A/N: If you notice any mistakes, let me know. I fix that kind of stuff before too many people realize that I have the spelling abilities of an 8 year old. I've read over and over it, but it's blurring into mush.

Chapter 10

Fairy Tales

It turned out that Esme and Carlisle didn't just have business at Cambridge. They were moving here. It was actually unrelated to me, or so they swore. I figured it was time to give up my edict that everyone leave me alone. I actually missed them so much more than I thought I would.

Carlisle had a home in England. It was tiny compared to his other residences, so the family rarely lived here together. It was reserved for those times when Carlisle and Esme wanted to spend time visiting their European friends. For the meantime, it was perfect for themselves, Alice, and Jasper.

Even Mom and Dad flew over for several weeks. The six of us had a quiet Christmas holiday together which turned out to be almost like a fairytale. Alice and Esme decorated the cottage in silver and crystalline. We had fresh evergreen trees in every room infused with small twinkling lights that made evenings utterly magical. There were no grudges acknowledged, no angry looks, and no sulking. Even more odd, there was laughing. Dad teased Mom and Alice, and Jasper actually looked at ease. I caught myself staring from vampire to vampire in awe that life could feel so normal. We missed Edward, Bella, Nessie, and …, nah. Just Edward, Bella, and Nessie. We would celebrate a late Christmas together closer to New Year's.

In the meantime, I tried to reconcile with Mom.

We shopped.

We talked.

I hugged her.

She hugged me back.

She didn't apologize.

I didn't expect it.

She did listen to my ramblings about Evan. She even managed to keep from grimacing. It was no secret that she wasn't thrilled about me "dating" a human. She "Mmmm" and nodded when those responses were necessary, but I kept my Evan conversation to a basic outline. Darcie reaffirmed that parents should only know so much info on their kids. All in all, I made my best attempt to show her that I was sorry for my outbursts earlier in the year, and she seemed to accept that.

Alice, on the other hand, adored the details. She wanted to hear about every date, every conversation, every kiss, every touch, every thought. I happily obliged since I had to edit so many of my thoughts for Darcie. Alice saw Evan's decisions and loved that he surprised me all the time with little gifts and kindnesses. She thought he was perfect for me. She lived for the surprise lunches, the unexpected appearances, and the flowers. You would think that everything he did for me was a direct offering to her. He spoiled me, so he was automatically on the "in" list with Alice.

She had foreseen his first surprise lunch offer. It was a week after we had met, and he perched himself on the balcony outside of my literature class. I was almost finished with the core studies and was set to begin my major track after Winter Break.

"Hey, Evan!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Hi. Are you hungry? I would love to take you to lunch today if you don't have any plans."

"No, eating is at the top of my priority list right now. This class is quite uninteresting." I didn't add that I had read the entire syllabus of required readings and comprehended these better than the professor whose lecture was infused with alcohol related slips and lost trains of thought. Only I would be able to smell the vodka that still hung about him.

"I thought the same thing when I took this class. I had the same professor, and swear you won't tell, but I think he drinks before his lectures."

I raised my eyebrows. "Really?" as if I didn't know that already.

"Yep. In my opinion, the alcoholic lectures are far more fascinating. At least you get a few hilarious stories out of the period, so it's not a complete waste of time." I had to laugh. It was so true. Anytime a professor accidentally shares the time he or she appeared naked on the front lawn of his/her mother's home completely inebriated on Christmas Day, it's an enjoyable lecture even if it doesn't contribute much to the course objectives.

Evan drove me to a small pub in the city. It was a perfect mix of a modern appearance, yet it held a quaint and intimate atmosphere. We ordered stone-baked pizza. Evan assured me it was the best pizza he had ever tasted. I took his word for it since everything tasted the same to me, kind of like stale bread. Every once in a while, something really spicy or sweet made an impact and provided an enjoyable eating experience. After ordering, we staked out a spot in the lower level on a small couch. Evan sat down first and patted the seat next to him indicating my spot. I sat. His close proximity was not lost on me.

"Tell me more about yourself. Start from where we left off last week," he began. "You told me about your family and high school."

I lied about high school and about my family. Evan thought I had a solid middle-class upbringing in New Hampshire. I didn't think he would quite understand the whole, I murdered my mother and am going to live forever. My family would love nothing more than to drink every ounce of blood from your body. I'd join in, too, but I'm trying to keep my death tally at 1.

"There's really not much to tell," I laughed to cover up the lack of information. "I spent most of my time studying. I didn't go out much with other people back home. I've taken one trip to Ireland, but that's the only time I've left the states except for the present of course." He absorbed every word I said. "We've already talked a lot about me. Tell me about your family. Why are you here studying medicine?"

"A break from the family business." He seemed to be memorizing every inch of my face. He moved from my eyes to my lips back to my eyes. I wasn't a relationship expert, but if this date didn't end in some form of physical contact, then I was missing something very important.

"And that would be?" I prodded. I was smiling because he had been incredibly cryptic about his family.

"Lots of lying and manipulation and living off the hard work of others less fortunate. My family is complicated. You described your situation similarly, didn't you. I can relate. I did take some time after my terminale year of school- I was educated in France- and traveled to some of my family's businesses throughout Europe. It sounds boring, but I was a little wilder then, so I made it a bit more interesting. The drinking age is much lower than from where you are from. I took advantage of that, unfortunately."

"And once you sobered up, you decided to attend Cambridge?"

He laughed out loud and took my hand.

"Yes, where this annoying girl started bothering me about meeting her friend who was," his voice turned soprano, "so perfect, absolutely incredibly perfect and beautiful and just perfect!"

I couldn't help but giggle. "I can't believe you didn't grab Darcie up from the beginning. She really liked you."

Evan leaned in closer to me. He still had a hold of my hand which he now held on his lap in both of his. He looked me intently in the eyes. His were an indecipherable blue-gray which seemed to waver between the two colors depending on the intensity of his gaze. He dropped his voice to a whisper, "Just between you and me," he leaned in to where we were inches apart, "she talks too much."

Then he kissed me just as our buzzer signaled that our meal was ready to be picked up.

First kisses are the best. I floated through the rest of my day on electric pulses that made me feel like I was hovering inches above the ground. Alice just squealed when I told her. Course she saw it the moment he decided. I just didn't think it was fair that she got to see my kiss before I got to experience it. But, it's just one of those things that I have to get used to, I suppose.

Alice was much more helpful about providing the background to Evan's life that he alluded to but didn't quite share.

"He was a playboy during his teen years and until he was about 20. His parents are in politics in France. They're very high up in the ranks. I'm not surprised that he hasn't mentioned it. His family is as close to royalty as you can get. There are illegitimate births from the past that suggest his family might be able to boast that they are descended from kings. His parents are as pretentious as they come. They're both children of French Senators, and if they knew he was involved with someone outside their social networks, they would likely cut him off from the family fortune. I'm sort of surprised that they haven't already based on his previous actions. There are hundreds of mentions of him in gossip magazines and online. He rebelled in the strongest sense of the word. Being the only son must be working to his advantage." Alice looked me over pointedly. "This is becoming a habit with you, Serenity. You really like bad boys don't you?"

"He wasn't bad when I met him!" I defended myself, "and besides, two is only a coincidence. Three would be a pattern."

Alice hmmphed, "But there had to be something about him that said, "I've partied hard in my life. Get to know me at your own risk."

"Alice! I can't judge him for what he's done. I wouldn't want him to judge me for my actions."

"And what actions are you talking about? You haven't done anything to be ashamed of, Serenity."

"That's a matter of opinion, and you know it."

Alice sighed.

The winter term was about to begin. It was hard to believe that I had been in college for a full year. There were moments when I was hit with the sadness of what brought me here a year ago, but I knew that those memories were a part of my past and that, for now, Evan was my present. I was enjoying that very much, but I still couldn't help wondering what Embry was doing. Did he still think about me? Had he imprinted? Was he back to chasing any girl he saw? Did he still care about me? Darcie assured me that it was normal to never forget the first person you really love. She said she would have remembered her first love except that she couldn't remember his name. She was 9, and he was 21 and didn't know that she existed.

"It wasn't meant to be, you know?" she explained.

No kidding.

Life was exciting. College was no problem academically, and my world seemed very happy.

Evan and I had been "dating" for just past two months when Alice suggested that he meet her, Carlisle, and Esme. It was planned as a quick meeting at the very coffeehouse where we first met.

When Evan and I arrived, Esme and Alice were 'finishing' up a cup of coffee each. They sat together on a loveseat whispering to each other and beaming with pride. There was a warm fire cackling in the hearth just to the right of Esme. Winter decorations still graced the mantle and the scent of evergreens and holly drifted in the room mingling with the coffee and brewing tea.

Esme wore thin gloves that helped to mask her body temperature, and Alice had been holding a scorching hot cup to warm hers. Even didn't question the temperature if he noticed it. His manners were exemplary.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Evan. Serenity has told us how wonderful you are."

"I'm Alice, her cousin." That was our official story for the time being. "You're just as adorable as she described."

Evan took it in stride with a chuckle which bore no conceit at all. He really was perfect. "It's very good to meet you both as well. Esme? You're not related to…"

"Dr. Carlisle Cullen? Yes, she is my very beautiful, wonderful, talented, amazing wife." Carlisle had just walked through the door. He strode over to Esme, kissed her, and turned to shake Evan's hand. Carlisle shuddered, "It's really cold out there!"

"Here," Evan offered his seat which was closest to the fire. "You'll warm up faster this way."

"So, this young lady you've been talking incessantly about is my granddaughter, hmmm?"

Evan laughed. "Yes, sir, obviously so. I should have known. She's beautiful, kind, and brilliant. I can't believe that I didn't realize sooner."

"She resembles her father."

"That would be your son?" Evan questioned.

"Yes. Her parents are in the states at our family home. I know they hope to meet you soon."

Oh, sure. Mom and Dad would have him terrified with a minute and running for the hills. Wouldn't be the first time…

Alice spoke up.

"Evan, are you involved in Carlisle's research?"

"Indirectly. I obtained a fellowship while I work on my dissertation that has overlapped with Dr. Cullen's research." He looked at me and continued. "Your grandfather's brilliant. It's no wonder you're acing your classes here. He's going to change the world of medicine as we know it. Dr. Bryst, the lead scientist of our fellowship, is a genius, but without Dr. Cullen's insight, this project would probably have ended a long time ago.

"What's the subject of the research?" I inquired.

Evan deferred to Carlisle, "Dr. Cullen?"

"Living blood synthetically produced," Carlisle shared for the first time.

"How is that possible?" I asked. It seemed a contradiction in terms.

Evan explained. "It's the sheer simplicity that's so brilliant about it. Dr. Bryst and Dr. Cullen have created an enzyme that allows human blood to reproduce outside the human body."

"This is what you've been flying to Europe for during the last five years." I stated.

Carlisle's excitement was difficult to tone down now that he was finally able to share this project. "It's thrilling to be on the cutting edge of medicine. There are the obvious positive aspects of this research. There could be far-reaching ramifications that we haven't even considered yet."

Evan interjected, "I've been so fortunate to be in on this research. I really think that there is a huge future here.

Carlisle nodded in agreement. "More than we can imagine," he said with pointed looks at Alice and myself. "We've pretty much worked through the kinks. It's the main reason that we've moved our residence here for now—to see this through to the end.

"Dr. Bryst has been jumpier than ever lately. I think the closer this project gets to its culmination, the worse his nerves get. This is Nobel prize material."

Alice chimed in with a teasing comment, "That will make how many Carlisle? Six?"

"Seven, but I try not to brag." The entire group laughed. Carlisle continued, "We hate to leave so soon, but Dr. Bryst is expecting Esme and myself for supper." He patted Evan on the shoulder as he rose from the couch. "Evan, I enjoyed talking with you again. Take very good care of my granddaughter. There's few like her." He turned his attention to Esme, "Dear, if you don't mind." She rose and with a quick kiss on my cheek, left.

Alice made her excuses a few minutes later giving us some privacy. The café was deserted. Even the staff was quiet in the back. Evan took my hand, leaned over brushing a few curls behind my ear and very sweetly kissed me for what felt like hours. I could have stayed right there forever.

On the first day of classes, I arrived at the science lab to find Evan waiting for me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, pleased to see him again.

He leaned down as I rose on my tiptoes to kiss him good morning. He held my waist and took his time deepening the kiss and moving to my neck for one tiny peck under me ear.

"I couldn't wait to see you. I thought I'd ease the transition. Dr. Bryst," he stopped mid-sentence, pulled back and interjected, "do you remember me talking about him when I met your family?"

"I think so." Like I ever forgot anything. I smiled to myself picturing my head on the body of an elephant.

"He has an unsettling," he struggled to find the right word, "aura, perhaps? Most of the students in his classes leave after that first lecture sick. I'm used to it since I've worked with him for a while. I wanted to warn you."

"You're so sweet. You think of everything." I laced my fingers through his and aimed a kiss for his bottom lip.

"You keep that up, you're never going to get to class," he growled.

"Promise?"

His laughter rang out across the snow on this frigid morning. "I brought you some coffee to warm you up. I'd hate to waste it." Now it was my turn to laugh.

We settled in on the front row off to the left of the huge auditorium that easily sat 300. This was a basic science course and was required for several majors, so there were several assistant professors, to which my wonderful Evan belonged. We were still whispering when Dr. Bryst entered the room behind where I was sitting. When the door closed behind him, it blew his scent right towards me. As the smell danced around me, I caught something that I hadn't expected.

Vampire.

A/N: Thoughts? I hope so. I'd hate to think that I'm boring you to death! LOL. I am just about finished with ch 13. I'll plan to update maybe Thursday/Friday. Thank you all!

To those who leave the anonymous reviews, I am not able to respond. I love thanking you for taking the time to leave a review. I don't want to disable that because we all know that review numbers are the bread and butter of these fics.

Thanks, thanks, thanks,
Dawn