"I was born in the Scottish Highlands on November 30th year of our lord 1727-"
"1727!" I cut him off. "That makes you like- what? - 300 years old?"
"Actually I'll be 285 this year. May I continue?" he asked with mock politeness. Too shocked to speak, I nodded and he went on. "I was born wi' the given name Brian James Alexander MacTavish Fraser."
"Wow that's a lot of names."
"That's how it was done in the Highlands back then. If ye are goin' to interrupt me after every sentence we are no goin' to get verra far."
"Sorry, I'll be quiet. Promise." And with that I drew my hand across my mouth like I was locking it shut. Brian just snorted.
"Like that's goin' to last." He continued, "I was changed at the age of 21 durin' the uprising. Afterword I wondered around Europe for a time before I met the Volturi." I made an involuntary shiver. "Good. Ye know o' them."
"Yes I saw them in Renesmee's memories."
"They're no so terrifyin' when ye're no the ones in trouble. I lived wi' them for a long time. That is where I met Carlisle and he taught me about his idea to feed off animals instead o' humans. I thought he was crazy. Anyway, I grew restless and left the Volturi to wonder the world. I even tried livin' off animals for a time, but I couldna keep to it. Sometime later I ended up in the South durin' the civil war. While the civil war was goin' on here in the US, there was a war goin' on between vampire armies." Seeing my curious expression he added, "Better to ask Jasper about all the details. He's the history professor. Anyway, I joined a vampire army led by a woman named Maria. That's where I met Jasper. I soon became weary o' all the bloodshed and killin'. I had it out wi' Maria and left. I took to drinkin' only animal blood from then on and havena looked back." By this point I was practically not breathing in an effort not to ask questions. Something he must have seen because he added, "Any questions?"
"So you've been wondering the world for 300 years-"
"284," he corrected.
"-for almost 300 years by yourself?" I asked incredulously.
"Mostly."
"That must have been lonely," I said sympathetically. Absentmindedly I picked up his hand and started to stroke his palm between my palms. "I don't know if I could have done that and remained sane."
"Wasna easy, but I wasna always alone. There was the Cullen's, the Volturi and my other friends among varies clans."
"How many clans are there?!"
"Most are nomads, only some become permanent clans. But I'm only friends wi' the Irish clan and the Cullen's. Also some of the nomads."
"So what are you? A nomad?"
"I guess so." He shrugged. "Never was able to stay in one place permanently. Just couldna help but get tired wi' where I was."
"I hope you won't tire of this place soon. I'll need somebody to spend the nights with." He looked at me with a raised eyebrow and made an impressive noise that signaled the inappropriate context he took that statement to mean and his mock approval. "I didn't mean it like that," I said, gave him a light slap to the arm. He made a noise of disapproval and fake hurt. "Such a baby." He just smiled widely at me and winked.
We spent the rest of the night just talking. We talked about everything and nothing. By unspoken mutual consent we stayed away from any more serious conversations and just relaxed with each other.
Around dawn we decided it would be safe to return to the house and left the meadow. It ended up turning into a race.
"Ha!" I said triumphantly as I landed on the porch stairs with a thud. I turned around to gloat but ducked quickly as a figure was hurled over me.
"Beat ye!" Brian said happily.
"No you didn't! I reached the porch first!"
"No ye dinna. Ye reached the stairs first. I reached the porch first."
"That's cheating!" I cried out indignantly.
"No darl'in, that's a technicality," he said smugly. I reached to slap his arm.
"Why you pedantic-"
"Good morning!" said an all too cheery voice. Looking up, we saw Alice leaning over the balcony beaming down at us. "Nice night?" Brian just smiled broadly.
"Mine was pleasant. How about yours? Did Jasper get to bed on time or did ye tan his arse?" Alice just laughed and walked away from us. "I'm going to take that as Jasper got wrung out," he whispered conspiringly to me and winked at me. I just giggled and walked into the house.
As I walked into the house I couldn't help but notice the main difference between a human morning and a vampire morning. In the morning, humans begin their day while vampires continue with theirs. Everybody was continuing what they were doing last night. With the exception of Carlisle, who was not home.
"Where's Carlisle?" I asked.
"At the hospital," answered Edward from across the room. I was momentarily shocked. I knew he was a doctor but to actually be practicing... Edward looked up. "It's taken him centuries to master that kind of self control. He barely even registers the scent of human blood now." I just glared at him.
"I thought we agreed that you would wait for me to ask questions out-loud?" I raised an eyebrow at him. Bella just laughed from her spot perched in Edwards lap.
"That'll be the day." She smiled at me. "I'm sorry but honestly Edward isn't doing it on purpose. He hasn't known you long enough to know the difference between your thinking voice and your speaking voice. They sound the same to him." I just huffed and sat down on the kitchen counter.
Fine! I purposely thought to Edward. But if you go snooping through my thoughts we're going to have issues! Edward just chucked.
"No need to shout."
I muffled a growl of irritation and Brian patted my knee.
"Ye get used to it." Brian reassured me.
"I don't think I could get used to anything in this life."
"No? Not even the speed?"
"No"
"The strength?"
"Nope"
"How ye look?" I looked down and snorted.
"Especially not that. I try not to look at myself."
"I dinna see why. You're verra beautiful."
I snorted again and looked up, about to say some smart remark. Whatever I was about to say stopped dead in my mouth as I looked up. I hadn't realized Brian had moved until he was right in between my knees as I sat on the counter. His face was barely five inches away from mine as he looked down at me. He was breathtakingly beautiful this close up. But that wasn't what stopped me. His eyes were starring right into mine, bright and piercing like a fire and all I wanted was to be consumed. We stood there just staring at each other for a few minutes.
"What happened to ye?" Brian finally whispered, not looking away. That shook me out of my stupor and suddenly I felt vulnerable and had to look away. I didn't know how, but I had exposed some part of myself to him, something I didn't even know of.
"I don't know what you mean," I mumbled and jumped off the counter.
Brian just stood facing the counter, not moving, and for once I saw just how statue like vampires are. I was so distraught that, as I walked out of the kitchen, I bumped into Jasper. Startled he grabbed my arms and I let out a surprised hiss. An angry growl erupted from behind me and both Jasper and I turned our heads to look at Brian, whose face was dark with anger. Jasper looked at me studiously, and then looked up at the furious figure of Brian who was crouched in a hunting pose. Jasper's face turn concerned and then curious and then amazed as he looked back at me.
"Let me pass," I demanded quietly. Jasper released my arms and looked passed me at Brian.
As I walked away I heard Jasper walk toward Brian and say happily, "'Bout time it happened!" and slap him on the back in that way men do. I just turned the corner of the hallway into the living room, wondering what the hell just happened.
