Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot of the Twilight Saga are the property of its author. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media. Copyright infringement is not intended, nor will I ever make a dime from this fanfiction. So there.
I combined the best of both worlds in this outtake. You get some Angela and Marcus. Even better, you're getting some animal action. Not THAT kind of action. Degenerates. And so we begin.
"I bet she's screwing him," Lauren hissed to Jessica. When the teacher glared at her, Lauren rearranged her face into a cracked façade of innocence. They sat two rows to my left in study hall. I ignored them and tried to pretend that my face didn't flush and my hands didn't shake around the pencil I strangled. My neck prickled as it felt like everyone in the room started staring at me.
I'd definitely caused a stir by getting engaged so soon after breaking things off with Ben. Time seemed to drag its leaden feet as I pretended to study and flailed about in misery. I hated being away from Marcus. It physically hurt. I'd never felt such intense feelings for anyone in my life.
Out of the corner of my eye, I heard Ben say as the bell rang, "Lauren?"
Lauren rolls her eyes and smacks her chewing gum. "What do you want? I'm in a hurry." Lauren tapped her red leather pump. It cost more than I think my parents' mortgage payment. I picked up my books and stuffed them in my backpack. I just wanted to get out of there. I could feel people in the room staring at me. That had been happening a lot lately. I stared down at my engagement ring and tried to think of Marcus. How much I loved him.
"Angela isn't the type to sleep around. Trust me. I know. 'Cause I sure tried to persuade her." Ben winked at me and walked past Lauren.
I did my best to keep from crying. What he did was sweet. I wasn't used to having people talk about me.
Felix noticed my red eyes when I stepped out of the classroom. "What is it, Miss Angela?"
"Nothing that matters, Felix. Let's go home." I had insisted on staying with my parents until the wedding to avoid this kind of talk. It amazed me how, despite living eighteen years never setting a foot out of place, my reputation could take such a beating in such a short amount of time. I thought I'd get the benefit of the doubt from my classmates. At least I had Bella and the Cullens.
I saw Bella and Edward ahead of me. Bella seemed to be doing better since he returned to town. She had been like a ghost during the months the Cullens had been away. She had stopped eating and talking. I had no idea how she passed her classes because she hadn't seemed like she'd been paying attention to anything back then. I'd tried everything to cheer her up and ended up pushing her so hard that she finally avoided me. She was laughing at something Emmett said. Edward stood behind her and had a hand wrapped around her waist. They seemed so comfortable together. I had a hard time believing that he was over a hundred years old. He barely looked old enough to shave. Not that I'd ever tell him that.
Lauren yelped, "What the hell is that?" and pointed at Edward. He had a squirrel sitting on his shoulder nibbling at a nut. I recognized that squirrel.
"Oh, that's Douglas. He's their pet."
Lauren took the rubber band she had around her wrist and said, "I fucking hate squirrels." She used it like a slingshot and sent it straight at Edward.
"That's cruel, Lauren," I blurted.
She turned and sneered at me, "Those things carry rabies. He should know better than to bring it around school. I'm having my dad call the principal to complain."
Then she started screaming and flailing her arms about. I stared up at her head and saw Douglas peering out from her mass of hair. I could swear he winked at me. He rubbed his butt along her head and jumped through the air and landed on my arm.
"Atta boy!" I cooed at him.
Lauren screamed, "My head! He shit on it!"
She waved a grimy hand around as if to prove it to everyone. Mike Newton started laughing. Jessica joined in. I heard this high pitched noise that I couldn't place and watched flabbergasted as a flock of birds started dive bombing Lauren. She screamed and started running around like a chicken with her head cut off. Lauren couldn't seem to pick a direction. She'd dart one way and then another. She finally ran towards the parking lot, tripped, and landed in a hedge row. That's when we all started backing away.
Lauren screamed, "My eyes! Oh shit! My eyes!"
Felix grabbed me and moved away as I saw two skunks scurrying across the parking lot. I rubbed my eyes. For a second I could swear they jumped in Emmett's jeep. I must have imagined that. Before I could blink, Felix had me in the car.
He bypassed my parents' place and took me straight to Marcus. I all but ran into the mansion. Marcus sat in his study staring at a computer screen.
"Darling, how was your day?" He smiled at me and I felt like the world stopped. I lived for those smiles.
"Better," I sat on his lap, "now that I have you in my arms."
"You seem troubled."
"I never thought I'd say this. I'm thinking that disappearing from Forks can't happen soon enough. Some of my classmates have been saying mean things about me."
"What kind of mean things?"
"Oh, they can't believe that you and I are in love and are making up stories."
"Considering that they also had Bella married to me a few days back, they don't seem to be all that bright."
I giggled and kissed him. "That too. Wanna make out?"
Marcus growled, "I'm taking you to our bedroom."
"Awesome."
Two weeks later
I sat in study hall and listened to Lauren whine to Jessica. "It's like the world is against me!"
"Poor baby!" Jessica patted Lauren's hand.
"I keep getting attacked by skunks. My car keeps getting shit on and it's ruining the paint job. Today I found scratch marks in my favorite pair of shoes. I think my closet has been infested by something because I have holes in my clothes." Lauren wiped at her eyes. "I had to throw out an entire season of Prada. Life is so unfair."
Movement near the window drew my eyes. Douglas waved at me. I waved back and blew him a kiss. Lauren took one look at the window, shrieked, and passed out. No one bothered to catch her.
Four Months Later
Tomorrow was my wedding day. I could hardly believe it. I kept staring at the ruby on my left hand to remind me that I hadn't dreamed this whole thing up.
I wondered how things were going between Marcus and my father. Dad was not much of a talker unless he gave a sermon. My conscience smarted over all the things that I kept from my parents. But I knew that I couldn't tell them the whole truth. I'd briefly considered asking Marcus to turn my parents. But after thinking about it, I changed my mind. I knew both of my parents would refuse anyway because they wanted to be reunited in heaven with Christ when they died. Turning immortal would deny them that goal. I tried to be happy for them and struggled not to feel selfish.
Suddenly, I felt like all the birds in the area stopped singing. The short hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I glanced up and met the cold eyes of a blond girl. She appeared to be younger than me. I knew better than to judge a book by its cover. I'd seen her around Marcus' house a few times, but she always kept her distance.
I wondered what Marcus would do if he caught her looking at him like that? He'd probably be calm. So I tried to be, too.
"Is there a problem?" I asked her.
"No." She sneered. A boy standing next to her, her brother, I assume, smacked her and hissed something in Italian.
"It's okay." I told him. "No need to hit her." They both stopped talking and stared at me.
"What's your name? And what's your problem?" I asked the girl.
"I'm Jane. This is Alec. Your kind I have little use for."
"What kind are you talking about?"
"Christians," she spat.
"Oh. Okay. Do you mind if I ask why?"
"They burned us both at the stake."
I wasn't quite sure what to say.
"Wow. I'm really sorry. You know they burned people who believe as I do at the stake, too."
"What?" Jane acted confused.
"I'm Protestant. If you look at the history of my church, they burned us as heretics. I'm sorry that happened to you. I can't even imagine how scared you must have been. And to know that your sibling was suffering too." I shook my head and my eyes welled up with tears. What a miserable way to die. I felt terrible for Jane and her brother. No wonder she stared at everyone like she was in a bad mood. I don't think Jane was used to people being nice to her. She stared at me like I had two heads and left the room.
"I apologize for my twin," Alec said. Smooth talker, that one.
"There's no need to apologize. She didn't offend me."
"She didn't?"
"No. I asked a question and she answered it honestly. I can't complain about her answer. That hardly seems fair." He bowed and left. I didn't think he'd think me any less crazy if I told him that his sister was also distracting me from Marcus being gone. I felt like I was going to come out of my skin if he didn't get here soon.
When he walked into the door, I heaved a sigh of relief.
"How did it go?"
My head spun as Marcus drove me home. He held my hand and stroked my fingers. I had fallen in love at first sight with an immortal. Who wanted me to be an immortal. Who wanted to marry me. Just a few months back, I'd been dating Ben Cheney. Thank goodness he had gotten over me quickly. He'd dated some girl named Heidi for a few weeks until she moved overseas. He didn't seem particularly heartbroken.
I remember hearing Jessica Stanley whispering about sex with Lauren Mallory. Both of them had lost their virginity two years ago and had all but shouted it to the school. Lauren told Jessica, "You really should find a college guy to do. They actually know what they're doing in bed." Peeking at Marcus out of the corner of my eye, I had no doubt he'd know what to do in bed. I just didn't know if I'd survive it. I got hot and bothered just from him holding my hand. Sex might just make my heart explode. I was so relieved that he had respected my wishes and not pressured me to do more than I was comfortable doing.
At first glance, in his fancy suit and tie, Marcus looked like a sophisticated businessman. Then you looked into his eyes. Something in his eyes told me he had suffered more than any person I had ever met in my life. I wanted to reach out and hold him and tell him that everything would be okay. But somehow, I didn't think he'd take well to that. So I kept my hands to myself.
Two weeks later
"Angela, it's time to get up." Marcus' cold hand brought me wide awake. My head hurt, and my stomach was killing me. I pushed past him and barely made it to the bathroom in time. I hated throwing up. I started crying as I felt the acid in my throat. Marcus patted my back. He felt my forehead.
"I don't think I have a fever. It must be some bug." I stopped talking and was sick for the next two hours. He stayed by me the entire time. With his enhanced ability to smell, this had to be awful for him. Finally, my stomach seemed to give up in defeat. Marcus carried me back to bed after I rinsed out my mouth. I heard him talking in the phone but since he spoke Italian, I had no idea what he said. He sounded upset. I curled up and decided I'd have to feel better to die.
An hour later, I heard Bella and Edward arrive. Bella looked about as awful as I felt.
"Oh, God, do you have it too?" I asked her as she crawled into bed by me.
For someone who went to medical school twice, Edward wasn't much help. Thank goodness he didn't practice medicine regularly. He'd get sued for malpractice. That was uncharitable of me. I needed to pray for a better mood.
I don't remember packing to leave. I barely remember Marcus lifting me and carrying me out to the boat. Unfortunately, I do remember the trip from the island.
Bella and I took turns puking. It was awful. Thank goodness Marcus thought to bring mouthwash. Bella and I took turns swishing and spitting into the ocean. We got in the car and I fell asleep clutching my stomach. I remember very little from that point. One moment Marcus was carrying me into the plane, and the next I was back in Forks with Dr. Cullen taking my blood pressure.
I sat there in a daze when Dr. Cullen told me and I was pregnant. I couldn't tell what Marcus felt about this. He hid his feelings so well. I decided to let the Cullens debate among themselves. I knew Bella well enough to know that nobody was going to do anything to her baby without her say so. And I guess I just fell back onto my childhood training. God created this baby for a reason. So I had faith that everything would work out in the end.
When we were alone, Marcus sighed and put his arms around me from behind. "I can hardly believe it."
"Why? It's a blessing from God."
"Angela, I have done terrible things in my life. If you knew, you'd hate me."
"Marcus, I read enough of your journal to figure out that you've had a violent life. It doesn't change the way I feel about you."
"Why?"
"Because I have no right to judge you. I am not a perfect person. I'm certainly not God. He's the only one that gets that chance." I leaned back against him and then turned around so I faced him. "Then there's the fact that I love you. All of you. Not just the pretty parts. I knew what I was getting myself into when I married you." I yawned.
"You need your rest."
"Come to bed with me, please?" I found I couldn't get a good night's sleep unless he was nearby.
He pulled my top off and helped me step out of my pants. I put on one of his shirts and crawled under the covers. Before I could count to ten, I was out.
I woke up in the middle of the night. Marcus was reading a book in the dark. How he managed to see something was beyond me. He looked worried. I rubbed his chest with my hand over his heart.
"My parents are going to be over the moon when we tell them our news."
Marcus' face fell.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"We cannot tell your parents."
"Why?"
"Your pregnancy from the accounts that I've read will only last half the time of a normal human one. And the child will age rapidly."
"How fast?"
"I'm not sure, but fast enough that the mortals cannot meet him or her."
"What are we going to do?"
"We're going to tell your parents that I'm taking you on an extended tour of Europe. Your father is going to be so busy with building his new church, i don't know that he'll be a problem."
"My Mom will."
"I'll think of something to keep her occupied. I think that we'll have to arrange weekly phone calls. Are your parents fond of taking pictures?"
"No. If it weren't for my school pictures, I don't think there'd be a record of my childhood. I don't even think they own a camera."
"So they won't be suspicious if we email them pictures from Europe without you in them?"
"We can photoshop them. My parents would never know." I yawned and curled up against him. His scent always comforted me. I wish he had the luxury of sleep. He seemed to be thinking all the time. My eyes drifted shut. I heard Marcus whisper, "I love you," and knew no more.
Two months later
I knew better than to complain. Being pregnant was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life. Like any girl would when scared, I wanted my mother, but knew better than to ask for her. It would make Marcus feel horrible. Besides, she'd never been pregnant with a vampire's child, so she probably wouldn't be much help. Or else she'd lecture me on marrying a soulless demon - her words not mine. I'd been tempted to tell my parents the truth about Marcus and I, but then remembered their explanation of the story of Dracula. That stopped that wish in the tracks.
I felt so awful in the morning and threw up half the food I ate. Dr. Cullen had to put me and Bella on IV drips to make sure we got nutrition. I knew Bella hated needles so I tried to be brave so she'd stay calm. I never knew I was that good of an actress.
I worried for my baby. I had nightmares about giving birth to a baby with the head of a dragon. I was afraid if I told Marcus he'd be offended so I kept that to myself. Marcus was downstairs dealing with some crises involving his men. Bella was zonked out and Edward carried her to their bedroom. She looked worse than I did. She was so tiny compared to me, and she'd lost a lot of weight.
Jane came inside and sat down beside me on the sofa. We had come to a meeting of the minds in the past few months. I was teaching her how to do needlepoint. She found it challenging. Good thing she couldn't use her gift on the poor fabric. I jumped when I felt a fluttering inside.
"What is it?" Jane asked.
I took her hand and put it over my tummy. "The baby." I said to the baby, "Come on, do it again, so Aunt Jane can feel you."
"You called me Aunt Jane."
"I did."
"Really?" She gave a sad smile. "Who would want me around their child?"
"I would. I hope my child grows up to be as resilient as you are." Jane looked like she was going to cry for a moment. She patted my hand and ran from the room as Marcus walked in the door.
Marcus said, "You're good for her, you know."
"You think?"
"I can see you have a strong bond already. Jane doesn't form relationships easily. It's just another example of how marvelous you are." He pushed my hair back from my face and curled a lock around my ear.
Later that night I woke up from the most vivid dream.
"Are you well?" Marcus asked.
"I dreamed I was giving birth. It was so strange."
"Why?"
"Because everyone was dressed funny around me. Like in costumes. I was in a stone room. My hand had a big ring on it – one I've never seen before."
"Was it blue?"
"Yes."
"You're dreaming of your past life. You wore that ring when you gave birth to our second son."
"Oh. Wow. Can you tell me about our children? What were they like?"
"I wish I knew."
"I don't understand."
Marcus said, "I was always out fighting a war. I was able to sneak home every few years and see you for a few days at a time. I barely knew our children. That was the only birth I was able to attend. I won't make that mistake again." He put his hand over my stomach. The baby kicked and Marcus smiled.
Four months later
I stared in amazement at our son, Sebastian. I could believe how fast he'd grown. He had dark hair from me and his father's light eyes. He should still be in newborn diapers, but he appeared to be about a year old. I became so emotional every time I held him. My husband had been helping me care for him. I was impressed and touched at the sight of Marcus gently holding our son, swaying with him in his arms until he fell asleep.
"Marcus?" I gave Sebastian another bottle of milk. He had a voracious appetite.
"Yes, dearest?"
"I want our son to be baptized."
My husband inclined his head. "Carlisle can do it." I let out a sigh. I had feared, irrationally, I know, that he wouldn't want it to happen. I wasn't going to insist that my father do it. I knew better. I was a newborn. I'd almost eaten the mailman last week.
Carlisle came over the next day. I dressed our son in white. Marcus called his men in to witness. All the Cullens had shown up, too.
Edward and Bella stood by us, as Marcus had asked them to be godparents. We had decided he would ask one set and I the other. He'd beaten me to mine. So my eyes lit up when I saw her.
"Jane."
"Yes, Miss Angela?"
"Would you and Alec do us the honor of being godparents as well?"
Jane looked like she was going to faint. Not that she could. She took her brother's hand and approached us. Carlsile stood by our impromptu baptismal font. I handed Sebastian to Jane. She held him gently in shaking hands.
"He's so warm and small," she marveled.
Once the baptism was over, we stood around the reception. I had never been near so many vampires. I got the impression that hybrid children were an oddity, based on the curious glances that we got from our out of town visitors.
One regally dressed one with dark eyes and tan skin cleared his throat and said, "I, Amir of the Egyptian coven, do hereby offer my child, Miriam, for marriage with the son of Marcus."
My newborn nature got the best of me. "He's only a baby."
I clutched my child tighter against my chest. He whimpered and I felt guilty. My poor baby. Jane patted me on the back, a rare gesture from her.
Amir sneered, "Marcus, your human needs manners."
I'd never seen anything move as fast as my husband did. Before I could blink, he had Amir pinned to the ground, "You will not speak of my mate with such disrespect. She is vampire, like you."
Amir blustered, "How dare you lay hands on me! I did you an honor offering to mix my line with your half-breed whelp."
Amir ended up being ash before the hour ended.
"Any questions?" Marcus asked the silent room. When no one answered, Marcus said, "I will not put my son in a political marriage. He has already found his mate, and his mate is the daughter of Edward and Bella Cullen. Pleasant day to you all."
Marcus took me by the arm and led our family from the room. Sebastian blew a raspberry at the Egyptian coven on our way to the door. I couldn't have said it better myself.
So I have people requesting a Douglas outtake. Anything in particular you wanted to see?