Chapter 14: Treaty

A/N: I own nothing. The characters all come from much more brilliant minds than mine. I am just playing with them, the way others may play with dolls. I was thinking about the end of Breaking Dawn and how it reminded me of one of my favourite TV shows and so the two were combined. Sorry for the delay in updating this story & the slow, short chapter below. I haven't had as much time this week to write. I will get the next chapter up as soon as possible. It should have a bit more action too.

We ran at human speed back to the house, it took us just over an hour to reach the house. The wolves ran silently behind, they hadn't let us out of their sight although the third one, Ephraim had left so I assumed he was going to the Elders. There was no choice for me now but to trust them.

We slowed to a walk for Donna's benefit. She said, "I've ran away from monsters. Towards monsters. I think this is the first time I have run with monsters." She laughed and the Doctor joined in. He seemed to have a bit more fun with her.

As we headed towards the house she looked behind her, "Doctor, do you realise those giant wolf things are following us?"

"Yep."

"And that doesn't concern you?"

"Nope." I noticed he was still popping his p's. I had never heard anyone do that quite so much.

"And why exactly not?"

"Donna, if they had wanted to kill us they could have ripped out our throats at any moment. They are just on a recognisance mission, it would bode best for us and our friends if we just ignore them and continue along our way."

"Says you."

"Exactly."

Esme heard us coming and was waiting for us by the door. "Doctor, so lovely to meet you again." She pulled him into an embrace.

"And you Esme."

"I'm Donna, by the way."

"Lovely to meet you too Donna." Esme released the Doctor but didn't hug Donna.

"Esme is my wife." Rosalie came out of the house then, "And this is Rosalie, Emmett's wife."

Donna turned to Edward, "You're obviously not married. You're much too young."

"Not really. I'm older than you." He stalked inside, clearly upset by someone's thoughts.

"So," the Doctor asked, "Who's up for a game of chess?"

The Doctor proceeded to show us a complicated version of chess with eight inter-joined boards that stretched the length of the living room and his own set of made-up rules. He seemed to enjoy the challenge of playing against other people with a higher than average intellect.

"Edward, you have to play the Doctor next." Emmett announced after being beaten by the Doctor.

"Why?"

"Because I think it is only fair that at least one you go up against someone who's mind you can't read."

"I really don't think so."

"Come on, Eddie my boy, you're not scared of a little fair competition are you?"

"You have the whole of space and time running around inside your head and you think that constitutes fair?"

"Well, maybe not fair, but you have to admit Emmett here has a point."

"Fine. Besides it does look like fun. But only if you agree to tell me something more about her."

I had thought the Doctor would wonder who he meant. Of course Edward rarely stopped talking about the mystery girl he had seen. "Ok, you ask me questions while we play. If I think it is a safe one to answer I will. That fair."

"I guess so."

I watched enthralled as Edward and the Doctor played their battle of wits. If I had ever underestimated Edward before I never could again. He matched the Doctor play for play even without his 'advantage' as Emmett put it, although I did see his face pinch up in pain a couple of times when habit got the better of him. And all the while they kept up a constant dialogue.

"Who is she? I mean what is her name?"

"Next."

"What is she like?"

"Oh, she's brilliant."

"I remember the sensation of being near her. She is good isn't she?"

"Good?"

"To the core, a very honest, good person."

"Oh, absolutely. She only travelled with me for a short time but in that time she showed me that she had such a beautiful soul."

"Doctor, are you guys talking about Rose?" Donna asked. I was surprised she knew about Rose, he didn't seem to have told Martha much at all.

"No, someone that travelled with me and Rose. Edward got a glimpse at her timeline when he looked into my head. I take it that left an impression."

"You don't know the half of it," I said. I sincerely hoped he would meet this mystery girl one day otherwise he might never know happiness.

"I will meet her, Carlisle. I know I will. Even if I have to wait until the end of time I will meet her."

"I doubt you will have to wait quite that long." The Doctor chuckled. "But I have probably already said too much. Ask me something else. I know about space and time and lots of other really clever things and all you can ask me about is some girl."

"Ah, but she is not just some girl, Doctor, she's the girl."

"You'll get yourself in trouble thinking like that." The Doctor looked sad as he said that. I wondered if he was thinking about Rose.

Suddenly Edward snuck in an attack on the Doctor's remaining King, but realised his mistake after he made the move.

The Doctor winked at him, "Check, and mate."

Donna walked over to the now black window, "Do you think them wolves are still out there?"

"Yes, " I answered with certainty. There hadn't been a moment since we arrived back at the house when I couldn't see some evidence of their presence.

"Well, shouldn't we invite them in? It must be freezing out there."

"Be my guest." I would do anything to protect my family, even if it meant hosting two wolves for the night.

Donna slid the window open, "Hey, Wolfy. Do either of you want anything? Food, water?"

The night air was filled with howls.

"You could have just said no." Donna slammed the window shut again. The howling stopped.

Edward and Emmett started a new game of chess while the Doctor told Esme stories of his youth on his home planet of Gallifrey.

We were surprised by a knock on the front door. I was surprised when I opened it. Ephraim Black was standing on the doorstep.

"I know we were originally going to meet up tomorrow but I have had feedback from my pack and news from the Elders so I decided to come down and speak to you tonight."

"Would you like to come in?"

He looked like it was the opposite of what he wanted but he nodded and entered anyway.

"You are very brave coming to the lair of the enemy alone," I joked with him.

"I am not alone, my pack is right outside. They will slaughter every individual in this house if anything happens to me."

They might try, I thought, but I don't they would succeed.

Once Ephraim was seated I turned to him, "So to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit so late at night."

"My pack has reported that although you have been locked in close confines with the human and the other you have not attacked them."

"We have no reason or desire to attack them."

"In addition, the Elders have agreed that we have never encountered cold ones such as yourselves and we take your eye colour as evidence of that difference."

This was more than I could have hoped for. "And?"

"We cannot allow you to put our families or tribe at risk."

"But didn't we just establish that we are different."

"It is because of that difference that we offer you one chance. We will leave your family alone and guarantee our ancestors will do the same. In return you will fulfil two requirements."

I was sceptical, "What requirements?"

"First, we will draw treaty lines, you will remain off Quileute land and second, none of you must ever bite a human again. It does not matter whether the purpose is to feed or to create. We cannot risk a relapse or an increase in numbers of your kind."

"You will have to allow my family to discuss these requirements. Can you please grant us some time."

"I will visit my pack, you have fifteen minutes."

As soon as he left the room I turned to Edward, "Can he be trusted?"

"The intentions in his thoughts matched his words. He is trying hard to believe we are something else. The Doctor's presence seems to have swayed him in our favour, apparently their legends talk of a travelling man in a blue box." He turned to the Doctor, "They found it in the forest, they haven't touched it but recognised it. Their legends say he bought death and destruction to their enemies and helped them discover how to transform."

"Did I? Maybe I am going to?"

"Did their legends say anything about me then?"

"I don't know, I can only read thoughts as they pass through the mind. He didn't think anything of you."

"Figures."

"So the question is, do we accept the terms of their treaty?" I asked.

"Do we have a choice?" asked Esme.

"Oh, there is always a choice," said the Doctor, "the question is whether you agree to his conditions."

"Well, I don't know if we could have any more vampires living under the same roof anyway. It is already suspicious with the five of us. As far as I know none of us have any intention of reverting to the more traditional diet. And as for staying off Quileute land, if those wolves have been running around down there it wouldn't be any good for hunting, the smell is far too terrible. So I guess it is a pretty easy decision."

We called Ephraim back in.

"We agree to your terms. I will come and run the treaty lines with your pack. I will then show my family. We will stay off your land and we agree to not feed off or transform another human."

He nodded. "Come with me then."

"Carlisle? Do you mind if I come too?" The Doctor seemed interested in spending more time with the wolves.

"No, that's fine. So long as you can keep up."

"Donna, you stay here." Donna didn't seemed concerned as she and Esme were currently involved in some inane chatter about Agatha Christie.

The Doctor and I followed Ephraim out to the wolves. I didn't notice Edward following until we were outside.

"I couldn't let you go alone," he said. "Esme's thoughts were far too concerned. At least now she thinks the three of us would be a match if it is trap."

"But I suggested it."

"You know how Esme can worry." I nodded.

We watched amazed as Ephraim phased in front of us.