Thanks for all the reviews.

The house looked just as bad as Garrett had claimed. There was a long furrow of ripped up floor boards which ran from a hole in the front door right through the house to a much larger hole where the bedroom door should have been. Ellie put her head in her hands and groaned in mortification at the sight.

"What did I do?" She exclaimed in horror as she took in the damage she had caused.

"You did what all new born vampires do sweetheart, you flipped." Garrett quipped while not even trying to keep a straight face.

She growled at him in irritation. The look on her face was in his humble opinion priceless. She looked horrified, embarrassed and angry all at once, kind of like an angry kitten when its toy didn't play properly. This of course made Garrett laugh all the louder.

She looked up at him with a glare which only served to increase his mirth. Looking down at the state her clothes were in, no doubt her hair and face were equally as bad, she supposed he was right and had to agree she probably looked fairly silly, especially considering she currently resembled an extra in a cheesy, slasher, horror movie.

"Oh come on sweetheart it is funny really." He said, a broad smile covering his face. "Don't worry I'll have all this fixed up in no time."

She shook her head in dismay as she walked through the wrecked front door and into the cabin. Looking around her for the first time she took in the room. It was nice. Rustic, snug and comfortable, just the kind of thing she liked. She would have enjoyed a short break in a place like this. But that thought made her sad, this wasn't going to be a short relaxing break, she had no idea how long she would be there but understood it was until she was used to her new form and could control herself.

Ellie had no idea what the future would hold now, she couldn't help wondering where she would go and what she would do when she finally did leave there. Would she be alone for centuries like Garrett had? She bowed her head in sadness. The speed her moods were changing had her struggling to keep up as well as being highly confusing.

Sensing her sudden change of mood Garrett wrapped an arm gently and slowly around her shoulders. She was still very new after all and he didn't want to lose an arm because he was careless.

"Don't get upset." He whispered softly. "We have a lot to talk about, and lots to decide. It'll be alright though. I can fix this up in no time."

He wasn't sure why she was suddenly upset. It could be the mess or it could be something else. He was trying to hedge his bets and offer comfort without pissing her off again. He felt like he was walking a knife edge just now, not sure which way to lean to keep him upright.

"Why don't you go and get cleaned up." He suggested gently. "I'll get this all fixed while you do then we can talk."

Ellie nodded her head slowly but didn't answer him. She wanted to be alone to think as well as get cleaned up so she did as he suggested and headed though to the bathroom.

"Just remember to take your time and concentrate on what you are doing." Garrett called out as she entered the room. "You are very strong just now and might crush things by accident. Just call if you need help."

Ellie didn't respond again but looked around the room in something of a panic. It hadn't occurred to her that she might break things, that she was stronger now, but of course she was, look at the damage she had caused before. Did she need help then? That thought made her blanch. She certainly wasn't ready to have him in there with her. She knew of course he had seen her naked, they had slept together and he had obviously cleaned her up and dressed her. She just wasn't sure what to think and was suddenly nervous about it all. She would not be asking for help though. No, she'd just have to take her time and manage.

Remembering the damage she had caused unconsciously, everything in the room suddenly looked so fragile, so easy to break. Taking a shower rapidly seemed such a daunting prospect that she almost decided to not bother and go out and find a river. But the thought of going out there and admitting her fear was almost as scary, if not a little more so.

"No I'll manage." She decided with a solemn but determined nod of her head. Taking deep, unnecessary breaths to try and calm herself she looked around the room again.

It was sort of a wet room with a large shower area, separated by a glass screen; it had plenty of room to move about without smashing into things and no shower door to break while opening it she realised in relief. A large pile of soft looking, pale green towels were on a shelf just out of the range of the spray. There was a sink and toilet against the other wall.

Taking things very slowly, she gingerly removed her blood-soaked clothing and piled them up in the corner. Ellie assumed they were beyond cleaning but didn't know what else to do with them. Once they were neatly arranged in a small pile she stepped into the shower area and turned the water on.

The cold water hit her with a jolt, she jumped back with a cry of shock but just managed to steady herself before she ripped the shelves down.

"Everything ok in there?"

Ellie froze, she felt unable to move or speak. She just stared at the door in terror.

"Ellie?" His voice sounded concerned.

She saw the handle on the door start to turn slowly and that jolted her out of her stupor.

"I'm fine. Don't come in!" she said hastily and sighed in relief as the handle stopped moving.

"Ok then. Just call if you need me, please." There was an element of pleading in his voice which made her smile. Knowing he was concerned made her feel better and for some reason relaxed her again. She listened to the footsteps move away from the door and then heard the unmistakable sounds of carpentry as Garrett fixed the damage she had caused.

The thought of the mess she had made and the way she had lost her temper filled Ellie with an overwhelming sense of shame. Shaking her head to dislodge the sensation she took another unnecessary breath and revelled in the feeling of inflating her lungs to capacity. It calmed her immeasurably to be able to do something so normal since everything else in her world was so abnormal just now.

Stepping back under the now hot water she sighed in contentment and the water cascaded down on her skin. The feelings of tension and uncertainty melted away under the warming massage of the water. Closing her eyes she tipped her head back and allowed the torrent to rinse away not only the blood and mud but her cares as well. Never in her whole life could Ellie remember a shower feeling as good as that. After a few minutes of simply standing she very carefully picked up the shampoo and opened the cap. She squeezed to place a small amount on the palm of her hand but ended up sending for than half of the contents of the bottle across the shower stall and onto the floor with a loud 'splat.'

"Shit" she muttered with disappointment as she slowly and with exaggerated care tried again to get even a small amount of shampoo onto her hand.

By the time she had washed her hair for the fourth time, in order to get all of the blood and filth out of it, the shampoo on the floor was gone and she had discovered the correct amount of pressure required to get the required liquid out. She then turned her attention to the rest of her body.

With a great deal of care and patience she managed to get herself clean then just stood under the spray again for what felt like hours as she tried to clear her mind and unwind the jumbled mess her thoughts were in.

Memories of her life flashed through her mind as vivid as when they first happened. Her childhood, going to university, her gran all came back with startling clarity. Everything came back to her. She could remember the search for the Cullens, the information she had gathered and then meeting Garrett. Her anger began to rise as she remembered that last fateful night, the sex had been fantastic she wryly admitted to herself as she sank to the floor in the shower. But it had resulted in her being here now and she wasn't at all sure how she felt about that just at that moment.

Another knock on the bathroom door startled her out of her reverie.

"You've gone very quiet, Are you ok Ellie?"

"I'm fine. Sorry I lost track of time." She answered quickly while standing and very carefully turning off the shower.

The first towel she reached for came apart in her hands like tissue paper. With a growl of frustration she tried again. Grasping the soft cloth gingerly between her fore finger and thumb she slowly lifted the towel from the shelf and shook it open. Slowly she wrapped it around herself and reached for another to wrap her hair. It took another two attempts but she eventually managed and allowed herself a little squeal of delight in her achievement.

Making her way out of the bathroom she passed the mirror. Ellie had deliberately avoided it on first entering the room as she was so sure she would be disgusted by the sight she presented. But this time curiosity got the better of her and she turned to gaze at her reflection. Her eyes widened when she took in the sight before her. Her skin, which had always been pale, was now even more so. It looked like fine porcelain and was smooth and flawless. The light dusting of freckles she had had on her nose were now gone as was the tiny scar on her cheek from a fall as a small child. Her nose appeared to have narrowed slightly which she concluded was a benefit. Her cheekbones appeared a little more pronounced but not startlingly so. Lastly she studied her eyes, they were framed by eyelashes which were thicker and longer, curling perfectly. She realised she would never need to use an eyelash curler again which was another plus in her opinion. Her eyebrows were more symmetrical and now perfectly shaped and manicured, they arched neatly above the blood red irises which took her breath away. Her eyes were brighter than Garrett's had been, his were a rich burgundy while hers were almost scarlet. It was scary and thrilling in equal measure. Ellie wasn't sure why she found having red eyes thrilling but she did. Looking deeply into the reflection that gazed back at her she realised those eyes were still her own. The red actually suited her, it was a mesmerizing colour and she admitted to herself that she liked them.

Touching her cheek with exaggerated gentleness she decided that on the whole the changes were good and she still looked like herself. She had half expected to see a stranger staring back at her through that small, steam covered mirror, but instead she saw her own face. It held differences yes but it was her, her own reflection, and she was glad to be able to recognise herself. Remembering suddenly how cold and hard Garrett's body had felt she found herself pleasantly surprised that her own skin felt warmer and more pliable.

"Perhaps it's the shower." She mused as she glanced around the room once more and realised with dismay that she had forgotten to pick up any clothes. Sighing in resignation and a touch of frustration she carefully opened the bathroom door.

"Garrett" she whispered half hoping he wouldn't answer.

He appeared before her in a blink which caused her to gasp in shock and step backwards. She did however remember to let go of the door handle so as to not pull it from its hinges.

"Sorry!" he said in dismay as he at once realised his mistake. He held up his hands in a gesture of apology.

"What can I do for you?" The eagerness in his voice was unmistakable.

"Where are my clothes?"

"Shit! Sorry Ellie they are in the bedroom. Do you want me to get you some?"

"Yes please."

She breathed another deep calming breath. His voice now, she was relaxed was compelling; he was so keen to please and help it was charming. The thought of him brought on feelings of longing which she didn't really feel comfortable with. The knowledge that he was so close and she was all but naked was terrifying and exciting. She could feel a draw to him that was impossible to resist but there was also a fear of taking that step. She wasn't ready for that just yet, at least she didn't think she was. But that didn't stop the feelings rising within her and confusing the hell out of her.

There was a soft knock on the door followed by him popping his head around the door and smiling warmly at her.

"Here you go." He said as he passed her the clean clothes. "Do you need help getting dressed?"

"What?" She asked shocked. "Um…. No…. I mean no thanks I'll be fine."

"Ok. What did you do with the others?"

She pointed to the pile of bloody clothes while clutching the towel to her.

"Relax." He whispered. "You'll put a hole in it. I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to. I just want to help. I know how frustrating all this can be you know."

Ellie closed her eyes and nodded. She was confused by the feelings rushing around inside her.

"I'll burn them." He said moving slowly into the bathroom and picking up the pile of clothes.

"Hey you did well!" He exclaimed when he saw they were largely still intact and she had only ruined three towels. "I ran around almost naked for the first couple of months because I couldn't control myself well enough to get dressed without tearing great holes in everything." He chuckled softly.

"Just take your time, I'm just out here if you need me ok." He said softly before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

The clothes he had passed her were an old and comfortable pair of leggings and a t-shirt. They were the ones she usually slept in. They were familiar and reassuring, just what she needed right now to calm her. Ellie smiled to herself. Had he been especially thoughtful or was it a complete accident? She chose to believe he was being thoughtful and that made her feel happy.

Putting on the clothes with great care she was so proud that she managed it she gave another much louder squeal of delight and was answered by a chuckle from the other side of the door.

"Come on out and I'll comb your hair. The comb you have is really fragile looking and besides my momma always said having her hair combed was a wonderful treat."

Ellie smiled again and exited the room to come face to face with a broadly grinning Garrett.

"You seem happier sweetheart, I'm glad."

"I am." She chirruped in response a beaming smile gracing her countenance.

Following him to the main room she stopped dead in shock at the threshold. She glanced around in stunned surprise. The house appeared back to normal, not a trace of broken wood anywhere.

"How?" she asked in shock.

"The person who arranged this place must have suspected we would need to make repairs and provided the necessary materials." He chuckled again loudly at her expression more than anything else. "With our speed such things don't usually take long."

He led her to a chair and urged her to sit while he stood behind her and began to gently work through the tangles and snarls in her wild mass of hair. Closing her eyes she relaxed and allowed herself to feel, his momma was right, this felt great. She began to feel contented and cared for. A feeling of acceptance settled upon her, this was her life now she might as well get on with it. Besides she remembered she had forgiven him when he bit her. She would hold to that, eternity was too long to be bitter.

A low gentle rumbling began to come from her chest which felt really nice and when she heard an answering purr coming from him she sighed in pleasure. It seemed to bind them together and melt away her cares, lulling her into a feeling of deep contentment.

"What is that noise?" She asked almost sleepily.

He paused briefly in his task before continuing.

"It's the noise we make when with our mates, when we are happy or need to offer comfort. We only ever make it for our other half, no one else." He answered softly and slowly allowing his words to sink in fully.

"Mates.. As in soul mates?"

"Yes sweetheart." He chose his next words with care, the purr getting louder in his chest. "I must have instinctively recognised you when you were human, that's why I was drawn to you, why I stopped feeding, why I changed you. I'm sorry was such a bastard though. I've not lost it like that for a hell of a long time."

"What happened to make you lose is so badly?" She was calm now and at peace, she was curious rather than angry and wanted to know.

"It was the memory of that first incredible thirst, combined with your scent and maybe the fact you are my mate. I don't really know." He came around and knelt in front of her. He cupped her cheek gently and gazed earnestly into her eyes. "I never meant to hurt you or to change you then, I wanted to talk to you about it first, to give you your options. I'm so sorry Eleyne, can you forgive me?"

The plea was so heartfelt she could not but give her confirmation.

"I can forgive you, of course I can." She said and she meant it. Ellie smiled and paused she wanted to make sure he understood, that she understood. "I was upset, you scared me a lot and I was very angry. But I kind of understand it I think. I can smell my scent on these clothes now and it's making my throat tickle. I can feel the draw to you too, it's very strong. I guess what I'm trying to say is - I don't think I could blame you now. Besides what's done is done, I have to make the best of it."

"Does it get better though? The burn? Or will I always feel my throat?"

"Human blood is the only thing that completely quenches the thirst and puts out that fire." He replied honestly while searching her eyes for doubt. "But yes it will get much easier, and I'll help you all I can."

He stared into her eyes for what felt to Ellie was an eternity. The gaze told her all she needed to know. He was hers, would never leave her through choice. She could trust him completely. In that moment she felt all her questions and doubts fall away to be replaced by a clam certainty. Whatever was to happen in the future they would face it together. She leant forward slightly and pressed her lips to his.

Pulling back Garrett searched her eyes for hesitancy or doubt. He couldn't believe she was kissing him, that she was accepting their bond and him. His heart swelled with love and pride for his beautiful mate.

She met his gaze with a confident, happy smile of her own. She was finally sure. Kissing him again with more fervour she felt him pick her up and then lay her down on the soft bed.