Thank you to everyone for your thoughts, prayers and messages over the last week or so. I really appreciate it all. My beta is safe, she was just out of contact for a few days. My family is all safe and we are home now. Our home only had minor water damage so we are so lucky. My workplace has a fair amount of damage so I have a few weeks off which will be good to concentrate on things on the home front and my family. (And of course, I know its not as important but my writing too ;) )
So, speaking of which, back to it.
Thank you to lovably17, yingyanggirl, SakuraMaeda, Ashleyrheana, Jessie Alice, EsmeAliceRose, AliceD21BallerinaGypsy and SarahxEmmett for your reviews.
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"We should have fought them," Emmett growled as they got a good distance away.
"No," Carlisle said firmly.
"They are no match for us," Edward argued.
"They could be," Carlisle murmured. "I have heard rumours of creatures like these. They exist to protect their tribe. If the rumours I have heard are right they are more than capable of killing our kind."
"And you agreed to meet them again?" Esme gasped.
"It will be okay sweetheart," Carlisle assured her. "I promise it will all be okay."
"I'll come with you," Emmett decided.
"Me too," Edward nodded.
"And me," Rosalie agreed and all three of them turned to stare at her. "What?"
"You should wait at home with Esme," Emmett said quickly.
"Why?" Rosalie demanded.
"Because you're a g…" Emmett started.
"Don't you dare say because I'm a girl," Rosalie snapped. "I am just as lethal as you are."
"I'm not saying you aren't," Emmett argued quickly although they were all aware that was exactly what he had been saying.
"If you go, I'm coming too," Rosalie snarled.
"I think we should all go," Esme murmured as she glanced worriedly at Carlisle. He let out a sigh and Edward could see in his mind that he didn't like the idea of Esme being there in case things went wrong but he reluctantly nodded his head.
"Fine," he agreed. "We'll all go." Rosalie flashed Emmett a grin and sped up her pace and Edward let out a sigh and quickened his own steps to catch up to her, not wanting her too far ahead in case the wolves decided to attack.
XXX
The following night the Cullens were all edgy and Edward was getting even worse than the others because their thoughts were all slamming into him. A little after eleven they were all gathered in the living room when Carlisle looked around the group.
"I think its time," he murmured. Without another word they all got to their feet and filed out of the house and once they reached the forest they broke into a run. Carlisle led the way towards the clearing Ephraim had told them to go to and when they got closer they could smell the stench of the wolves and see fire flickering in the distance.
They slowed their steps as they reached the clearing and when they stepped out of the trees they immediately noticed a group of three Indian men sitting by the fire. Behind them another five wolves stood and they all let out growled as the Cullens approached.
"Sit please," Ephraim said and waved at a group of boulders on the opposite side of the fire to them.
Carlisle led his family over to the boulders and as she sat down Rosalie noticed Emmett sat as close to her as he could. Her mind registered that when they returned to the house she would have to give him a telling off about his protective ways but she felt the warmth spread through her and she admitted to herself she kind of liked it when Emmett tried to take care of her.
"My brothers and I have discussed your proposal," Ephraim started. "First, we would like to know what it is that makes you different to others we have encountered of your kind."
"Of course," Carlisle nodded. "My family and I do not want to be monsters. We do not feed on humans but on animals as you witnessed yesterday."
"We did see you feeding on deer," Ephraim admitted. "But how do we know you don't feed on humans as well?"
"You don't know," Carlisle sighed. "Except that I give you my word."
"We cannot trust the word of a blood sucker," one of the other men hissed but Ephraim held his hand up to silence him.
"You proposed yesterday an agreement where you would not venture onto our land," Ephraim murmured. "What is it you have in mind?"
"To be honest I hadn't thought of the exact mechanics of it all," Carlisle admitted. "My family and I have moved into a home on the outskirts of Hoquiam. We would like to hunt, for animals, in the forest. Perhaps we could come to some agreement on a boundary around your lands that we wouldn't cross over."
"You would have to agree not to come onto our land for any purpose!" Ephraim said firmly.
"We could agree to that," Carlisle nodded.
"And you mustn't kill any human in nearby towns either," Ephraim added. "To do so would break our agreement."
"I can agree to that," Carlisle nodded again.
"Good," Ephraim murmured and glanced at the wolves behind him and the men beside him. "The first thing we need to establish is borders. These will be strictly patrolled by our pack."
"Perhaps we could walk the boundary line so we all understand where it will be?" Carlisle suggested.
"Yes, a good idea," Ephraim admitted. "We can do that in a moment and then perhaps you and I can meet in private over the next few weeks to establish the official rules of our treaty."
"No, if Carlisle comes we all do," Emmett hissed and immediately the wolves behind Ephraim bristled and started growling.
"Emmett!" Carlisle chastised in a low voice before offering a smile at Ephraim. "Please excuse my son, he is only speaking out of concern. I am happy to meet with you alone."
"Good," Ephraim nodded and got to his feet. "In that case, let's walk the boundary line so there will be no misunderstandings. We will not be able to communicate during our travels so I will bid you farewell now and meet you alone back here in exactly one week."
Carlisle nodded his head and the three Indian men walked away into the forest as the Cullens got to their feet. A few moments later three wolves emerged from where the men had disappeared and they walked to the edge of the clearing before the largest black one turned back to the look at them.
"They want us to follow them," Edward murmured and Carlisle nodded his head and the family started to follow the wolves through the forest.
They travelled quickly and soon arrived at a cliff that looked out across the ocean. The wolves stopped near the cliff and Ephraim turned and looked straight at Edward, having noticed he seemed to be able to read their thoughts.
"He said he will walk the exact boundary line," Edward translated. "Where he walks is where the line will be drawn."
"That is fine with us," Carlisle nodded. Ephraim turned then and walked to the edge of the cliff and then began to walk in a straight line back towards the tree. The other wolves fell into step near him and Carlisle led the family as they followed the pack.
For the rest of the night they travelled quickly through the trees, Ephraim's steps calculated as he laid down the exact boundary for the Cullens. Finally he reached another ocean cliff and he stopped and turned to look at them again and stared straight at Edward.
"That is the boundary line he proposes," Edward translated again.
"It is fine with us," Carlisle agreed.
"He says that he will meet with you next week," Edward whispered.
"I will be there at midnight exactly one week from now," Carlisle nodded. The large black wolf inclined his head low and then the wolf pack began to back away towards the trees. They kept their eyes locked on the Cullens until they disappeared into the trees and then they heard rustling as the wolves turned and headed back towards the reservation.
"So, what now?" Emmett asked lightly once they were all alone again.
"Now we can go home," Carlisle sighed. "Each of you will easily remember the boundary line that was drawn tonight. Do not cross it for any reason!"
"We won't," Rosalie promised and the rest of them nodded in agreement.
XXX
A couple of days later Emmett, Edward and Rosalie were all sitting in the living room as Emmett and Edward played chess when Esme and Carlisle walked into the room. Edward immediately read their thoughts and he let out a soft groan.
"Give it a chance Edward," Carlisle sighed as he led Esme to the couch and they both sat down.
"Give what a chance?' Rosalie asked.
"Esme and I have been talking," Carlisle smiled as he reached over and took Esme's hand in his own. "With the treaty in place with the wolves there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to settle here peacefully for many years. We realise that to avoid detection we need to be seen as living human lives and move away after a few years but it has been so long since any of us have had somewhere we can truly call home. We would like to make this land home for all of us."
"I like that idea," Rosalie nodded.
"I'm sure we'll have a good few years here now," Carlisle added. "But no matter where we go in the future we will always return to this place every sixty or seventy years. We have found our home now." The rest of the family smiled and Esme particularly seemed happy about the idea of their family having a true home.
"Does this mean we will be building more human looking lives here?" Edward asked. "Like we have in the past before Rose and Emmett joined us."
"Yes it does," Carlisle replied. "I have found a position at a hospital in town and will begin working there tomorrow. Esme will stay home and play the role of a housewife."
"As long as I don't have to cook," Esme grinned and Edward and Carlisle laughed at her, remembering a time when she had been forced into baking and cooking to maintain the image.
"You won't need to cook sweetheart," Carlisle assured her.
"And what about us?" Edward asked, including Rosalie and Emmett in his question.
"I think it is time you went to school, all of you," Carlisle pointed out.
"Again?" Edward groaned.
"I graduated before I was turned," Rosalie pointed out.
"So did I," Edward smirked. "And I've been to school three times since. That's where I met you, wasn't it?"
"Oh, of course," Rosalie sighed. "You don't go to learn, it's to look more human."
"Exactly," Carlisle nodded.
"I suppose I can do that," Rosalie agreed.
"Good, Edward?" Carlisle asked.
"Yeah I guess so," Edward nodded.
"Emmett?" Carlisle asked.
"Hell yeah," Emmet grinned. "It'll be fun to go to school again." Rosalie smirked, not sure Emmett would ever see anything as not fun and the decision was made.
"Esme will enrol you all in the morning," Carlisle told them and the family settled in for a quiet evening together.
XXX
The following morning Esme went into town with Carlisle and when she returned to the house the other three were sitting in the living room.
"I have enrolled you all as sophomores at Hoquiam High," she announced to them. "I know it's a bit of a push age wise, especially for you Emmett, but it will give us a few extra years to live in the area and that seems so important to Carlisle."
"Its fine Esme," Edward smiled at their 'mother'.
"When do we start?" Emmett asked eagerly.
"Tomorrow," Esme laughed. "I suggest you all go hunting today to prepare yourselves."
"We will," Rosalie nodded.
A short while later Edward left with Esme to go hunting and Rosalie was sitting flicking through a fashion magazine on the couch when Emmett flopped down on the couch beside her.
"Wanna go hunting?" he asked as he lay his head back against the couch and gave her a goofy grin.
"Sure," Rosalie smirked as she tossed the magazine in her hand aside. He jumped to his feet and held his hand out to her and although she didn't need the help she slipped her hand into his and let him pull her to her feet.
When she stood upright they were standing inches from one another, their hands still linked and Rosalie looked up at him and smiled and she noticed a strange expression cross his face. He started to take a step back from her but she tightened her grip on his hand and pulled his arm so he couldn't move away from her as she looked up into his eyes.
"Rose," Emmett murmured huskily as he moved his free arm around her and pulled her closer to him.
She didn't say a word but just smiled up at him and time seemed to stand still for them as their faces moved closer and closer together until Emmett gently pressed his lips against hers. When he met no resistance he deepened their kiss and his arm tightened around her and drew her against his body. Rosalie melted into him, his kiss setting her entire body on fire, and then his hands began to roam her body, stroking and caressing her as his tongue plunged into her mouth, the sensations flowing through her unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
"Emmett," she moaned against his lips and he circled his arm around her waist and waled her backwards, their lips never parting as they moved.
Her knees hit the couch behind her and they feel gracefully back onto the couch, their bodies locked together. She snaked her arms around him as he hovered over her, his tongue probing her mouth as his hands explored her body. The fire continued to rage through her and suddenly something else began to creep through her. Although she knew it was Emmett above her, holding her and touching her, her mind drifted back to a time when many men had their hands on her, feeling and taking what they wanted with little regard for what she wanted. She let out a gasp against Emmett's lips and her body suddenly went rigid under him.
"No!" she gasped in horror as she moved her hands to his shoulders and tried to push him off her. "No!"
He was too strong for her and her push did little to move him but her last no came out as a straggled cry and stopped him instantly. He tore his lips from hers and looked down at her in horror, his desire plummeting when he saw the look of fear and terror in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," Emmett murmured and jumped from her in one move. She let out another small gasp, the feeling of his body leaving hers making her instantly crave his touch again. She knew she was sending him mixed signals and she groaned as she looked up at him.
"Emmett, I…" she started but he cut her off.
"Don't, please," Emmett said quickly, his voice laced with emotion. "I'm sorry Rose. I'm so sorry." He turned and raced from the house and Rosalie sat up quickly and watch him go, knowing she had wrecked any chance she would ever have with him now.