Wow! I got so much great feedback on the last chapter! Thanks so much! Hope you like this one just as well. Sorry it took a while, the sun's been out and… well, long story short I'm tomato red now ;) Plus other occurrences have come up… No details here.

Stephenie Meyer owns all the stuff in here, but the writing is mine :D


Chapter 7 Decisions

Back in our room Alec and I settled into the chairs, our eyes never leaving the other's face. This was the first chance we had had to really speak without interruption since the change, and there was so much I wanted to say, but we were silent for several minutes.

I was still adjusting to the thought that the boy before me was my brother. He was so different, and yet the same. But mostly different, I noted as I searched his face for something familiar, some flaw that I had known all my life. The tiny scar on his chin had vanished, though his forehead was still a little too wide and flat, but not as obviously as when he was human. Still, it was a relief to recognize that bit of my brother that wasn't alien and strange. Just that little bit was still the same.

I knew from the intent way he was scrutinizing at me that he was observing me, the same as I was him. I wondered what he saw in my changed face. Still, I couldn't find it in me to voice any of these thoughts yet. I could only look.

It was Alec who finally spoke first. "I suppose your gift makes sense," he mused, slightly to himself. "You never had any aversion to causing pain."

I suppose some might have taken this as an insult, but I knew that was not at all how Alec meant it. Besides, it was true; I had always enjoyed others pain.

"Yes," I conceded, unable to deny it from any angle. "And yours too, although I would never have imagined it But you never encouraged suffering."

"And we haven't had much time to build expectations, have we?" he remarked we a small smile.

"Very true…" This was a perfect opening to discuss all that had happened, and I was quick to seize it. "How has it all been for you? I mean, with the change and everything."

His answer was hesitant; he didn't like to admit weakness any more than I did. "It was… painful. I'm sure you know." I nodded, knowing all too well. "But they treated me fine once it stopped…" He paused again, as though debating what he wanted to say next, or if he should say it. He made a decision before I became impatient enough to interrupt.

"I think we should stay," he blurted in a rush, examining my face as though trying to see how I would react to such a statement.

And indeed I was surprised by his declaration; Alec wasn't usually the one to voice the preferred outcome, that was usually my role, and he would quietly agree or disagree. That may have been why he was scrutinizing my face at this moment, but I was unsure of exactly what he saw there.

However, though staggered, I did not disagree with him. I didn't know what to expect from this new life, and the irresistible bloodlust had alarmed me the first time, even when Chelsea was nearby to stop me if anything went too wrong.

"I think you're right," I stated to show my agreement, realizing my expression had been unchanging for a while, and he wouldn't know what I was thinking. He relaxed a hint when I responded, and we settled in to discuss our plans for the future.

In the end only two things were certain.

First, we would start our new lives here, at least for a while. After that we would see. This wasn't the most important fact, but it was what Aro was concerned with, so we left our chamber to find him and the other ancients. Though it was well past midnight now we weren't concerned of being a disturbance. Not needing sleep was becoming a very convenient ability.

The second, and most important, decision was one that we didn't even need to discuss, we already knew it, and only stated it aloud because we were mentioning everything, and it needed to be said.

No matter what happened, or where we went or stayed, we would stick together. Forever.

End of Part One


Alright, I know that needs some explaining. This is the end of what I have written of Jane's back story. This was designed to fit into Stephenie Meyer's books as something that could have happened, and then I planned to add a type of sequel that seemed pretty cool at the time, but right now there's a lot going on, and I'm just having a hard time. I feel like I'm losing a lot of my self, and I don't want to feel tied down by this, so I'm going to end it here, and if I decide to come back I'll put up the sequel. But really, I just need a break. I honestly don't know if this is the end of my fanfiction writing, but I defiantly isn't the end of my career as a writer, which is the other reason I want to stop, there's ideas for novels bouncing in my head, and I want to let them out.

So I wish you all the best, always and for the last time for a while,

Claire