A/N: Have you all decided yet, should I remove another candidate, now that Rose has gone, okay, now it will be down to 3, thank you, Esme xx Thanks guys, 'He Wants, She Wants, What Do I want?' just cleared 20,000 hits xx Alexis


Esme

I wonder how poor Charlie and Irina are coping, if his daughter's anything like him, well she's going to make the connection soon. Maybe not as to what we are, but that we are different and her father is marrying into our group, so that will give her pause, it must be on her mind.

I really wish I could have been the one to make friends with her, but because I play the doctor's wife it's not possible. Next place we go I'm putting my foot down, I could be Carlisle's widowed sister in law! I know being the oldest makes it hard, but I'm sick of pretending to be his wife, we've never had that kind of relationship, it's much more familial.

It's like Jasper and Alice, they play a couple too, but they have never been one, not that Alice wouldn't mind! Well as long as he kept his shirt on that is, I don't see what scares her. Yes, he's heavily scarred, but it proves he's strong and resilient, someone who can protect you, where others might fail.

Of our two covens combined, only Rose and Emmett, along with Carmen and Eleazar are actually mated. Well, there's Irina and Charlie now as well, so three couple that's it. That leaves seven single vampires between us. I have hopes for us all, well mostly all, I worry for Edward, he just doesn't really seem to be interested in either sex, his youthful appearance works against him, I fear.

Mind you Tanya never goes without, she is the quintessential siren! While Jasper, Carlisle and Kate are all out there on those motorbikes of theirs, Tanya is usually to be found in human bars, trolling for her next conquest. I'm not condemning her, it's just sad, she needs to look to the vampire community and find a mate, she is so unhappy.

Narrator

Well, that was fun, not! Getting their asses torn off by a human no less. Mind you, you can't blame him, they were all just meant to watch her, keep her safe, but no! Alice put her back up and the pale rider, well that one, just had to touch! Not that Charlie knows that, well not yet! You'd think after all these years, the pale rider would have some control, but it was like a kid in a candy store, just eat, eat, eat and never was it enough, always wanting more! Wanting all of her, forever, god damn it!

The pale rider wondered if she found that photo of her, laid out on the bed naked, but asleep. Lips parted in a pout, due to how swollen they were. First taking one on their phone, then saw her camera and took another, a much more professional like one, hoping she'd like it. God even asleep she had looked so damned sexy! The pale rider hoped, she realised that this was their way, to show how she was seen and felt about!

Bella

Charlie was acting all kinds of embarrassed, just a friend he said, I'm sorry, he said. Then it dawned on me,

"Was that why Alice forced herself on my new roomies? So she could watch me for you? Because if it was dad, I'm gonna be more than a little pissed! Nobody likes her, she's a bossy know it all! " I shot at him, hands on hips, giving him the mum stare.

It worked, he caved telling me, yes, but he'd make sure she wouldn't be going now, although how they all knew the others would ask me is still a mystery! Maybe Alice suggested it to Angela, but it sounded off the cuff and genuine to me at the time.

"Well okay then, but I think you should bear the cost of this cock up and cough up her share of the house! Don't you think that's fair, Irina?" I asked her, knowing she too would have been involved,

"Yes, Isabella, I think that it's only fair your father and I pay for Alice's portion!" she agreed, smiling at me,

"It's Bella, Irina, only dad calls me Isabella. So how's the plans for the wedding going?" I asked changing the subject,

I showed them the new darkroom, told them about sharing the costs of it with Eric Yorke,

"Nice boy, ran the school newspaper, I think! Their all good kids, but Mike and Tyler together can be a handful occasionally! Don't let them away with anything Bells" he warned me,

So I mumbled an agreement, but rolled my eyes at the back of his head, as if I'm gonna spoil college for them. That's not who I am, I going there to enjoy myself, well I was, but how do I top my mystery road companion? Don't think that's even possible. The rest of the evening was pleasant and we turned in late that night.

Tomorrow might be an eye opener, we're going to the Cullens for lunch. Edward? Yes, that was his name came with an invite earlier and surprise surprise, he was pale skinned and had golden eyes! Mind you he also had a head of fuck awesome hair, it was coppery, but bronze too, kinda reddish and all streaked with golden highlights.

But without a doubt it was natural, some women would kill for hair like that, I must capture in on film, he seemed like a really nice kid, better than Alice anyway. Very polite and old worldly manners, but nice, he commented how lovely the house was, said it was a vast improvement on when Charlie lived here.

Edward

"She's something special alright Carlisle, I couldn't read her mind, it was as if she wasn't there, never had that happen before! I know Charlie can be problematic sometimes, not recently though, seeing as everyone keeps riling him up. But she was totally silent" I told Carlisle and the rest all heard me,

"I may be able to get a read on her tomorrow, then we'll know!" Eleazar said from the garden,

I was just settling down, to play the piano, when a sudden flash of memory, a picture of Charlie's daughter entered my mind, it made me hit a bum note. She was naked and asleep, what the hell? Whose memory was that? But with so many vampires in the house, I'd missed the tenor of the thought, so I couldn't place who's it was.

Of course, now everyone's minds were locked down tight, worried what I'd seen. Not long after that Carlisle, Jasper and Kate all left to hunt and the rest settled in for the night, all doing various things to while away the hours. Lunch tomorrow should be a blast, I hope Alice keeps her mouth shut, she hates not getting her own way, all the time.

HDCS

Charlie

I'm seriously worried now, Bells knows something is not right, she hasn't asked right out, but I see it bubbling under the surface. Like me, she's heard the tribe's stories, but she was much younger and it wasn't constant, so what will trigger it for her, I really don't know, but something stupid and simple will!

I want to tell the Cullens to move away now and for us to go back to Denali, leaving my daughter alone, because I feel like I've placed her head on the chopping block, god damn it I have! I've condemned her to death, just so she would be at my wedding, I'm a terrible father, oh, dear god, what have I done?

Irina noticed right away that something was wrong, I couldn't pretend to be happy or even bother to say I didn't want to go to the Cullens. I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry, I've killed in the line of duty before, but I've never intentionally set out to kill someone, until now. I feel sick to my stomach and I know Irina understands what's happening in my head.

She holds me close, whispering nonsense in my ear, she can't help me or stop the ball that I set in motion, from rolling over my daughter. We stay like this for a couple of hours before we hear Bells moving around downstairs, then we hear her go out to collect the post. Time to face the music, but it feels like a funeral march to me. At the bottom of the stairs I stop and stare at Bella, she's clutching a flyer in her hand and her face is pure white.

Bella

I've been up for about an hour, just pottering about in the darkroom, that was a shock! Seeing a picture of myself naked and asleep, Wow! Do I really look like that? I'm definitely doing that in black and white, so much more dramatic. It must have been taken before leaving me, that morning, I loved it!

Okay and now the making of coffee for me and dad. I wonder what Irina does eat? Right, I'll just get the post, while it's percolating, not that I'm expecting anything, but something's there. Rubbish! Crap! Ooh, letter from mom. More rubbish and hey nice flyer. Wow, it's an Olympic Wolf, howling at the moon.

"No that's not right, not Olympic. It's ..., damn it, it's ..., Quileute Wolf that's right, a Quileute Wolf!" I say glad to have remembered that, then I froze momentarily stunned,

"Fuck! Oh my god! Oh God! Dad!" I squealed,

Rushing back into the house clutching the mail, flyer on top. I see dad and Irina at the bottom of the stairs, I know the blood has drained from my face, his has too and she looks so sad. Why? I wave the flyer randomly at them, then gasp,

"Wolves, bonfires, Billy's stories! Cold Ones! Vampires! All of you, all Vampires! Shit!" I said as I slumped to the floor in a dead faint, due to lack of sugar.

Irina

I fly past Charlie and catch Bella before she hits the floor, well that didn't take long. Did everyone in this town know the Quileutes history, yes I suppose they do, but they, unlike the Swan's don't know it's all real. I lay her on the couch gently and Charlie grabs her hand. Well, it's out now, what happens next? Maybe I should phone Carlisle, no it's just a faint, from shock.

"Charlie, go and get coffee for both of you, she's about to come around," I say gently and he rushes off, just as she opens her eyes,

"Fuck me, I had sex with a vampire!" Bella whispers and I wouldn't have caught it if I hadn't been one,

"You did?" I ask and she looks panicked for a second,

then she see's Charlie's not there, nods and blushes from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes, I shouldn't wonder,

"The bike rider, you know, my babysitter!" she again whispers,

Well, I'll be, that naughty, dirty devil, Oh today's gonna be lots of fun at the Cullens,

"Charlie, Bella's awake where's that coffee?" I say and he rushes back in,

"Oh god, kiddo, are you okay? I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have involved you in all this" he rambles,

"No, I'm fine, just a shock, no sugar in my system, is all" she gulps it down liking a parched man in the desert,

"So you really are a vampire, the gold eyes mean, what exactly?" she asks,

An immediate important question, so like her father. I spend the next hour telling her all about me, Tanya and Kate, then, of course, Eleazar and Carmen. The Cullens can tell their own stories when we get there. I also mention the Volturi, letting her know, what knowing the secret means!

"No point in sugar coating it Bella, if they find out you will either become one of us or die! There are no other choices" I state flatly,

Bella nods and gets up for a refill, gives her father more too, he is just watching her with some pride, at how she's taking this and her lack of concern about me, the killer in her living room.

"So lunch at the Cullens, better get ready then!" she says leaving us sitting there, looking at each other,

"She's you, in female form, no fuss, no real drama, just acceptance. Amazing!" I say proudly.

Narrator

The nearer lunchtime gets, the more anxious, the pale rider became. Will she speak? Will she ignore? What to do? Go maybe? NO! Stay and face her, no matter what the outcome. The pale rider had too, needed too, desperately wanting to see her again. Having begun to feel the pull, knowing what this meant, but will she want the pale rider?

Well here goes, it's sink or swim time, they're here! God, she looks so beautiful, a natural beauty, no need for makeup. The pale rider saw her eyes scan the room, 'Is she? Please tell me, it's me she seeks!' was the thought,

"Hey Babysitter, how's it going?" she says across the room,

"Much better now, Isabella" was the reply,

"It's ..., never mind!" she said smiling,

Irina gave the paler rider a raised eyebrow and wagged her finger, shit! She knew, but not Charlie, thank goodness. Not that he could hurt the pale rider, but you know, that father business, was very scary!

Bella

Well, I was cool, showing no hard feelings, but as I'm introduced to everyone and it's explained I know what they all are, I find I have a shadow. Everywhere I go, my ..., well I guess my Vampire is right behind me and has tried to nonchalantly touch me as often as possible. The handshake when we were formally introduced was a tad too long, did the others notice?

"So where's the bike? I never got a good look at it!" I said pointedly, meaning I got a good look at you though,

"In the garage, you want to see, before your lunch?" I'm asked,

Inside, I'm desperate to say yes, God yes! But I calmly answer,

"Cool!" taking the proffered arm,

I felt the shudder, I hope it was done with desire, we barely make it to the garage and I'm once again in those arms of steel,

"Baby, I didn't want to leave you, but now you know why! The sun was out and I had to go, I'm so sorry! Please believe me? Please forgive me?" was murmured in my ear,

"I found the photograph this morning, do I really look like that to you?" I had to ask,

"Yes, a thousand times, yes!" came the reply, before our lips met once again.

Alice

No, No, No! I can't see her future, but I can see that bloody fool's! It can't be, I will not stand for this! Who the fuck does that little tramp think she's fooling! She cannot have a mate just like that, not as long as I don't!

Edward

I saw it, the minute Alice did, she forgets I don't have to be in the room with her. It wasn't the vision that bothered me, in fact, it solved many problems all around. But Alice's reaction was not good, I had to ..., well not think about it and do something. I was about to go when Esme said,

"Edward dear, could you tell Bella her lunch is ready",

I nodded and she smiled,

"Thank you, you're a good boy!" she added and my heart fell,

I would always be a boy to her, she never saw me, never looked at me, the real me. I should get a scar across my face to spoil the boyish looks I have and get out of this shit, that Alice dresses me in! I'm sure she does it to make me look younger, but no more! Maybe Bella would help me, I'll ask her, she seems so nice!

I think of a complex piece of music and write a note to show them when I reach the garage, everyone is getting sick of Alice's petty jealousy, she has no mate, so no one else should get theirs, god she was livid when Irina found Charlie! I smile as I entered the garage and they sprung apart.

"Your lunch is ready Bella, the bikes nice isn't it?" I say as I hold up the note, they see it and nod, Bella mouths thank you,

"Thanks, Edward lead the way, I'm starving and yes it's hot and some of these cars are to die for!" she says and I merely nod,

"Yes, we all did!" I say with a straight face, then suddenly the three of us burst out laughing,

"Smart ass!" she tells me and I take off leaving them to follow.

Narrator

Well. Alice thought she could put a spanner in that new relationship with Isabella, did she? The pale rider thought not! Two can play that game ,so as everyone all gathered in the lounge, while Isabella and Charlie ate, the pale rider wandered about the room, having a word with everyone and without Alice's awareness, showed them the note from Edward. A couple of raised eyebrows were given, but they all nodded in acceptance.

It's easy to circumvent her. if you don't make a decision! They all know this and do it as a matter of course. They all think she just assumes they never make any for themselves, just let her do it for them all! Well it's out in the open now and the pale rider just had to talk to her father, god help them! As soon as Isabella finishes she returns to the pale rider's side and the others smiled, they see it too, now.

Bella

I can't stay away, so I just give in and float over to my vampire's side. With a glance at the note and then around the room, I know I'm being informed that everyone else has been told, good, little witch, she ain't ruining this for us. It's just dad and I will handle him,

"Leave dad to me!" I mouth and receive a thankful nod,

"Edward, can I ask a favour? Your hair is bloody amazing, can I photograph you sometime soon?" I ask randomly and his eyes light up,

"Yeah, okay! Where here or your place?" he asks and I see the emphasis on my place in his eyes,

"Mine if you don't mind, all my gear is there!" I reply and he looks relieved,

"Tomorrow? Is that okay" I say and he smiles nodding.

I have a feeling Edward wants my help with something, but what I'm not sure, it's blatantly clear he's older than he looks and I could help with that, I'm sure! Just a tweak here and there and some better clothing would really help, I wonder why he dresses so young, in fact as I look at the Cullens, they all dress wrong for their ages, nothing like the Denali's.

Charlie

Everyone has taken to Bells really well, except for Miss Misery aka Alice, of course. Some of the others are a tad too friendly, for instance the babysitter! I'll be putting a stop to that, she's only a child! Edward seems happy to be friends with her so that will be nice for her, to have a friend here in Forks!

But she won't be in Forks, she'll be in Seattle at college, shit I'm doing it again, she's not a high schooler, anymore! I have a feeling we might be having a talk about her babysitter real soon, going by the way Bella keeps looking and touching and I can see it's reciprocated, logically this is a good thing, but damn it this is my baby girl!

I don't want her to grow up, well not yet, but I think I might be too late to stop this happening! She was a grown up before she left Phoenix and before she became entangled with vampires here in Forks. I won't be here to help her, I'll be becoming a vampire myself! Maybe I should delay it for a while, but that would hurt Irina and I don't want to do that!

Esme

Bella is right, Edward's hair is so beautiful. It always looks so nice, so shiny and I bet it's really soft to touch, It would be amazing to run your fingers through! 'What the ...!'

HDCS


Love Song For A Vampire by Annie Lennox