Disclaimer: All rightes belong to Mrs. Meyer and ITV (dang)

Chapter thirty-six: Visitors

Monica's pov

Carlisle had determined that I was going to go to school with the others at the beginning of the new school year and would be home schooled by Esme in the mean time. It would give me a chance to prove that I could handle being around that many humans every day and to catch up on the school work that I had missed.

The party had been condoned by Carlisle and every day after class, Bella would come up to our house with the others so we could plan this shindig. Alice was going all out on it and no matter how hard any of us protested, she just wouldn't listen.

It was the morning of the party when Carlisle came to find me after the other had gone to school.

"Monica, can I have a word with you, please?"

"Sure. Just let me tell Esme I'll be a little later."

"No need, dear. She knows you won't have any lessons with her today. I have the day off and you and I will be spending the day with a friend."

"Oh, is Elezear coming down?"

"Exactly. He will be here shortly, but he's bringing Carmen and Tanya with him."

My face fell. Tanya. I had been dreading meeting her since the day I stepped into this world and now my fear would be coming true.

"Don't worry about Tanya. She might want Edward, but he doesn't see anyone but you."

I smiled slightly. "Thank you, Carlisle. I appreciate it."

He waved one hand. "It's nothing."

I heard the sound of a car turning off the highway and onto the long winding drive up to the house.

"Ah. There they are," Carlisle murmured.

He guided me to the living room and told me to sit tight while he received our guests with Esme.

I listened to their greetings and waited with baited breath. When they walked in I felt very intimidated. Elezear and Carmen seemed like very nice people, but she scowl on Tanya's face would be enough to have even Rosalie running for cover. It was safe to say she hated my guts.

"So, you are Edward's new pet?" she sneered.

I rose to my feet and extended my hand. "I am Monica Jensen and I have been lucky enough to have been taken in by the Cullens. It's very nice to meet you miss Denali."

Ha! Take that, little miss stuck-up!

She snorted and ignored my hand, instead flopping down on the couch with the indignant scowl still plastered on her face. I greeted the others and slid back onto my seat.

"Well, Monica. I believe Carlisle asked me here to asses whether or not you possess a gift."

I nodded. "I don't think I have one, but Edward seems convinced I do."

"I am inclined to agree with him. Your gift is growing, but I can feel it's potential. It is truly unique."

Carlisle sat up a little straighter, his face shifting from father-mode to doctor-mode in the blink of an eye.

"What do you mean, Elezear? What is her talent?"

"She seems to adopt talents of others when she needs them. You are using the shield from the girl Carlisle told me about. But you have the ability to disturb her talent as well when you are near her. I believe that scrambling part is only linked to the girl since you two have some form of connection."

"You can sense all that?"

"Most of it, but I have gotten some of the background information from Carlisle, which makes the information I am receiving from you easier to process."

I nodded. "But what do you mean when you say I can adopt talents?"

"You can use the talents from those around you. Like for example Edward's mind reading. If you were in need of it you could adopt that skill and use it yourself."

"But, how?"

"Like I said, your power is still developing. I think if you try, you might find that when you touch the vampire who's gift you need, you will get a better handle on their power and be able to yield it."

"Oh."

Carlisle looked almost as giddy as Alice and he was undoubtedly thinking of all the things this might mean. Then suddenly something came to me and it terrified me.

"Would this mean, the Volturi would want me to join them if we ever came across them?"

Elezear looked remorseful and slowly nodded his head. "I have no doubt that Aro would want someone as talented as you in his guard. But don't be afraid. They will not force you. You can simply refuse."

I doubted that, but I wasn't going to inform him or anyone else for that matter.

Edward's pov

As soon as we were at school Alice, who had been blocking her thoughts since we drove off, allowed me to see that Elezear, Carmen and Tanya were set to arrive at the house in a little while.

I groaned when she mentioned Tanya. She would most likely attempt to do something to get me away from Monica. She usually was quite relentless and knowing I had found my mate, she would probably be spiteful. Especially if she were to find out that Monica and I had already made love when I had told Tanya time and again I wouldn't do that until I was married to the woman I loved.

I tried to shove those thoughts aside and concentrate on school. I overheard a bit of gossip from Jessica and Lauren and was instantly intrigued.

They had heard that we had a new adoptive sister and that she would be attending the party tonight. I wondered for a moment who could have told them that, but quickly realizes that Monica had already been registered for the new school year and she had been seen around town with Esme on shopping trips for the party.

The girls were jealous already and I was secretly looking forward to making that worse tonight at the party. That way I could kill two birds with one stone. Jess and Lauren would be seeing green with envy and Tanya would have her proof that I was Monica's and Monica's alone.

I made my way through the day without much incident and was happily humming a tune as I made my way out to my car. My siblings were waiting for me, all of them excited about our visitors and the party tonight, with just one exception. Jasper. He was weary of taking Monica into such a crowded place, but after out trip to the mall a couple of days ago, I was convinced she could manage going to school, let alone a party in the open air.

I thought of speaking to Jasper about it, but brushed it off. Monica would show how well controlled she was.

Upon arrival I was met with Carlilse's exuberant thoughts. Monica was gifted and greatly so. I was a bit baffled by what it was.

"She can adopt our gifts?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes. We've been waiting for you all to get home so we can test our theory. When I Bella coming?"

"She won't be here until after dinner, I think somewhere around seven."

Carlisle nodded. "Come on, we have to practice."

I brushed past him. If we were going to practice anything I would at least great my girlfriend properly first. I pulled her into my arms and crashed my lips onto hers. She moaned softly and I felt her tongue slide over my top lip. I opened my mouth and let her tongue explore my mouth. I slid my hands up her back, feeling every muscle under her shirt. She whimpered as her hands found purchase in my hair.

"Guys, please!" Jasper moaned.

I chuckled and pulled away from her. Monica's eyes were dancing with amusement and love.

"Welcome home," she whispered.

"I've missed you today."

"I've missed you too. It's been a busy day, though."

"So I've heard. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine now you're here."

Tanya made a gagging sound from somewhere on my right, but I decided to simply ignore it. She was being petulant and I could already see what she intended to do next. In order to cut of her childish attempts at riling Monica off, I suggested we go outside to test Monica's abilities.

Once we were in the backyard, Elezear came over to Monica and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Monica I need you to concentrate on Edward. You need to take his hands in yours and try to feel his ability. When you can feel it, you can try to draw it to you, so you can use it yourself. Do you understand?"

"I think I do. I can feel some sort of aura around you right now and I suspect that is your gift, so I guess that's what I should look for?"

"Yes. Try that first. If it's not there in Edward, then maybe his talent is visible or tangible in another way."

She nodded and Elezear released her. Monica came to stand in front of me and took my hands in hers. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

For a few minutes everything was silent. Even the thoughts of those around us. Monica's brow furrowed and she groaned in frustration. I wanted to ask her what was wrong.

"Nothing. It's just harder than I thought."

I gasped. "You heard me?"

Her eyes flew open to stare at me incredulously. "Those were your thoughts? But everything else was silent."

"The others were silent. They weren't thinking anything, just waiting on what would happen."

"It's gone now. I guess I need to work on it a lot."

"I guess so, but we have an eternity for that."

Monica rolled her eyes and giggled. "You can be such a sap sometimes, you know that?"

I laughed and kissed her. "Yes, I know. But only for you."

My siblings groaned in unison. "You guys are so sickly sweet together it gives me a toothache," Emmett bellowed, causing us all to erupt in a fit of laughter.

Things were going to be very interesting from here on out, that's for sure.