Dear Aaren...
Aaren...
Sister...
Aaren Cullen...
"I sound like a mother with that last one. None of these sound good enough, at least not enough to get her attention." Carlisle mumbled, staring at the crossed out words in his letter. "What do I tell her this time? After 12 years I would have thought of something by now. Maybe I should mention Sarah, or Emily's high school graduation-"
"Another letter, love?" Esme asked, sitting on the edge of his desk. She tossed him a red apple and began swinging her legs back and forth like she was on a swing.
"Yes, and I really shouldn't." Carlisle replied, trying to hide the exhausted hopelessness in his voice. He dropped the pen and bit into the apple, sucking the sweet, smoothie like texture from the inside. After realizing he didn't have to drink blood anymore, Carlisle felt relieved. It was one more animal his family could drink from. Finishing, he threw the rest into the trash and leaned back in his chair. "It's been over a decade. How could she be gone for so long? From her family?"
"My love, you always find a reason to be doing the things you do."
"Sometimes I wonder if there ever is a reason, or if it's just because I want to. But, it doesn't make sense;" Carlisle sighed, putting his hands behind his head. "My sister's back from the dead, and things are not like how they were when we were kids. She's a whole different person I don't recognize. Even when I was happy and safe at our childhood home, she never popped off."
Esme smiled sympathetically, she could see Carlisle's heart break every time he wrote a letter. And again when there was no response. Three years after Aaren's vanished, Carlisle began something of a man hunt. He'd go to work, try to avoid asking his co-workers if they had seen her, then he would be gone most of the night searching for any sign of her. Surprisingly, he hasn't asked for Charlie's help yet. At times, he was close, but it always lead to a dead end. The grandchildren were beginning to wonder if he was a detective. The other kid's wanted him to stop and forget about finding her.
But how can Carlisle forget about someone he loved?
At times, Esme envisioned what it would feel like to have one of the children run off for 12 years. To at least get an understanding of how her husband felt. Then she realized, there's a difference between one of the adopted, adult children and a sister running off.
Shaking her head, she jumped off the desk and placed herself on his lap. Startled, Carlisle adjusted himself and placed his hand on her back, balancing both of them on the office chair.
"Carlisle, I can't imagine what you're going through right now, the kind of fear you're in." She began with a soft smile and wrapped her arms around his neck. "But think about it; we've survived the Volturi and the Guard combined. If we can get through that, we can manage anything."
"What would I do without you?" He asked in a teasing manner, nuzzling and playfully biting her neck.
"Possibly worry yourself to death." She gently grabbed his chin, made him face her and kissed him passionately.
"Before things go too far, what's so important that you need to pull me away?" He asked, breaking the kiss with an apologetic smile.
"The grandkids want to go on a hike. I thought, maybe we could teach them a thing or two about hunting." She answered with an excited smile. She loved saying 'grandkids'. It sent an excited chill down her spine, something new to look forward to every day. "Dan and Mike are begging to hunt outside their parents' boundaries."
"Oh boy," Carlisle put his feet back on the ground, an uncomfortable chill ran down his back. To put Dan and Mike on a hunt would be telling Emmett to face off against Jasper and Edward.
The twin boys always begged to get out of the house and hunt on their own. As a wedding present, the pack built a cottage near the creek for Jayme and Jacob. It was perfect for both of them; it had a library for Jayme and a man cave filled with Jacob's favorite action movies. Billy insured that they had two fridges, almost like he predicted they were going to have children. And given their metabolism and how hungry the Quileute children tend to be, Billy wanted to spare Jayme the stress of dealing with a constantly over flown fridge. The cottage had plenty of space for the boys and Sarah to grow. Including a huge playroom over flown with toys. Of course, the cottage was created with the intention of both boys having their own rooms. Then, after Sarah's birth, Dan and Mike started sharing a bedroom. Shockingly, it made things simpler for the family.
"All of them or just the boys?"
"Just Dan and Mike, Nessie's hunting with Bella and Edward. And Sarah's too young." She paused, picking up one of Sarah's stuffed animals. "Can you believe she's nearing four?!"
"Wouldn't stop Jacob from throwing her onto his back and climb a mountain." He paused, glancing at the closed, slightly decorative door on the other side of the stair well. He knew who's room that was. After she was left with them again 12 years ago, Carlisle and Esme decided it would be best to give Emily Jayme's old room. However, she rarely spends time in there. "What about Emily? I know she doesn't hunt, but she could still join us."
Esme's expression saddened, she'd grown to love Emily as one of her daughters. "I offered, but she seems to be preoccupied with 'homework'."
Carlisle rolled his eyes. Although Emily had graduated from high school almost a year ago, she used homework as an excuse to avoid doing anything productive. "She's too close to-"
Before he could continue, Esme clasped her hands on the side of his face playfully and kissed him. Breaking the kiss, she said: "Put those thoughts out of your head, and get moving. You know how terrible those boys are with waiting."
Knock
Knock
Carlisle and Esme froze, their bodies stiffened, as if the door was going to break down, and the Volturi would start the slaughter they've wanted at the last encounter. Their sense's heightened, Esme turned her heel slightly, sniffing the air for any hint of human, listening for a heart beat. Which has been harder to do recently due to Carlisle having a heart. She glanced over her shoulder at him, watching him close his eyes. She knew he was using the wind, allowing it to tell him who was at the door. Esme turned slowly to face the window, ready to leap out. The room suddenly felt small and compact, but she still remained still, waiting for him to say something. It was rare that they would have guest. Even then...
Then they heard the door opened, Esme jumped startled when Carlisle ran past her and down the stairs. Instinctly, she followed. Fear plagued her mind, she hoped that it wasn't bad news at their door or a burglar.
Suddenly, Carlisle came to a halt and Esme bumped into him. One thing she didn't really like with Carlisle's speed, he was like the flash. He could run fast and stop himself without tripping or stumbling. However, that didn't help those who were running behind him.
"What is it?" She asked, noticing a combination of surprise and shock on his face, his bright blue eyes fixed on the front door. Slowly, she followed his gaze and understood why he was shocked, but also surprised. A woman had entered their house, but this was a woman they both knew. Only this time, she bore more a resemblance to Carlisle; beautiful actress-like looks and wore a business suit. She looked more like a lawyer than a surgeon.
"Mom!" Emily screamed, running in from one of the family rooms.
"Oh my..." Aaren grunted as Emily jumped and wrapped herself around her mom. Esme couldn't help but giggle. The adult Emily had somehow wrapped her legs around her mom's waist, and Aaren was holding her up.
"I'm so glad you're back." Carlisle whispered, wrapping Aaren and Emily in one of the biggest hugs he's ever given to anyone.
Normally, Esme would be smiling and thrilled to be welcoming Aaren back 'home'. This time, she felt a bit too mad to be a warm, welcoming hostess.
"Sorry, something unexpected came up." She grunted, pushing Emily and Carlisle off her. Smiling, she adjusted her blouse. Then she looked at Emily, placing her hand over her heart. "My word, Emily Rose, you've grown."
"It's been a few years, mom." Emily sobbed, wiping away a few tears. Her bright eyes gleamed in excitement and joy, finally seeing her mother again. "I'm 20 now."
Aaren's jaw dropped, genuine surprise on her face. "Goodness, I didn't think I was gone that long."
"I thought I recognized those steps. Plan on running off again?" Jayme asked in a heated tone, appearing at the window, drenched from head to toe. Carlisle chuckled lightly while Esme was silent, hearing the pain behind Jayme's words.
"You've grown as well. Have you gotten taller?" Aaren commented with a sneered, studying Jayme. "I mean outside of being soaked. I think you're glowing."
"I was training by the cliff's." Jayme answered, climbing down from the window, dripping onto the floor. "When I felt you swimming up to the shore, I lost focus and a wave literally knocked me off my feet."
Hearing rapid approaching footsteps, Jayme's frustrated expression lit up. A toddler with long black hair ran past them and tried climbing up the stairs. "Hey, Sarah." She greeted, walking down the stairs and picked up her toddler daughter.
"Who's this?"
Jayme glanced up at Aaren, smiling halfheartedly. "My daughter, Sarah."
"Daughter?" Aaren asked, her voice dropped. Carlisle looked at her with a hard glare, he recognized that tone. Ignoring his glare, she continued. "Who is the father? When did you marry?"
"A long time ago, and you would've known if you were here."
"Jayme." Carlisle shot in a fatherly tone.
"Sorry, her father is my husband, Jacob Black."
Aaren's eyes widened in fear, her jaw dropped again and she backed up slightly. Her palms opened and her eyes started to glow a light green. Jayme gasped and lowered her arms, opening her palms.
"What have you done?!" Aaren shouted, her eyes suddenly expressing anger, ready to fight. Jayme continued to back up, placing her hand behind Sarah's head protectively. Carlisle and Esme looked at each other, uncertain of what to do or what was going on. "Answer me, Jayme! What have you done!?"
"Back off!"
Sarah whimpered and hid her face in her mother's wet shirt. Jayme wrapped her arms tightly around her, shocked to hear Aaren raise her voice. Loud enough to bring the rest of the Cullen family into the room.
"Aaren? The hell? Where did you come from? What's going on?" Their voices over lapping each other. They stood still, looking back and forth between Jayme and Aaren.
No one knew what to do; Alice couldn't tell what the outcome would be thanks to Sarah, and Jasper knew toying with emotions wouldn't be of much use in this case. Edward, however, knew what to do that was subtle enough neither of them would be able to tell what he was doing until it was too late. He held his attention on Aaren, reading her thoughts.
"What do you mean?" Jayme asked, gradually backing up. Then she felt something underneath her foot. Quickly, she looked behind her, relieved to see Jacob had appeared. His deep brown eyes narrowed at Aaren, challenging her.
"You married a wolf, and had a child with him?!"
"So?" Jacob asked in a dark, challenging tone. Protectivly, he placed a hand on Jayme's shoulders and the other on Sarah's back.
"How could you do such a horrid thing?"
"Horrid." Carlisle repeated the word, the word sounded like acid on his tongue. Never had he heard Aaren use a word like that to describe a child. Cautiously, he placed a hand on a numb Emily's shoulder and guided her back to Esme. He didn't know what to say to either one of them. He wanted Jayme to take Sarah and go home. At the same time, he knew Aaren would only chase after her and wouldn't let anyone stop her. "Aaren, Jayme's starting her own family just like you and I. What's so wrong with that?"
"This is a crime!"
"Now hold on. How is this a crime? We don't have anyone who would have a problem with...Sarah." Jacob intervened, being careful to not mention Dan and Mike. "Sarah's half wolf, half vampire-"
"Did you receive permission?" Aaren asked, crossing her arms firmly, the hues of green glow still in her eyes.
"Why would I?"
"The law is we are to receive permission to 'start a family'." She said the last words like they were chars of coal on her tongue.
"Permission?"
"From Bellatrix." She shot heatedly, as if Jayme should've known. "She gives you permission to produce or marry." Then she shot her attention to Carlisle. "I told you quite some time ago!"
"Well it's too late now." Rosalie jumped in, standing next to Jayme and placed her hand over Jayme's. "They've already had the children-"
"Children!?"
Carlisle cursed himself, he knew Jayme and Jacob were trying to keep the boys out of the conversation. Looking between the parted family members, he felt tensed and his heart sped up slightly. He knew one of them was going to start a fight. Jayme maybe passive, but not when it came to protecting her children. Carlisle guessed it was her wolf gene; overly mother instincts.
Say something, stop this, he told himself.
"Aaren, you're right, you did tell me." He said to Aaren, putting his hand up. "But I had assumed you had also informed Jayme."
"You assumed wrong! I left that for you!"
"Aaren, we didn't even know." Julia argued, pulling her hair into a pony tail.
"You never mentioned." Eve argued, bumping into her twin and swinging on a Denim jacket. "We have dated a few of the Quileute's, and you saw it. But you didn't stop us."
"You two are not my responsibility!"
"And I am?!" Jayme screamed, handing Sarah to Rosalie. Taking the terrified girl, Rosalie left the house and ran to Jacob and Jayme's.
"You haven't been a Hybrid for a year, I have taken you under my wing." Aaren said, pointing a long, slim finger at Jayme. With each word, she walked closer. "Thereby, until you are on your feet, you are my responsibility!"
"Well there's some fine print for ya!"
"Aaren, listen." Carlisle stood between them, keeping his attention on Aaren. "I know now that I should've told Jayme, and I'm sorry for that. But what's done has already been done, we can't go back. We can arrange a meeting with Bellatrix and the other Elders. We can negotiate-"
"How naïve are you?" She asked, Carlisle felt his gut tighten. The way Aaren looked at him was the same way their father looked at him every time before a beating. He looked over at Esme, surprised to see anger in her soft face. He knew what she was thinking; Carlisle was blaming himself for something that isn't his fault. He was putting the blame on himself to make things easier on Aaren and Jayme. And Esme hated it when he did that, because Carlisle knew it wasn't his fault, but he always did.
"Aaren-"
"This isn't like the Volturi, Carlisle! Bellatrix is nothing like Aro, she will show no mercy! The Elder's will know about this and they will not stand for it!"
"What about you, huh!?" Alice snapped, pointing a long, pink sparkley painted finger nail at Emily. "You have a daughter-"
Aaren's head shot down, shame and embarrassment quickly crossed her face. "She's different, she was an accident-"
"Don't you say that about her!" Jayme screamed, watching the heart breaking tears stream down from Emily's eyes. Carlisle gestured for Emily to stand next to Esme.
"Haven't you figured it out yet? Why I left her with you?" Aaren asked in a calm tone, looking at Carlisle. Carlisle shooked his head, his head felt like it was going to explode trying to understand Aaren. What possible reason would Aaren abandon her daughter? Or better yet, why would she say such terrible things about Emily and Sarah?
"She plans on abandoning Emily." Edward answered, giving Aaren a firm, heated glare. The temptation to throw her out was strong. But, after seeing this, Edward wasn't the only one who wanted to throw her out.
"I had to develop a disconnection with her." She said, lowering her head down to look at her shoes. Then she looked at Emily. "I can't be her mother anymore."
"Can't be my...but...mom..." Emily's voice was lost, words tangled in her sobs. The pain grew into a heavy rock and climbed up from her heart and stayed in her throat.
Esme ran to her side and wrapped her in a tight hug. Glaring at Aaren, Esme held Emily closer as if to protect her. To Esme, it was one thing to attack Carlisle and Sarah with harsh words. It was another for Aaren to yell and call her own child a mistake, it was a form of abuse that Esme loathed with every ounce of her being.
"She wanted us to adopt Emily." Edward said, rage building in his stone cold heart.
"Thus saving her, from the wrath of the Elders." Aaren raised her head and looked at Carlisle, her eyes blank as notebook paper. "They have already done this to me."
Carlisle was taken aback. He remembered hearing a few things about Emily's father, but he never bothered asking about him. Let alone if he was still alive. And if she was able to have Emily; how many other kids must she did she have?
"Remember that man I told you I was with? Emily's father, Rick?" She began, placing her hand on her chest, sadness filled her heart. "I was with him longer than I said. I wanted to have a normal life, so I married him, started a family and got a job. For 15 years, I was a human and I was loving every moment of it." She smiled, a smile Carlisle recognized. It was the same smile she wore when she talked about their sisters, or about their mother. A huge sense of sentimentality that she rarely expressed. Then it quickly disappeared, and turned into a frown mixed with rage and hatred.
"Then word got back to Bellatrix and the others that I have mated with a human and had children with him, without Bellatrix's consent. She wouldn't stand for my 'disobedience', one by one they killed my family and the city declared their deaths accidents! I was fortunate I was able to save my only daughter." She said, looking at Emily.
Emily fell silent, keeping her face in Esme's blouse. This was the first time she heard about this. Although she always wanted siblings, wanted to meet her father, have a life with an her actual family. It never crossed her mind that she was the youngest of the family, or the only surviving child.
"This is different!" Jayme screamed loudly, slamming her hands at her sides. Carlisle panicked for a moment, expecting a tidal wave to burst through the windows. "My children are not part human, they are still part wolf and vampire. They may not be able to morph into a wolf! They would be able to keep our kind a secret!"
"You think that matters!?"
"Wouldn't it?!"
"They are not like the Volturi!"
"They are exactly like the Volturi!"
"You are as naïve as he is!"
"At least I have hope! Which is more than I can say for a certain family member!"
Aaren growled, her hands were shaking and the green glow was growing brighter. Aaren wondered if anyone was actually listening to her, heeding her warning. The children were a danger to the rest of the family. And everyone was defending them, believing that they could negotiate with the Elder's just like the Volturi. They didn't believe her, no one was even showing her any pity or sympathy for what happened to her family. Perhaps they couldn't understand because they didn't see it, their dead bodies scattered all around the house. And the Elder's, their hands soaked in their blood, simply stood at the bottom of the stairs. Noticing her, they turned around the corner and left out the back door. They didn't need to say anything, Aaren got the message. At the time, she felt blessed that Emily was staying with a friend while her family was being slaughtered and burned beyond recognition.
No, Aaren thought to herself.
"Then you are on your own!"Aaren screamed, running out the door. Without thinking, Carlisle ran after her. Leaping off the stairs, he heard Esme calling after him and Emily cried out for Aaren to come back. But he couldn't go back, not without her. Running as fast as he could, Aaren came into view and he was determined to not let her go again. They were already passed the creek before they stopped on tree branch's and she turned to face him.
"Don't follow me, Carlisle."
"I can't..." Words were stuck in his throat. He didn't know what to say, he prayed that he would be able to find the right words to beg her to stay.
"Can't what?"
"I can't let you leave again." He managed to say, leaping off the tree and landed softly on the ground. He took a deep breath and continued, letting the words fall from his mouth. "Aaren, I beg of you, stay here. Don't leave us again."
"So I can watch all of you raise those God forsaken children?!"She shot.
"No, so that I can have my sister back." Carlisle shot back.
Carlisle hated that his voice sounded more pathetic than he meant. But he was desperate, he didn't want her to leave again.
"You're weak." Aaren snarled, leaping off the tree branch and slowly approached him. "This pathetic damn connection you have with your family, the love you have for them, will be the end of you."
"I know." Carlisle hated to admit it, but she had a point. His peace making personality and love for his family was his downfall. And he was aware that, sometimes, talking didn't solve anything. But it's the way he is, it's the kind of benevolent person he always wanted to be. Violence was never the answer and conflicts can always be solved with negotiation, diplomacy and compromise.
She stopped a few inches from his face, staring firmly into his familiar eyes, waiting for him to back down and let her go. "Are you truly willing to die for them?"
Carlisle met her eyes, unmoved by the firmness, which shocked her slightly. "Always. This is the family I've always dreamt of having, this is a family. Sister's who love and respect each other, brother's who look out for one another. A father that shows genuine love to each of his children. A mother that is alive, loves her children dearly-"
"All a fantasy, it's all in your head!" She screamed, slapping Carlisle's face at the last word. Snarling, he wiped his head back at her, she flew back and landed hard against the tree. Catching herself, she raised her hand. Above, Carlisle heard creaking of branches and the leaves rustle against each other. Glancing up, the branches stretched out and reached down to him. Seeing the oak branches swarming around him, he spread his arms out and a sharp wind broke the branches in half.
"Enough!" He shouted, putting his arms out in defense, hoping Aaren could see he didn't want to fight.
"You started it."
"Don't start. We're not immature children anymore trying to hide from father. And you're wrong about my family. My family is real." He said the last words slowly, struggling to keep his anger under control. "I created them, I saved them and I love everyone of them just as father, Elizabeth and Danielle should've done for us. But they no longer exist, we have our own family now. And Jayme, Jacob and their kids are a part of my family. So are you and Emily."
Aaren stood up and wiped a strand of blond hair behind her ear. "The only ones I care in this 'family' are you..."
"And who?" He interrupted. "Emily? Jayme? Eve and Julia?"
"It doesn't matter, you need to take care of this."
Carlisle shrugged, as if he didn't know what she was talking about. "There is nothing to be taken care of, we can talk to Bellatrix. Jayme didn't know-"
"What are you not understanding?! Bellatrix is merciless, she and Mikaela will kill all of you!"
"Not if we convince her to listen, if we have enough witnesses to tell her Jayme's children are innocent." Carlisle argued, seeing the anger in her face, slightly thrilled to not be intimidated by those dark blue eyes. "They are of no threat to anyone of us or our kind. Bellatrix is a living being, Aaren, she can be reason with."
"You are unbearably naïve!"
"That I maybe, but I am still alive." Carlisle said, surprised at how calm his voice sounded.
"Half alive."
"Like you."
"Well that's just great. You have an answer for everything, just like father." She said the last word like a dagger, intentionally aimed at Carlisle's heart.
"Don't you dare compare me to him." Carlisle growled, feeling like a strong whirlwind spiral in his gut and something growing inside his heart, spreading throughout his body. Knowing what that was, he backed away from Aaren with fear in his gut, bracing himself. "Perhaps you should leave Aaren. Think about things-"
"If I leave, don't think I'll be coming back."
"Don't say that to me." He begged, running up to her and grabbed her hand. "My control over it...that monster demon thing inside me... I can control it. Just don't make me mad or upset."
Aaren yanked her hand out of his. "Yes, I seem to have forgotten. I rather not fight that thing if you don't mind."
"Then don't upset me."
"Fine, I'll clear my head." Aaren answered quickly, walking away from him. "But don't wait for me."
"Swear on mother's grave that you will return." Carlisle demanded.
"How dare you use her against me!?"
"Swear on it!"
Aaren looked back at him, anger and depression in her eyes.
"I swear on mother Carol's grave."