Less conflict, more solution, Part 2

Originally going to be included with the last chapter, but I split it up because it would've been over 3,500 words...

The Cullen Family (+1) Chronicles

Chapter 3

This shouldn't have been such a hard or complicated situation. I honestly did not feel that by going outside Jonathan did any harm; he had panicked, and the more I thought about it made perfect sense. I probably would have done the same thing – if I were a few hundred years younger perhaps. But this wasn't really what the conflict was about.

Edward, I am not going to choose sides.

But as I stared at him across the dining room table I had brought over from Germany back in the 1800s I realized how it must have looked: Esme, myself, and Jonathan in her arms, standing across from Edward, all alone on the other side of the room. He was my first son – my first born, and yet after all of this time…

Edward, no one is replacing you. You need to stop feeling so insecure all of the time. It's unhealthy, melodramatic, and needs to stop. Now. I let it happen with Rosalie, but this is tiring, and very taxing on Esme. He's more than half your age. Learn to live with him.

My eldest son's face went through a wide range of expressions: first he annoyed, but that quickly turned to outrage, and then it was simply fury.

Good. Now I want you to apologize to him.

"I. Have done. Nothing. Wrong!" he protested, his voice filled with hate.

"You did the right thing stopping Jonathan from doing something possibly dangerous that could have removed our cover, but I have had enough of the feud between the two of you. Edward, you have a quarter of a century more experience than this boy. I don't care what you both look like, start acting appropriately, or there will be consequences."

I turned to look at Jonathan, who was grinning, possibly thinking he was off the hook; not a chance. Why do children constantly relish in the faults and pain of others? I cannot for the life of me – a very long life indeed – understand it. He reminds me of Aro, slightly.

"And as for you, young man, you are just as much at fault. You were right to assume responsibility for your actions, but I told you specifically to never go outside. The circumstances are the same in this case, but –" and I turned to look at Edward "– you were acting with the well-being of a human in mind, and for that, you shall not be punished." Part of being father – and no matter how unrelated we were, that's what I was, and that's what they had accepted when they joined my family – was being fair.

"A-A-Are you going to send me away?" came the small voice.

"No, of course not." He is such an adorably bright young child; I could never. "But you are not to leave the house again. For any reason, or at any time of day."

"Carlisle, that sounds a little harsh. He was simply trying to protect Roy." I sighed. My darling Esme always found an excuse to undermine my authority when I was dealing punishments.

"It doesn't matter my love, he needs to learn that there are consequences for his actions." I thought I saw Edward grinning triumphantly, but when I checked again it was gone. Was that glinting in his eye proof of it? I couldn't be sure. "I want an apology out of each of you, and then Jonathan is going to finally reveal his painting to the family."

The little boy's mood brightened considerably, and that pleased Esme, although I bet she would have been completely comfortable to continue rocking the boy regardless. As he got down from her arms, he walked around the long table slowly, accentuating each step with a deep sucking in of air.

Edward, are you going to be shown up in manners and initiative by a nine year-old? I asked him politely, and he glared back at me, continuing to stand still. He only looked down at the small boy when he felt a tugging on his shirt. As if he was a piece of machinery, he got down on his knees and engulfed the tiny white hand in his own. After two shakes apologies were uttered – the key word there – by both sides, and then Jonathan was off.

(((ROSALIE)))

I hated the cellar. I didn't care if I was the most terrifying creature – no, terrifyingly beautiful creature – on Earth. This place still scared me. It reminded me of the vault back in Rochester. I wonder how it happened afterwards. I wonder what happened to his fiancée. Is she still upset? She shouldn't be. Royce got over me in about two weeks. Hopefully she had found someone else by now; someone who deserved her. She seemed nice that night. Of course she was worried out of her mind searching for the man she thought she loved, but she seemed nice all the same. Not as pretty, but still good-looking I suppose. I wonder what my parents are doing right now. They were completely insane, and I always told myself that I hated them, but it's always different when you don't have them anymore. It's even worse when they think you're dead, and technically you are, but technically you're not either. Sometime I wish I could go back, and just leave them a note, or give them some sign that would make them think I was still alive. Or maybe they would think it was just a coincidence. My dad was always a very skeptical man; he would most likely see right through it. But maybe not.

"Rose?"

My favorite boy. "Yes?"

"Why are you locked in a jail cell?"

"Because I tried to drink that man."

"Why? He smelled gross. That lady who came last week with the rhubarb pie smelled much nicer. And the old man with the granddaughter smelled good too. She smelled good okay. And the dog a little bit, but not a lot –"

"–Do you do anything besides think about how people smell?" I laughed at his devious little grin. He was so cute.

"No, I do other things…" he trailed off as he stared at a particular brick in the wall behind me. He opened his mouth twice before he could find the words he was looking for. "I'm not allowed to drink them anymore, so smelling is the only fun I get to have." He looked back at me with his eyes, which are an interesting orange color –like the shade of a pumpkin, only redder – unlike the rest of us, who all have solid golden eyes. Carlisle thought it had something to do with the amount of human blood he had consumed at the beginning, which would explain why it was taking longer for his body to adjust, but Edward had a different theory.

'Human blood' he had told me once, but the possibility was simply ludicrous, and I made that very clear to Edward. We were always keeping an eye on Jonathan; he would never even have enough time to do something like that, and we would all be able to tell anyways. His eyes would still be red, but they weren't. I agreed with Carlisle's theory: 'it was just taking longer than usual.' And besides, Carlisle was the expert.

"I'm sorry about how I treated you before, Jonny. It was inexcusable, no matter how I was feeling. I need to exercise better control over myself." Just like Carlisle had said, 'always be setting an example.'

"That's okay – I understand. I think," and he let out a small giggle that always made me smile, and then his eyes began to gleam. "What was it like? Wanting someone that much? Did it feel different? Did you feel stronger?"

"Entirely different." I unlocked the cell door – which was completely useless considering I could have ripped it off with a single flick of my wrist (yet Carlisle always said being able to visualize the consequences was the important part) – and motioned for him to come sit with me. He sat in my lap, and nestled in. It was about story time anyways. "When I first caught his scent, it was completely different. I knew that he was special. It was as if that man's blood was the only thing I needed to continue going on. My veins felt like there was blood rushing through them again, and all of my senses became stronger. In my head all I could think about was this person. I need to drink him, not because I wanted to, but because it was something I needed. I had never met this man before, but suddenly he's all I can think about."

"Even now?"

I took a deep breath. Even recalling the memory started to bring all of those feelings back to the surface. I thought I felt a small shock go through my veins as I imagined even now the first time his scent washed across me, but that was it. "A little bit, but not much. I can't smell him anymore."

"Do you feel like that about anybody else?" he asked, but I saw in his eyes he was asking a different question.

"Um, no, actually. Carlisle says it's possible to find other people who make you feel like that, but right now, only Roy. Roy Rogers. Of all the names…"

Jonathan had begun to wander off, and was back to staring at the bricks.

"Although I can think of someone who makes me feel better."

His eyes snapped back to mine. "Who?"

"Maybe I'll tell you later," I said, and consciously gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Now come and show me this painting –"

"Do you think I'm evil?"

"Evil?"

"Evil."

"I would never think that, and anyone who does is stupid, and thinks too highly of themselves – and their music." We both laughed hard at the loud THUMP we heard coming from the floor above us.

"I have one more thing to do before I can show it to you though." He had been so eager to show it to me an hour and a half ago, and now all of a sudden it wasn't done? "Can you tell everybody it will take a few more hours?" I looked at him suspiciously, but he wasn't trying to hide a grin anymore; he was serious.

"I suppose so. But –"

"And tell Carlisle that he can go to work, as long as he is back at seven."

"Jonathan, that's six hours from now? What could you possibly do that will take six hours?"

He hung his head, a sad whimper replacing the serious face. "It's not done yet. I want it to be perfect. Please," and then he looked into my eyes, and even though I could feel his influence working its way into my head, I allowed it.

"Alright, fine."

"Thank you!" and with that, he was off again.

Okay, so with all of my free time and spares I wrote this at lunch, and if the wireless is working this might get posted.

The chapter you've been waiting for is coming up next!

Please review, and it might come faster nudge nudge teehee. But the rooms here are really bad, so if the wireless is STILL working then I might post the Emmett encounter this afternoon! Lots of action, betrayal, bears, blood, Emmett, etc. etc. is soon to come!

nomad of the north :D