Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
This chapter is dedicated to Noble, M-Bianca94, Alphabloodwolf, Asherah Isa and BellaNessieCullen
We had spent the morning packing our bags before we drove out to Seattle, stopping by the Cullen House on the way to pick up Addie. He was a little upset to be leaving Leda behind but excited to be visiting Mother and Father. Besides the children had never been into Seattle and so they were happy to see the sights. They were a little unhappy that we were merely dropping Mal off. I assured them that we would have a tour of Seattle tomorrow, but for now we would be visiting with Mother and Father.
It was nearing six when we arrived at Tregarran. Mother met us in the garage and we carried our bags upstairs.
"It's so great to have you all here." She said. "Seems like forever since I last saw you even though it's only been a fortnight really."
"We will have to find a way to visit more often." I replied.
"But don't put yourself out. Used to be Tony would visit every other weekend, then once a month, now I'm lucky if it's once every three months. But I understand how life can get in the way and I guess it would be easier for me and Tobias to travel to the Res, but since there's always a stink kicked up by the Elders, it's not so fun."
"Perhaps one day things will be different." I hoped.
"Well when half the Res population are our descendents I suppose it will." Mother said, before putting her arm around Seren's shoulder. "Heard Rupert imprinted on you."
"Yes." She confirmed.
"He's a good kid." Mother said. "And if he has his dad's sense of humour you'll be laughing."
Seren giggled.
"And what about you Zoë? Spotted anyone you like yet?" Mother asked.
Zoë shrugged.
"I'm waiting until I get to school." She said. "Don't want to cause trouble on the doorstep."
"I guess not." Mother replied.
"I've started a band." Addie piped in.
"You have?" Mother asked.
"Yeah. I'm lead singer, and guitarist, Leda's on drums, Loki's going to play the keyboard and hopefully Amy can learn the bass." Addie explained.
"I'm sure you'll be great." Mother observed.
"No. We'll be awesome." He declared.
"Well you sure got the confidence kid." Mother said, ruffling his hair. "And Grandpa will be happy to hear you're doing something with music."
"Maybe me and Loki can show him the song we got so far when we're here for Christmas."
"That would be great." Mother replied. "Now go put your bag in your room."
Addie did so while the twins took their bags into another room.
"Sounds like he's having a lot of fun." Mother observed.
"He is." I agreed. "The girls enjoy it too. Moving to the Res has been beneficial."
"I'm glad." Mother said as she hugged me.
"As am I." I replied, hugging her in return. "I am going to place my bag in my room."
"Ok. We'll go on down stairs."
I nodded before I carried my bag to my room. I took out my phone and rung Mal, he answered immediately.
"Hey Duchess, you've arrived?" He asked.
"Yes. We are to go down to dinner soon." I replied.
"Wish I was, they're not serving until eight. I wish you were here, I'm so board, but I don't feel like going out walking, it's not so fun on my own." He stated sadly.
"I can speak with you until dinner time." I offered.
"But you'll miss your food. No, don't worry, just go eat. I'll find something to do, maybe I'll take out your t-shirt, close my eyes and imagine you're here with me." He suggested.
I chuckled.
"Why not?" I mused.
"Ok. I think I'll do that. See you tomorrow."
"Good luck with your test." I said.
"Thank you." He replied.
"I will phone you later however to say goodnight." I informed him.
"Ok. I'll talk to you later." He said with happiness clear in his voice.
We said our goodbyes and I hung up.
I went downstairs to find Mother and the children in the dining room. Billie was present as well as a very grown up looking Zeke. It was a little shocking to be honest, for although he had been fully grown the last time I had seen him he had matured somewhat since then. His confidence had grown too, no longer did he shrink away, conversing only with those nearest him, but he joined in the conversation about the table.
"How long are you here for?" I asked Zeke after several minuets, deciding that I could somehow bring Magda here to meet with him, or perhaps bring him to the Res with us for a day or too.
"Only today, I'm just passing through on a work assignment and I thought I'd pay a visit to Mom and Dad. Had to come and see Billie too." He replied.
"Of course." I said. "Although now I wish I'd invited Magda to join us on this trip. She will be sorry she missed you."
"Yeah, we keep missing each other." Zeke said with a slight frown.
"You should let her know the next time you plan a trip home, she could come and see you." I suggested.
"I don't usually know when I will be back. Jane keeps me busy going here, there and everywhere with her. I can only get home once in a blue moon and when that happens I want to see Mom and Dad as much as possible."
"Then why are you here?" Zoë asked.
"To see Billie." Zeke replied.
"You're not exactly spending time with your parents then." Zoë observed.
"Well…The Heights is also pretty crowded at the moment, and then there's the new babies." He said, shaking his head.
"Crying getting on your nerves?" Zoë said knowingly.
"No. It's just…" He didn't finish the sentence.
"Well you're nosey this evening." Billie observed.
"Just being curious Auntie Billie, it's the only way we learn." Zoë replied with a smile.
"Learning to be tactful is something worthwhile." Billie stated.
Zoë shrugged and I decided I would speak with her later, explain why I thought Zeke may not like the Heights being so full of children, that it reminded him of another place where many dhampir had once been.
Speaking of curiosity however, I was now curious to know what assignments Jane was appointing to Zeke. What could she possibly need him to do that required him to travel around the country, seldom coming home? I knew it was best not to question it in case it jeopardised his placement with Jane. It was one of those things I was certain I would discover in time.
After dinner we settled into the recreation room, Mother donning a film for us to view. In truth I would have given anything to swim in the pool once more, but it was slightly late and the children would become excitable as opposed to settle down before bedtime.
They went up to bed at nine, promising them an early swim before we went to pick up Mal if they went straight to sleep. I spent another hour down stairs with Mother and Father, recounting in person all that had transpired during the discovery of Rupert imprinting on Seren. Billie and Zeke had retired to her apartment out in the trees.
At ten I retired for the night, in truth I could not wait any longer if I wished to speak with Mal before we slept, after all he had to be fresh in the morning. I rang his phone and he answered immediately.
"Hi Duchess." He said.
"Hello Malachite, are you well?" I inquired.
"Not really. It would be better if you were here." He stated.
"I wish I was there, snuggled in your arms, how divine that would be." I replied wistfully.
"Yeah, and holding your t-shirt just isn't the same." He observed.
"Well know I am here on the other end of this phone should you need me." I assured him.
"I know bach." He said.
"I know you will do well tomorrow." I observed.
"Thanks. And I guess I'll see you at lunch."
"Yes." I agreed.
"Nos da Liza bach."
"Goodnight my Malachite."
With that we hung up. I smiled in hope that my husband would do well. Once he was certain he could practice then he could go ahead with the renovations to turn the old shop into a psychiatrist's office. Yes he would be able to open come September and I will have gained my US teaching license and carry on my career here. Once we had our employment in place things would become settled. We would truly be at home on the Res.
I mused on these thoughts as I showered before bed. It made me anticipate the date several weeks away when I would sit my exam and I would know for certain. That time could not come soon enough.
Billie
As soon as the kids were sent to bed I saw it as my chance to retreat to my apartment. I know it's weird calling my old tree house an apartment, but Mom and Dad had done it up really nice for me. It had been a compromise ever since I left school, Mom didn't want me moving out, but I considered myself an adult and I would do adult things. Having my own little place on the property meant that I was still close enough so she didn't have to worry about me, but far enough away so she didn't have to now exactly what her Baby was doing.
Zeke walked behind me, holding my hand. Not in any kind of romantic way, just a little hangover from when we were kids. It wasn't for directions either, he knew the way to my little place as well as I did. In that summer before he went off to college he practically lived here with me.
It had once been Tony's fort, then it was just a little box on the ground, although not too shabby considering he was only four when he built it. Then I was born and had this whole obsession with forts and tree houses, and Tony had got epic at carpentry. He planned out a whole two-storey fort for me; I helped him build it along with Liza. That had been a fun early memory.
Esme had come in to design this one and had employed vamp muscle in the form of my Cullen family to help build the wood and glass structure that now stood in its place. It was still a tree house, it was built around the tree trunk, but the tree grew through the house, I liked being able to touch the bark.
On the ground floor I had a bathroom, it was easier for the plumbing, and a little kitchen area I could use for hot drinks and snacks. I would cook myself but Dad still insisted on doing it, I guess it was one way to make sure I visited the house every day. The stairs curved around the trunk and this led up to the first floor, which was part lounge, part library and part games room. It was basically the space I used when entertaining friends. Another set of curving steps led up to my bedroom, which was mostly my sacred sanctum, but I had guys up there when I felt like it. There was a hatch door in the ceiling and a rope ladder that led up onto a platform above my roof. There was another set of winding steps and this led up to a platform high up on the branches of the tree where I could sit and enjoy the view. It was a great place to just sit and think.
Tonight I grabbed some cokes and chips from the kitchen and carried them up to the entertainment room where me and Zeke slumped down onto the couch. I clicked on my music player, something soft and unobtrusive in the background.
"You know, Zoë has a point." I said after draining the top off my can.
"About what?" Zeke asked.
"About curiosity, because I am curious about what it is Jane's got you involved in." I replied.
"I can't tell you." Zeke said firmly.
"Why not?" I asked.
"Because if I do, I'll have to kill you."
"No you won't, Jane probably expects you to tell me." I pointed out.
"Well I would tell you if it wasn't for your mother." Zeke stated.
"What's Mom got to do with this?" I asked with a frown.
"Because she can read it from your mind and she might tell my mom, I'd rather she didn't know." He explained.
"Look, Mom doesn't read my mind, she stopped doing that a long time ago. Do you think she'd let us come out here alone if she did?" I demanded.
"I thought she'd given up on any pretence you were a good girl." Zeke quipped.
"Ok. So maybe it's that as well." I replied. "But really Zeke, she doesn't read my mind." I said, putting my hand on his thigh and he shifted slightly, but didn't move my hand. "You know you can confide anything in me." I whispered, leaning closer to him brushing his lips with mine as I moved my hand further up his thigh.
He returned the kiss, but then he broke away frowning.
"I don't know Bills, this is starting to get weird." He said, looking away from me.
"And it wasn't weird the last ten times?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and pouting.
"Well…" He trailed off and I pulled my hand away from his crotch and sat away from him.
"Why didn't you say before?" I asked.
"I thought maybe it wouldn't feel weird, like afterwards, but every time it just feels…wrong." He explained.
"Why?" I asked, trying not to sound demanding.
"Because you're just using me." Zeke said, then bit his lip and looked away.
"I am?" I asked in confusion.
"Yeah." He replied. "You only use me for sex so you don't feel guilty about doing it with humans. I'm your palate cleanser. I'm sorbet."
"No you're not." I chided, putting my hand to his cheek.
"Then tell me." He said, "Do you love me?"
"Of course I do." I said without hesitation.
"Do you find me sexually attractive?" He asked.
"I must do or else I wouldn't have you in my bed." I replied.
"But do you really find me attractive, or are you just convincing yourself because I'm safe? I'm just like you, a freaky adult child who would disgust the average human if they knew the truth."
"I…" I was about to refute his statement, but he kinda had a point. "I do like you, and I'm glad you were my first." I whispered, "But I guess that is a lot to think about."
Zeke nodded.
"When did you start thinking this anyway?" I asked because I was curious.
"I think I've thought it all along, but only recently I've had the time to really think about it." He confessed.
"How come?" I asked.
"I've had a lot of mind wandering time." He replied with a slight laugh.
"Even though Jane's got you so busy you can't even come home for Christmas?" I demanded.
"Well yeah. Because…promise you won't tell?" He pleaded.
I crossed my heart.
"Well remember when Jane was thinking about getting people to infiltrate the baby farms…" He began.
"Yes." I replied and then I gasped when I realised. "You've been doing it?"
"Yeah. I was working undercover for a month at the last farm that was raided. I didn't manage to find what I was looking for, but it's mostly recon at the moment. Finding out things so we can work out the best way to find the information we need."
"So it's not just you?" I asked carefully, not wanting to sound too intrigued by this.
Zeke shook his head.
"Cool." I said and thought about it some more.
"Can we put a movie on?" Zeke asked.
"Knock yourself out." I replied, handing him the remote.
He took it and turned on the TV. He surfed the channels at first, but gave up on anything scheduled and went to Netflix to buy a movie. All the while I was thinking about what Zeke had just told me. He was like a dhampir James Bond. That had to be awesome.
"So these…assignments from Jane. Can anyone do them?" I asked about half way through the movie.
"What? Yeah. I mean, she does test you, see if you'll be able to perform under pressure, if you're likely to turn coat. How you'll hold up if the worst happens. There's a lot of prep involved."
"It could be interesting." I murmured.
"It can be, but it can also be boring. It's not all running from bombs and ski chases down mountains ending in a parachute jump."
"Didn't think it was." I said.
"And it could become very dangerous." He warned.
"You think I can't look after myself?" I demanded.
"I think Jane might not employ you at the risk of pissing off Essie." He replied.
"And she's not at risk of pissing off Prue?" I asked.
"Well Prue hasn't got super duper, you have to do what I say powers." Zeke pointed out.
"Yeah, especially when I'm still so young. God I can't wait until I'm actually eighteen and they can no longer play 'your real age' card." I sighed warily.
"They give you your space." Zeke said diplomatically.
"Only if I don't move out." I said warily.
"Well maybe next year, you'll be fourteen then, maybe you can go to school." He suggested.
"It's too late for that. I should have fought more to go with you. All I had to say was that we'd look out for each other." I complained.
"I would have driven myself crazy trying to keep you away from the frat boys." Zeke said in horror.
"I wouldn't have been that bad." I scoffed. "And at least I wouldn't 'use' you."
He gave me an unimpressed look.
"Well it's what you said." I observed with a shrug.
"Only cause it's true."
"Well I do like you." I said.
"You like me more than Ritchie, and we were your only options." He countered.
"Well you don't give me the creeps like he does." I said.
"Billie, he's my brother." Zeke said carefully.
"And Liza is my sister, but I'll still admit she's a control freak who would get rid of all the dirt on Earth if she had the chance." I stated.
"Well you wouldn't like me to say it." He retorted.
"I guess not." I conceded.
"Yeah." He remarked. "I should go now. I have to leave early tomorrow so I'm not going to see much of Mom and Dad."
"I'll walk you home." I said.
"There's no need." He assured me.
"It'll give me longer with you." I said. "You might not think I love you, but I do care about you. I do enjoy your company and I do miss you when you're away on assignment for Jane."
"Well, I'll try to write to you when I can." He promised.
"Ok." I replied. "But I'm still walking you home."
"How about half way? I know you're all independent warrior woman, but I do worry about you running around the forest at night." He said with a smile.
"Ok. Half way." I agreed. "But you text me when you get home."
"And you text me."
"It's a deal." I agreed and shook his hand.
We left my apartment and made our way out into the dark trees. We had a direct path to Northern Heights, we'd been friends that long; we could find our way blindfold. Half way to the Heights we stopped.
"Well I guess I'll see you next time you're in town." I said.
"Yeah." He agreed. "And I will write to you."
"Make sure you write to Mags first, you know how much she values your letters." I insisted.
He nodded.
"Goodbye." I said and kissed him on the cheek.
"Bye." He replied.
We smiled at each other before we went our separate ways. I ghosted back to my apartment. As soon as I got in I locked up, not that it would stop any vamps, but it gave me some privacy. I turned off the lights on every floor as I made my way up to my bedroom. I couldn't be bothered to watch TV, I just wanted to get into bed now and sleep since Zeke started thinking about things. Guess we were no longer friends with benefits.
I sighed as I reached my bedroom and picked up my phone. I text him and it was sending just as I got his message to say he was back at the Heights. I text him my relief and wished him good night.
I changed into pyjamas and climbed into bed. I dropped off to sleep, but as usual I was awake after four hours. Really that's all I needed, it meant early mornings, but I was never tired for it. Sometimes I thought that maybe I was a little more vampire than any other dhampir, I didn't need as much sleep as everyone else, but I wasn't so much vampire that I never needed sleep.
I decided to do my favourite past time in these early hours, boot up my lap top, search up Hawaii and as I trawled through the photos on line I could imagine myself there. If only…
Liza
I awoke in the morning and showered once more. Perhaps it was being in my old room that made me crave these old routines? I didn't bother to style my hair however, I had promised the children we would go for a swim. I therefore roused them and instructed them to dress with their bathers beneath their clothes. We would go and eat our breakfast then swim after half an hour.
I had intended to make the breakfast myself while the children dressed, but Father was in the process of dishing up when I reached the kitchen. Mother was already laying the table so I went to round up the children instead. We sat down to breakfast and I suggested that the children and I take care of the dishes; after all it would give us the time needed to allow our food to settle.
Mother and Father joined us in the pool and we had a fun two hours splashing about and swimming. It was clear the children missed having a pool to call their own. Perhaps I would take them on a trip to the lake before the summer was over. I would have to discuss it with Mal, and the pack members of course; I would hate to impose on someone else's vacation.
Once we had swum I instructed the children to shower to wash the chlorine from their hair. I showered too, and this time I did dry and style my hair. I dressed in something comfortable for sight seeing, and then it was time to depart if we wished to meet Mal around half past twelve.
We left our belongings at Tregarran for we intended to stop by for dinner on the way home. I had allowed enough time for a casual drive to Seattle, allowing the children to take in the scenery that until now had rushed by in our haste to be in time for flights. It was twelve when I reached Seattle. I found somewhere to park the car then the children and I walked to Mal's hotel, arriving there around twenty past twelve. We were in time to see him checking out at the desk.
He beamed when he saw us, the children rushing to meet him with a hug. I approached slowly, although I had a smile playing about my lips. He pulled me to him, kissing me chastely before taking my hand. The children fell in around us as we left the hotel.
"Are you licensed?" I asked as we made our way to the multi storey car park so Mal could place his bag in the trunk of our car.
"Yeah. I've passed, they just have to send the papers off and I should get my license through in a week. I'll be fit to practice then."
"Good." I replied.
"So what did you lot get up to?" Mal asked.
"Nothing much." Zoë said.
"We watched a film last night." Seren supplied.
"And we went swimming this morning." Aiden added.
"Sounds like you had fun." Mal observed.
"We did." The children agreed.
"And we're going sight seeing today." Mal stated.
"Yes, the open top bus, possibly a trip on a water bus for the city is beautiful viewed from the water and we will visit any spot you wish to see." I observed.
"Like the Space Needle?" Aiden asked.
"Of course." I replied as we entered the garage once more.
"Where are we parked?" Mal asked.
"On the third level." I said as we made our way to the elevator.
Not that we required the elevator, but given Mal's suitcase and the fact that the children were with us, using the stairs would seem strange. Once we had discarded Mal's luggage in the trunk however we were free to walk down the stairs. That would not seem as strange.
Mal and I then used our knowledge of Seattle to show the children around the landmarks, there were the various museums and the Sculpture Garden and such, but they were best left for a day dedicated to them to allow the children chance to explore them fully. Seeing all these wonderful sights once more, including my old office building and the apartment building Mal and I had once inhabited, made me somewhat nostalgic of our years spent here. I missed the simpler times when Mal and I had only each other to think of on a daily basis, now any plans included the children. I suppose it was something we could return to once the children were fully grown and living their own lives.
As it was we spent five hours traipsing about the city and only concluded our tour as most places were closing around six. Of course the nightlife would begin at that point, but the children were too young for such things as of yet.
"Can I drive home?" Mal asked as we made our way up to the car once more.
I thought for a moment.
"I will drive to Tregarran and you may take us home to La Push." I stated.
"Fair enough." He said with a shrug.
We climbed into the car and I rang Mother to let her know we were on our way, after all, Father wished to dine us this evening, and then began the drive home that involved dealing with rush hour traffic. I had not missed this aspect of city life, it was a nightmare and I was thankful once I reached the Interstate and had more freedom to drive.
It was around eight when we finally reached Tregarran. Mother led us straight to the dining room and we were served almost immediately. It was a very enjoyable meal, after all Father had cooked. Billie joined us; she looked somewhat mournful for Zeke had departed once more. I wondered if I should offer her a sisterly ear, if we were not due to depart, I would.
"You know it's kinda late." Mother said, as she gathered the last of her food onto her fork.
"Yes." I agreed.
"It'll be, what past eleven by the time you get home?" She observed.
"I shouldn't doubt it." I stated.
"I bet the kids'll be exhausted, especially after all the sight seeing." She continued.
"I bet they will." Mal stated and he smiled, he could see as well as I to what Mother was hinting.
"If only we had somewhere closer to stop for the night." I said in a mock theatrical voice.
Mother laughed while Father smiled.
"Vela, Malachite, we would be honoured if you and the children stayed with us for the night." He said solemnly.
"That would be wonderful." I replied.
"Then it's settled." Mother said, clapping her hands together. "I get to see my grandkids for another night, and maybe I can spend some time with you tomorrow?"
"I see no reason we could not stay until four." I said with a shrug.
"We get to use the pool again." Zoë said with delight.
"We get to play in the playroom!" Aiden crowed.
"We get to see more of Grandma and Grandpa." Seren stated.
"Maybe I can hang with you tomorrow, ask Devon if he'd like to come over." Billie suggested.
"That sounds like fun." I observed.
"Isn't he that really quiet guy you like, baby sit or something?" Zoë asked.
"He's my friend." Billie said defensively. "And he'll talk once he gets used to you. He seems to respond to dhampir in a way he doesn't to humans."
"That's…weird." Zoë said.
"Don't say that to him." Billie warned.
"I'm not stupid." Zoë said with a snort.
"Yeah, but you got a faulty tact filter and I thought warning you ahead of time will stop a malfunction." Billie replied.
"Ok. I'll behave." Zoë said in exasperation.
"Thank you." Billie said.
"Well Billie might have plans with you tomorrow, but tonight you're mine." Mother declared as she stood up. "Come on, let's go find a movie to watch, unless you want to do something else."
"Like what?" Zoë asked.
"How about we think on the way?" Mother suggested.
"Ok." The children agreed and they stood to follow Mother out of the room.
Father began collecting the dishes.
"I'll help you." Mal said as he rose to his feet and he helped Father clear the table before they left the dining room also.
Billie regarded me for a full minuet, her eyebrow raised as she folded her arms.
"Ok." She said at last. "Out with it."
"Out with what?" I asked in confusion
"Whatever it is Mom told you to talk to me about." Billie replied.
"Mother has not asked me to discuss anything." I assured her.
"She must have, cause everyone else has cleared out, leaving us alone, and she sure hasn't asked me to talk to you." She observed.
"Mother has not asked me to talk to you." I replied. "Is there any reason you think she would?"
Billie shrugged.
"I was debating on asking you how you were feeling, you look down Sister and I don't want you to be unhappy." I stated.
"Maybe Mom read that from you." Billie said glumly.
She rested her chin on her knees for a while, staring straight ahead. She sighed and dropped her feet to the floor before she pulled herself to her feet.
"Maybe we should talk, but let's go out to my apartment, don't want anyone to overhear." She stated.
"Very well." I said and rose to my own feet.
We left the house via the front door and made our way into the trees. I followed Billie along a path I knew well from my childhood when Tony had his little wooden fort out here. The fort was no longer that, in its place was a modern, grown up version of a tree house. We entered through the door into a nice little kitchen. We climbed the stairs that wound around the trunk of the tree to a den filled with anything a girl Billie's age would need to use in her free time.
She indicated for me to sit, and I did so on a big comfortable sofa. Billie sat down next to me, her feet on the sofa, hugging her knees to her chest. She rested her cheek on her knees, looking away from me, her bronze hair falling about her.
"I think Mom wants me to confide in you so she doesn't have to know the extent of what I do." She murmured.
"I see." I replied. "What have you been doing?"
"If I tell you, you have to promise you won't judge." She stated.
"Why would I judge?" I asked.
"You might not be able to help yourself." She said darkly as she looked at me with her dark eyes and gave me a very mature look indeed.
"I promise I will not judge you, but I cannot predict my reaction." I stated truthfully.
"Ok. I guess that'll have to do. Also, promise you won't tell Prue?" She requested.
"What has this to do with her?" I asked with a frown.
"Well, she might not be too happy." Billie said, biting her lip.
"I will not tell her anything you tell me in confidence, it will break the sisterhood code." I observed.
"Thanks." She said with a smile, but her face fell. "Ok. It's… Well if I'm old enough to do it, I should be able to admit it. I'm not a virgin."
"Oh." I replied, uncertain how to respond.
"You said you wouldn't judge!" She accused.
"I…I am not judging." I replied.
"Yes you are. You're looking at me all judgemental like." She retorted, frowning deeply.
"I'm not." I attempted to assure her. "I don't mean to if I am. I am at a loss how to react to this. It is, such news to me. I'm sorry, I need a moment to adjust."
"Ok." She said.
I concentrated on my breathing and thought over what she had revealed to me. This was not about me, it was about my sister and she required my counsel right now, and not my forced advice.
"So when did you lose your virginity?" I asked in an admirably calm voice.
"When I was eight. Just before senior prom." She replied.
"With one of the boys in your class?" I asked, wondering how to best justify her act.
"Well he was in my class." She said.
"I see. Does he know…" I trailed off, wondering how best to phrase it without angering Billie.
"That I was only eight? Yeah. Cause he was too." She stated.
"Oh." I replied and suddenly I realised her fear of Prue. "Then it was Zeke."
"How did you know it was him and not Ritchie?" She asked.
"Because you do not like Ritchie." I replied.
"Yeah." She agreed.
"And although you are very fond of Zeke, I did not realise you were in love with him." I observed.
"Oh, it's not love." Billie said with a shrug. "Just sex."
"I…" I shook my head.
"You find that hard to imagine don't you, being intimate with someone you're not in love with?" She asked incredulous.
"Yes." I agreed.
"Why?" She asked with a frown.
"It is merely how I feel." I replied.
"I guess everyone is different." She said with a shrug.
I nodded in agreement.
"Although I am not so sure why you would think Prue would have a problem and if she does it make her nothing but a hypocrite. I was in school at the same time as her and I knew her well enough to know that the stories about her were not mere rumours, they were all true." I remarked.
"I was worried cause Zeke is her son." Billie stated.
"Perhaps, but you're both the same age and I'm certain Tibbi would explain how dhampir can feel fully mature at seven. However I will say nothing to her. Yet if she finds out and she gives you grief let me know and I will soon put her straight, for no one makes my baby sister feel like dirt." I declared as I pulled her into an embrace.
Billie chuckled as she returned my embrace.
"Thanks for being on my side." She murmured.
I sat back and looked into her face.
"Have I ever given you cause to think that I am not on your side?" I asked.
"No." Billie replied with a shake of her head. "But now you're here instead of a gazillion miles away. I got my sister for support again and that is awesome. I mean Tony's ok, but he's a guy and…well I couldn't talk to him about this. He might go after Zeke and it was all my idea."
"I have no doubt that it was your idea." I said with amusement.
"You didn't think that it might have been Zeke's?"
"Oh come on Billie, you were the one so eager to grow up, Zeke was merely pulled along by you at every step of the way. Of course it was you who suggested you have sex." I scoffed.
"I guess you know me too well." She said with a nervous laugh.
"Never forget that." I said with a smile. "Although I think Tony knows you as well as I do and would not have put the blame in Zeke's corner, and he would not embarrass you by chasing away any boys you dally with. It is your business after all, not ours."
"I don't know. You two might have had an accord, but you're the same age, I'm the baby sister. I'm treated differently." She observed.
"You are not." I assured her.
"I am, but it doesn't matter. I know it's because I'm so much younger than you and Tony and you just think you have to protect me. And I'm thankful for that, after all you guys protecting me stopped me being sold into slavery and for Jane finding out about it all in the first place. Well at least what they were planning with us dhampir."
"You were only four at that point, it was different." I stated.
"Yeah, but you still don't think of me as an adult do you? You see me as a thirteen year old girl." She said astutely.
"I should not think you so young, for Tony and I were on a battle field at your age." I conceded.
"Oh right. When you went and talked the other side out of fighting?"
"Yes."
"I'll never get to do anything epic like that, the worlds gone boring now." She complained.
"Oh do not wish for interesting times Sister dear, they are indeed exciting, but then there is the terror, the fear, the unending worry of whether Mother will return or if one of those she was tracking bested her. Whether the ones Mother sought would come for us at Tregarran, to kill us to hurt Mother further. I know they were silly worries, but how could I not worry when they had taken Tammie from our territory and killed her? They were interesting times, they were exciting times, and they were nerve wracking times."
"Ok. So war's harsh and I don't wish for an all out battle like you faced, but I'd like to help with something. Anything, in any way that I can."
"Do not go looking for trouble." I warned.
"I won't." She said. "But I want to do something…other than what I do in life every day. Just the same thing over and over again. I don't want my life to be this, at least not yet. I want to have a life, but Mom thinks I'm too young to move away on my own so all I see is here or the Res. I'd like to see the world, even though I know Italy is out of bounds, I wouldn't go there. But Europe isn't everything and I could tour Pacific islands, like Hawaii and stuff. Save up for an ocean going yacht so I can tour them on my own."
"Completely on your own?" I asked in shock.
"I meant without a hired crew, I'd travel with friends of course. Be a bit lonely otherwise." She chuckled.
"It is an admirable ambition, but one must save money first." I observed.
"Yeah, cause I get your view of not asking Mom and Dad for money. It's about being independent and feeling the achievement of getting it yourself. So I know I need to work for a few years and save all the money I can. I wish I had a job that paid better, but I guess it's worth it to help out Devon. But I've been thinking about it and it's really not the line of work I want to go into. Once Devon has finished his junior year, well I don't think I'll be able to assist him anymore. I know they're trying to ease him away from me now. It's his new therapist, she thinks he's latched on to me and I'm his crutch. He'll never try to communicate with the rest of the world if I'm always there to do it for him. I can understand why Gloria is willing to take the therapist's advice, but I think it's going to have an adverse effect. I think he'll retreat further into himself and even break off communication with me because I abandoned him. But who am I to comment, it's not like I know him better than anyone. I haven't even got a single fancy degree."
"Have they told you to keep away from him completely?" I asked.
"Well no." She admitted.
"So you will not abandon him, you will still be his friend. You are merely unable to assist him in his senior year for Olympic High will not allow it." I suggested.
"Well it's a pretty lie, but he usually knows when I'm feeding him a line." She replied.
"Perhaps it would have been better had Gloria not confided in you and blamed the High School for not letting you attend his classes next year." I stated.
"I think she was worried that I'd go cause a stink at the school and they'd be all, 'but we haven't got such a rule' or I'd convince them otherwise. I think she overestimates my power of persuasion."
"Or perhaps she knows it very well." I observed with a smile.
Billie shrugged.
"I think you should trust to the therapist, you may see an improvement in Devon, and will it not give you the freedom you desire to travel? You will not have to feel guilty, as if you are abandoning him, when in all honesty he is not your responsibility. It is admirable that you have taken him under your wing in this way, but you should not feel tied down by him. If you have no obligation, as you do now, then no one can blame you for seeking your own path."
"I know." She said. "I was just trying not to think that because it seems a little selfish to feel a little relieved that I won't be looking after him in a year. Is it selfish?"
"No. Billie, you are a young woman with your whole life ahead of you, nobody will blame you for wanting to make a life for yourself." I assured her.
"But what about the fact that we live forever?" She worried.
"Ordinary people do not know this of us. They will merely think that you were kind enough to offer so much of your time to Devon already, that it is understandable you have to move on. As for those from our world, most of them would not care for the fate of a human, and even as long lived as we are, our time is still precious. You wish to have children one day?"
Billie nodded, although she did not seem enthusiastic.
"This option is only open to us for the first hundred years, perhaps less, but Kitty is the proof that our cycle will someday stop."
"Yeah." Billie agreed.
"You wish to have fun before you are saddled with children, is it not better to do it as soon as possible?" I inquired.
"Have kids?" She asked aghast.
"No. Have fun, so you may have many years of unhindered fun before you decide to tie yourself down with children." I stated.
"Don't you mean with a husband and kids?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well I decided not to assume, you might decide to raise children on your own. Lord knows your will is strong enough." I mused.
"You really think so?" She asked.
"I would not say it if I did not believe it to be true." I replied.
"Oh, thanks Sis." She said, and hugged me. "It's heart warming to know that you think I'm so competent."
"You always have been." I replied.
"Not really, but it's nice that you think that." Billie mused.
"I should get back to the children now, if I am gone too long Zoë will get suspicious and then she will ask questions and somehow will deduce everything we have discussed. Truly she should become an interrogator that girl." I said with a chuckle.
"Jane would be happy to have her." Billie stated.
"Oh dear me no, one of my children work for her? I think I should worry for them. As civilised as Jane may now be, she is still quite the taskmaster. I would hate for my children to have such a superior." I said with a shiver.
"I don't know, the guard seem to like working for her." Billie said with a shrug.
"I'm certain they do, but I'm certain if their mothers were still alive they should fear for them too." I explained.
"Ok. I get what you're saying." Billie said with a nod.
"I will go now, is there anything you wish me to relay to Mother?"
"Oh, you can tell her whatever, but I don't think she'll pry beyond whether I'm feeling better." Billie said with a shrug.
"Are you feeling better?"
Billie nodded.
"Then I will inform her thus." I assured her. "Are you coming back to the house?"
"No. I'm gonna stay here, watch a movie."
"Then I shall say goodnight, and I will see you in the morning." I stated.
"Goodnight." She said, getting to her feet. "I'll walk you down to the kitchen, I can grab a snack then."
"Very well."
We walked down to the kitchen and said our goodbyes once more before I left her apartment and made my way back to the house.
The children were still engrossed in a movie with Mother and Father. Mother informed me silently that Mal had gone up to the roof. Since the children were happy with their grandparents I went to join him. I found him leaning on a parapet, levitating and dropping a stone into the gutter. It was his habit when he was here, to bring his thoughts into focus.
"Hi." He said, only looking around to me to be polite.
"Is there something on your mind?" I asked leaping up onto the parapet in front of him so that I was now at eyelevel with him.
"No. Everything went ok today, I was just finding my focus." He said, placing his arms either side of me. "This is a good spot for balance, all this old stone, and then the view of the forest. Gets my telekinesis back in order."
"Is it playing up?" I asked with worry as I placed my hands on his shoulders.
"No, but it doesn't hurt to calibrate when I'm here." He stated with a shrug.
"Do you always do this?" I asked.
"When I'm here." He replied, leaning closer to me.
"You have not told me before." I observed.
"Well this seemed as good a time as any to explain since you thought there was something wrong and there wasn't." He replied as he reached up to stroke my cheek lightly.
I considered for a moment.
"I suppose we all have our little rituals." I observed as I hugged him. "I am glad there is nothing wrong."
"I thought I'd take advantage since Essie nicked the kids and you were talking to Billie." He whispered, his lips brushing my neck.
"It is nice to have these little moments to oneself." I murmured and couldn't resist placing my lips to his neck for a moment.
"Yeah, but I prefer it when you're here too." He said as he moved his lips to mine.
I returned the kiss, enjoying the stolen moment, for it was rare that we found such time to ourselves in our day-to-day lives. I considered my words to Billie, of finding her fun before having children; she certainly should take the opportunity. What would I give to simply abscond this night with Mal and we run until we reach our old cabin where we would stay for weeks on end, only venturing fourth to find food. What joy it would be, but not an option for us at the moment.
"As soon as the children have grown and moved out we are both to take an extended vacation where we can spend weeks indulging in each other." I said somewhat breathless as I pulled my mouth away from his far enough to speak as I held my hands to his cheeks.
"Sounds like a great plan." Mal said and kissed me again.
I was enjoying this moment thoroughly, losing myself in kissing my Malachite, forgetting the children for a while, until Mother gently nudged my mind to inform me that the film had ended.
Mal and I returned downstairs and did our duty as parents until the children were in bed, then we retired to my old room and picked up from we left off on the roof.
Thank you for reading
Reviews are welcome
Gemma x