to a certain Grace Pearson, then we can lay a fake paper trail that proves I'm my own secret love child."
"That seems overly complicated." I said, trying not to sound too critical since Grace was new to this and didn't know the best cover stories were the simplest ones close to the truth.
Grace shrugged.
"Well from what you've said I got a few years before I got to go under. I can perfect my story by then. Aren't we going back to the house?" Grace asked as we past my drive.
"I thought we could go to your house to pick up a few things."
"What!" Grace gasped, sitting up alert in the seat. "But what if she's still there?"
"I doubt she's still there and if she is we'll take her together." I said firmly. "She's only human."
"Who managed to overpower a vamp-wolf." Grace stated.
"She caught me off guard at a vulnerable moment." I protested weekly, but Grace gave me a stern look.
"Ok. So she totally thrashed me, but she did catch me off guard. But I know her scent now and I know what to sense for so I'll know if she's near."
Grace still looked worried.
"Look, I'll scope out the place first, you can stay in the car." I said, taking her hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. "Sit in the drivers seat and at the first sign of trouble just pull away. Head home and call Mom. They're not really gone to Alaska; they're up on the Res. They can be here in half an hour."
"By which time it'll be too late for you." Grace said flatly.
"But at least you'll be safe." I pointed out.
"No. No Tony. You can't bring me over into this eternal life and then just die on me. If we have to scope out the place we'll do it together." She said firmly as I pulled up in front of the Stables.
"Ok. But watch out for her sword, somehow she managed to cut my vampire skin with it." I warned.
"Yeah." Grace said softly as she took my left hand and stroked my palm softly where there was now a pink scar.
I kissed Grace's lips and gave her a small smile.
"Well I guess you'd have to learn this sooner or later." I stated before I got out of the car.
Grace got out of the passenger side and I ghosted to meet her so I could have her back. Grace took my hand and I gave it a gentle squeeze as we crossed the yard to circle around the house. Then I let her hand go.
It'll give us a better chance to fight if we're ambushed. I informed her.
Ok. So what do you want me to do? She asked, and I cursed myself for not giving her a few pointers before we'd got out of the car.
Try not to breathe too much. Take in the scent through your nose every few steps, but try not to make a sound. I instructed.
Ok. Grace said, walking beside me.
Crouch a little, like this. I said, showing her. It helps you walk more silently and you're ready to spring if you have to.
I thought all this would be instinctual. Grace mused as she crouched beside me.
It mostly is, but sometimes your intelligence gets in the way. I explained as we reached the back end of the house and I stopped. Now I can't smell her, and the only two minds I'm picking up near by are yours and mine. I don't think she is in the yard but we can't be too careful.
How can you tell that her scent isn't there? She asked.
We're downwind so I'd smell her. I stated.
What if we were upwind? She asked and I was glad Grace was thinking of different situations.
Then you hope like hell that there is no trouble downwind. I joked. Ok, serious now, I think you need to take a deep breath and then hold it.
Why?
Because there's gonna be a big blood patch on the yard where you fell. I said, as I forbid the image of red soaking quickly through white from rising in my head.
Would I really crave my own blood?
It's human blood. It might be old, but it's still blood. It still appeals to your senses.
Ok. Grace said and she took a deep breath and held it.
I took her hand knowing there wasn't any danger about. What was important now was to keep Grace calm as we visited the scene of her murder. Grace squeezed my hand tightly and I realised I had to get a move on because I didn't know if she'd be able to hold her breath as long as a normal half vampire, and even if she could she'd feel uncomfortable doing it at first.
I stepped around the building, drawing Grace with me, preparing myself for a scene of devastation, but there was nothing in the yard. Well obviously there was stuff in the yard, but nothing to indicate that my love had bled to death only three days ago.
"Did the rain wash it away?" Grace asked.
I frowned, striding to the place where Grace had fell. I knelt down on the dirt and stones, inspecting it but there wasn't a trace. There wasn't even a scent of blood and the amount Grace had lost, even if it had rained, there would still be a trace.
"Maybe it went away with the snow?" She suggested.
"There'd still be something." I said.
It was puzzling, but maybe I was wrong, maybe it could all disappear like that. I had no idea what kind of weather we'd had the past few days and snow this early in October was a little weird. Maybe there'd been freak weather conditions and that led to it cleaning the yard.
"Maybe it was the weather." I said as I got to my feet. "But it won't have cleaned out the barn."
"No." Grace said, her eyes travelling to the low wooden building. "Do we have to go in there?"
"I'll go look on my own if you want me to." I offered.
"I'm not staying out here on my own." Grace said, looking around with apprehension.
Her mind was a twisted knot of fear. She didn't want to go in the barn, but she didn't want to stay out here on her own. She was petrified of both scenarios and I couldn't make her have to choose between the worst of two evils. And there was no hurry to look in the barn, apart from me being curious, and Grace's peace of mind was more important.
"We can leave the barn for now." I said. "Let's go get some of your clothes."
"Thanks." Grace said in relief as she clung to my arm, I hadn't realised just how anxious she was.
"I'll protect you." I promised her before I kissed her cheek and Grace threw her arms around me.
We stood for a long while in that embrace; I knew it was something that Grace needed. She needed to know that I was there for her.
"Let's get your stuff and we'll head back to Tregarran." I said.
Grace agreed and we entered the house. She led me to her office on the ground floor. It used to belong to her mom, and still looked much the same apart from a few touches that were so obviously Grace. She took a box that was full of books and emptied it onto the sofa before she took it to her desk and reached for her laptop, but then she snatched her hand back and growled.
"You know what? I'm not gonna let that woman run me out of my home." She growled. "She's gone right?" She added, not so sure as she turned to me.
"Yeah. I don't think she's been back since."
"Then why do I have to leave?" Grace demanded. "This is my home. And it's silly when you think about it, that your family are making themselves scarce when there's an empty house right here just waiting for us."
"You want me to move in?" I asked in shock.
"No. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I can't stand the thought of living in the same house as you." Grace said dryly before rolling her eyes. "Of course I want you to move in. I mean if this hadn't happened." She said, pointing at herself to indicate her transformation, "I might have left it while before I asked, but really what's the point in waiting? We've waited long enough and it was almost proved three days ago, life's too short to hang about."
"Ok. I guess I'll call my family. Tell them to come back and then I should go get some stuff." I said. "Actually we might want to put the rec room back in order before we call them back."
"Then let's go sort it out." Grace said as she got to her feet and took my hand.
I smiled and she smiled back before we left her house, but only for the time being. We'd soon return to our house. Could I call it our house? Well I'd be living here wouldn't I?
"Of course it'll be our house." Grace said and kissed my cheek before she got into the Aston.
I got in on the driver's side beaming as I drove us back to Tregarran.
I think it was the quickest most thorough cleaning I'd ever done. Well Liza is my twin so some of it was bound to rub off. It helped that Grace was there too, I'd always liked impressing her, and well if we were gonna live together I had to prove I could keep up my side of the house keeping.
Once the house was back in order I rang Mom.
"Tony? Why are you ringing me? You're supposed to be busy." She said, and I felt my cheeks grow warm and I was glad she wasn't actually here to read my embarrassment. I know my family know what Grace and me are getting up to, or at least what they think we're getting up to, but that doesn't mean I want my mom to tell me that she knows.
"Yeah. Well Grace made a good point." I said.
"What point?"
"That she has her own house which is just standing empty at the moment. It's stupid that you guys are pretending to be away when I can just go live in the Stables with Grace." I replied.
"What? You're moving out?" Mom gasped.
"It's what? Three miles away? I can run here in a minuet, but it gets me out from under your feet." I stated.
"You're not under my feet." Mom protested.
"I know."
Mom sighed.
"Ok. We're heading back. We'll be there in two hours. Don't leave before we get there. Give us chance to say goodbye?" Mom pleaded.
"I will Mom. We'll move a few things while we wait, but we'll be here to greet you." I promised.
"Thanks."
"Thanks Mom." I replied.
We hung up and I turned to Grace.
"They'll be about two hours. We can move a few boxes in that time."
Grace nodded and we went up to my room.
"It'll be weird packing all this up." I said. "Half of it I don't use anymore."
"It really hasn't changed much since we were in high school." Grace observed.
"Maybe I should just pack some clothes and the things I actually use now. The rest can stay here, it's not like there's a shortage of room." I reasoned.
"No." Grace said with a smile.
"And then this will be our room whenever we come for a visit. I mean I know our house is only a few miles away, but think about on special occasions. We can stay the night in this room. We can move things around if you want to."
"I like it how it is." Grace said, hugging me as she placed her lips to mine. "This is your space Tony. Even if we call it ours, I want your personality all over it cause I got so many great memories in this room looking exactly as it does."
"You do?" I asked.
"This was the first place anyone ever made me feel beautiful." She whispered. "I'd been told I was ugly for so long that I wouldn't believe when someone told me otherwise. But there was just something about you Tony, there still is, something warm and believable. You just make people feel better."
"That's not true." I said, feeling myself blush.
"Tony." Grace said firmly as she caught my eyes. "It's true. Look how you brought all us geeks together in school."
"You would have found each other eventually." I stated.
"I would not have had the courage to approach Bob and Johno and they wouldn't have approached me. You were the one that initiated that. And you built our confidence, because if someone as intrinsically cool as you was into the things we liked then what was there to be ashamed of? Tony, and I'm not kidding you when I say this, read my mind if you really have to, on any level you care to." Grace said, placing her hands to my cheeks to ensure I kept looking in her eyes. She was calling out with her mind voice too. "If it wasn't for you I never would have become a best selling author."
"You would." I said firmly.
"No. You are the inspiration for Brody; I never would have been able to write a character like him if it hadn't been for you. And even if I could write such a character, I never would have had the guts to try and get my work published. But you gave me the confidence to believe in myself, and that all started in this room when you were trying not to look at me because you thought I was sexy, and not because you thought my scars made me hideous."
I wasn't sure how to respond.
"It's a compliment Tony. I guess there is no right way to respond, but a kiss would be nice." She said with a smile.
I grinned as I pulled her closer, my hands resting in the small of her back.
"My Grace, words fail me." I whispered, and kissed her gently before holding her close to me. She rested her head against my shoulder and we moved as if we were slow dancing.
"My Tony, you've helped so many others, but your self esteem sucks." She said with a soft chuckle.
I sighed; I really didn't know how to respond to that one. Grace pulled back slightly and smiled up at me.
I'm gonna help you like you helped me. She thought steadily.
Thank you Lady Anna. I thought, trying to insert a little humour because I really was uncertain right now.
My pleasure, Brody. She replied and she placed her lips to mine and the kiss was intense, more than I'd ever experienced before as I pulled my Grace closer.
I couldn't believe how lucky I was that I could spend the rest of my existence with this smart, funny, beautiful woman. She'd almost been taken from me, but I had her forever now. She was mine; as much as I was hers and nothing was gonna come between us.
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