Edward Cullen paced frantically back and forth, a string of curses being muttered under his short breaths. His hands were crossed uncomfortably behind his stiff back. He was in the living room of his family's large home, his siblings seated around him, occasionally glancing at him with worry and fear in their expressions. Alice Cullen, a small, pretty black-haired girl who appeared to be around 17 years old was relaxed into her husbands side. Her face was stricken with panic, worry, fear, and despair. She was staring, eyes intent on her brother. Jasper Hale, Alice's husband, was holding the girl tightly to his side, his arm wrapped securely around her dainty waist, his eyes shifting constantly with shock as the emotions roiling off his brother changed and gained intensity. Even calm, relaxed jokester Emmett Cullen, was acting serious for once. He was sitting, back straight against the white leather couch, watching his brother's rapidly changing plans and thoughts play out in his eyes. The only person who seemed to not have a care in the world was Rosalie Hale. The thin blonde was relaxed on the couch, her feet rested, ankles crossed, in her husband, Emmett's lap, her head propped heavily against the arm rest. She had a small smile on her thin lips and appeared to be void of all worry or care. She was the picture of ease. There were only two people missing from the equation. Dr. Carlisle Cullen, who had been contacted only moments ago of his adopted son's dilemma, had assured the riled ensemble of people he would arrive shortly. The five Cullen children were waiting eagerly for their father's arrival, Edward the most nervous. He had no plan, no idea what was even going on with himself, and it was very unsettling. The second person missing was Esme Cullen, Dr. Cullen's wife, and for all intents and purposes, Edward, Rosalie, Jasper, Emmett, and Alice's mother. She had traveled to the hospital to warn Dr. Cullen, and was on her way back home with the man right now.

The air temperature must have dropped thirty degrees in the moment Carlisle's car was heard to drive into the family's car garage, and even Rosalie tensed when the sound of a door opening played through the house. Dr. Cullen emerged along with his wife, took one look at the situation, and sighed in a very human gesture. "Edward," he began, his wife nearly sprinting across the room at inhuman speed to her son. Edward shifted his gaze from the floor to his father.

"Carlisle," said in way of greeting to the man, "I don't know where to start." Carlisle gave his son a look of understanding before walking up to his son who was now being held tightly in his mother's embrace and stood in front of him.

"You could start when you first arrived at school," Carlisle prompted. Edward nodded tersely.

"We arrived at school as normal. We were early. I went to my first class. I heard the teacher thinking about a new arrival to the school, and it interested me. After I took my seat, I waited. A few minutes passed a short, black haired boy walked into class. He was instructed to sit next to me. When he did, though, I-" Edward's voice trailed off a few moments, his tone changing from short and clipped to an emotional wreck in a change that took mere moments. "It was the most unbearable scent I had ever experienced from a human. It was like a fire had been lit in my throat, and every second he sat there, someone, no, that boy, "Edward sneered, "was adding gasoline. It began to burn so badly it was like pouring acid down my throat. I thought I might not be able to control myself-"

"But he did," came Alice's musical voice. It was the first sound any of the other children had uttered since their conflict at school. The drive home had been short and tense. It, however, couldn't hold a candle to the atmosphere now. "He didn't attack. He left as soon as possible, and I didn't mention, I had a vision-"

"NO!" Edward shouted, glaring daggers at Alice. Everyone was caught off guard, and Jasper's arm tightened. Alice merely smiled.

"Edward saw it, then," she said giddily. more to herself. She was way too excited for anyone in this position.

"What was your vision, Alice?" Carlisle asked calmly, avoiding to stares he was receiving from his oldest, and currently most troubled, son.

"Oh, it was so cute," she bubbled. Edward shifted his gaze to her and scowled, "He and the little human, they were so happy, they were holding hands and everything. You could tell they were together, and the little human told Edward he-"

"NO!" Edward protested again. He couldn't bear it. The boy's scent was too strong. He wouldn't let the little one get hurt. Especially not by himself. "I won't let it happen! Carlisle, I'm leaving, I'm going to Denali," he protested. Cr. Cullen took immediate action. He couldn't let his son leave now to be with their sister clan in Alaska. He had heard of situations like this before.

"Edward, we can talk this through." He assured his son.

"No. I've made up my mind," he gritted through his clenched teeth. Carlisle improvised.

"Of course you have the right to make that decision. But will you explain why to me?" Edward nearly broke down as he replied to the question.

"Because I can't read his mind. I can't stand his smell. And Alice…" he was defeated. "I have no other choice. I don't want to hurt him. He was so happy in Alice's vision, but Carlisle, he c-can't possibly be happy with m-me. I'm a monster." Esme's hold on her son tightened as she soothed him.

"No, honey, shhh, you're not a monster," she shushed him, brushing back his bronze hair from his forehead. Edward was on the verge of crying. He wished he could. While Esme consoled her son, everyone in the room despite Alice was shocked by the revelation of Alice's vision. She was never wrong. And this vision implied that the fragile human was going to very soon become a member of their swiftly growing family. But how could this be so? Rosalie was the first to speak. Or, scream like a banshee was more like it.

"HE'S A WORTHLESS HUMAN! HE'S NOTHING! NOTHING!" She shrieked, before being subdued by her husband's desperate attempts to calm her. Edward glowered at the blonde.

Ignoring his frantic daughter, Carlisle addressed Edward. "I have a theory on what it is that draws you to the human. La tua cantante, Edward. He is a singer. A human who's blood is-"

"Nearly irresistible. It sings to the vampire who comes near, yes I am familiar with the term," Edward cut. Carlisle tried to ignore his son's coldness and continued with his theorizing.

"But he is a very strong singer, a rare singer that very few of us are able to resist. If we can, however, they are our mates." Edward was stunned a bit by Carlisle's revelation.

"But why the hell would our mate," he stressed the word mate harder than necessary, "Have blood so strong we want to kill them? That's insane." Carlisle ran his hand through his golden hair in frustration.

"It's only a theory."

"A ludicrous theory! Think about it, Carlisle! Emmett has already attacked two of his singers! Wouldn't that be just a little bit ironic? That they are our mate and all we want to do is suck their blood dry? Even Rosalie had to fight not to kill Emmett!" Emmett cringed, while Carlisle's eyes widened.

"Edward, I understand completely where you are coming from, but think about what you just said about Emmett. Rosalie described Emmett's blood as being nearly impossible to ignore. His scent was as tempting as Vale's is to you. But think of what Rosalie wanted. She didn't want him dead, she wanted him to live. To turn him. Edward, the reason our mate's blood is so tempting, more so than a singer's, is because it is supposed to compel us to turn the person! To make them our mate!" This caught the entire family off guard, and caused Rosalie to smile proudly. "Even I felt this toward Esme," Carlisle added as an after thought, smiling slightly at his young wife. Edward was convinced. So Vale…

"Vale is my- my mate?" he asked, to confirm his suspicion. Carlisle nodded, then frowned slightly. Vale. Did the parents know the name was Estonian for mistake? He wondered to himself. Carlisle and the rest of his family had spent time learning a variety of languages. Estonian was one of them. Edward answered his father's thought quietly. "Yes. His mother named him." he whispered. Carlisle nodded as if that was a reasonable explanation even though the reason for Vale being named so unfortunately seemed to lack a motive.

"Yes, I believe so. His blood calls you much stronger than an average singer, though not by much, but I am going off your description. It would also explain why you are unable to read his mind." Edward glanced questioningly at his father. Carlisle began to explain this idea to his son. "It has been heard of that a mate of our kind, while remaining a human, is able to elude their mate's 'ability.' It has only been demonstrated once, however, because it has only ever been one vampire who possessed an ability and a human mate. It would explain why Alice can see his future, but you can't read his thoughts." Edward was thoroughly sated. Carlisle had obviously thought this through. Curiosity was getting at him, however, and it was Jasper, who had remained stoic during the confrontation, who spoke."Who was it?" he asked simply. Carlisle nodded at his son.

"It was Aro. But he only discovered that it was his mate as he was feeding and he noticed he couldn't hear a single memory of hers. He felt awful after he attacked her, but he had already killed the girl." Jasper nodded. Most of the family didn't seem affected by the news, however, because they were too wrapped up in Edward's new fate.

"Vale is my mate…" the name sounded warm on his tongue. "Vale," he repeated, then realized the name's meaning. "No, not Vale. He's no mistake," Edward began musing to himself. He was warming up to the idea of having someone to look after, a little fragile creature like Vale. Esme released her son, satisfied with his mood now enough and smoothed her black skirt. The tension in the room dropped. Rosalie was snarling angrily from her spot now cooped in Emmett's arm, Jasper was holding a bouncing Alice on his lap, Edward envisioning himself with his little mate in that same room, holding him in the same manner, and Carlisle beamed at his son.

"Are you still going to Denali? Carlisle inquired. Edward shook his head.

"But I'm also not going to put him in danger. I'll stay home from school for now."

"What reason will you give?" Esme questioned. She was now communicating with Alice through her eyes on all the plans for the new addition to the family.

"I will give him an excuse for medical leave, and he can take the note tomorrow morning. The four of you," Carlisle motioned around the room, "Can go in Rosalie's car." Rosalie glared.

"There is no way I'm helping him out of a situation with that stupid mortal," she muttered under her breath, but everyone knew she was bluffing. If it really was Edward's mate they were talking about, she would grudgingly help.

"Rosalie, you need to help Edward to keep from becoming tempted. Vale may soon be spending a lot of time around him," Carlisle stated firmly, and in that moment, the entire Cullen household, with the exception of Rosalie, brightened. Emmett spoke for the first time all day.

"How quickly can he move in?" he joked sarcastically, to be met by a room of good natured stares. "Man, tough crowd," he muttered, to be rewarded with a chuckle from Carlisle.

"I wonder when I can take him shopping…" Alice spoke aloud. "He really needs some new clothes… Oh, we'll be such great friends." Edward's eyes brightened. His little mate…

"So, you're going to spy on him?" Emmett argued for the third time. Edward would have already punched his brother if Carlisle wasn't in the room.

"No! Emmett, keep your nose out of my business," Edward retorted. Emmett snickered.

"You should keep your nose out of Vale's business, instead of spying on him," he shot. Edward had enough.

"I'm going to keep an eye on him! Damnit, Emmett!"

"Language," Esme interfered on her way up her stairs.

"Whoa, whoa, chill," Emmett put up his hands in a peace gesture. Edward sighed and returned to staring out the window.

"Where's Alice and why is she taking so long?" He muttered to himself. Edward could hear the school bell ring softly in the distance. "He's probably already on his way home with Michael and his group of friends."

With perfect timing, the perky girl bounded down the stairs with Jasper at her heels. The blonde didn't have any intention of joining the group, but followed the girl downstairs anyway. "Lets' go!" Alice said merrily and was already holding the door open for her brother. Edward let Alice lead the way from the large, white house through the forest. The two ran at inhuman speed through the trees, before Edward caught the distant smell of his mate's blood.

"I have to stop soon," he warned Alice, who slowed considerably. She then veered to the left, catching Edward off guard. He caught up quickly, though, and came across Alice who was sitting Indian style at the edge of a tall looking cliff that had been blasted into existence when a road between two mountains was built. It overlooked the road leading out of school. Edward joined her at the edge, his legs dangling of the edge. The two sat, silent, and watched as Vale and a girl named Olivia giggled along, hand in hand, toward home.

School the next day went by smoothly. Only two interesting things really happened. The first when he arrived at school, after getting a ride from Michael again. This time, however, Olivia had hitched a ride with him when Vale had called out to her walking on the side of the barren road. Olivia had happily obliged and soon Vale's small group of friends were at perfect ease with each other, despite being a little cramped in the tiny cabin of the truck. When the car pulled into the car lot, the silver Volvo that was always there before them was parked near the back of the lot. Except the fact that there was now a red convertible in the space next to it. The students that arrived at school early were crowded around the car, gasping and awe-struck. What intrigued Vale the most, however, was not the flashy car, but the passengers that were sitting on it. The top was up, and they were all eased comfortably in some position better suited for car and driver magazine than a school parking lot. It was the Cullens. Vale sighed inwardly. The gossip mill would be up and running today.

Alice Cullen was sitting on the roof, her legs dangling in front of Jasper Hale's shoulders and her hands crossed on top of his unruly, yet stylish blonde hair. Rosalie Hale was relaxed on the hood, smiling vaguely at her admirers, with Emmet Cullen standing closely by like a body guard. Edward, Vale noticed, was not there. Why was Edward missing, but his car, (Vale had deduced the silver Volvo was Edward's because it was to only other car at school so early, the rest of the students arrived on the bus) parked? And why was there another car that the Cullens seemingly arrived in? Whatever it was, something was definitely off. Michael was the first to react after everyone in the car had noticed the object of attraction. He pulled open the door and slid out, relieving the cramped car. Anna was the second to slide out. She had squeezed in between Michael and LeAnne while Olivia had sat, much to Anna's discontent, in Vale's lap for a change. He had to admit, it was much more relaxing for Vale to have his best girl friend nestled in his lap instead of a whore who was "flirting" by grinding into him every few seconds. Olivia pulled open the car door on their side and leaped to the pavement below. She landed less than gracefully, much to Vale's amusement, and tilted unstably onto her ankle before Vale placed his hands one her shoulders to steady her. Olivia blushed deep crimson in her embarrassment, causing Vale to break out into a deep laughter that had him clutching his sides.

"Oh shut up," she snapped at him playfully. Vale stuck out his tongue at the girl.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on here?" LeAnne asked as she slid from the car and smiled knowingly at the pair, who were now bending and chasing each other in an attempt to dodge each other's hands. Finally, Vale grabbed a hold of the small girl and began mercifully tickling her.

"H-help m-m-me LeA-anne!" She giggle-shrieked. LeAnne grabbed Vale from behind. The teen only snickered, spun in place, still clutching Olivia, and used her as a human shield to fend off the playful attacks. None of the three giggling friends noticed when the entirety of the student body's attention turned to them, nor when Edward Cullen escaped into his silver Volvo and drove away. No one noticed when Michael and Anna joined into the mayhem, either. The only one who noticed anything was Vale, and what he did realize was just how glad he was to have come to Forks, Washington.

Edward Cullen be damned.