Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Stephenie Meyer created it all.
Knowledge is happiness.
Because to have knowledge – broad, deep knowledge,
Is to know true ends from false, and lofty things from low.
To know the thoughts and deeds that have marked man's progress,
Is to feel the great heartthrobs of humanity through the centuries;
And if one does not feel in the pulsations a heavenward striving,
One must indeed be deaf to the harmonies of life.
Helen Keller
"Alice, divorce Jasper and marry me," Seth pleaded sincerely, placing his hand over his heart.
Alice's tinkling laughter drowned out Jasper's amused snort.
"Seth, you're just a little too young for me. I like men who are a little more mature," she retorted, staring up into Seth's eyes with mock seriousness.
"Ok…you like old men…"
This comment earned a snarl from Jasper as the rest of the family, including Leah, began laughing.
Unperturbed, Seth continued, "…I can start aging again, if it will help. We can talk to my Alpha. Maybe he'll let me skip out on our weekly runs. I can even grow my hair out long for you then. I've heard you have a particular fetish for that."
Seth continued with his flirtation path by wiggling his eyebrows at her suggestively. In reaction, Alice ran her fingers through the short glossy black hair on Seth's head, earning a growl from Jasper just before she tugged it hard. Seth yelped.
"Quit flirting, Seth, and start studying. I have a superior intellect, and you're wasting its valuable time. The only thing you should be paying attention to are the principles of economics." She emphasized the point by tapping her finger on the section of book they'd been working on.
"I think he was hoping to marry you to have that superior intellect available to him at all times," Jacob suggested from where he was sitting beside Nessie.
"Well, it was either her or Emmett, and he's just not my type," Seth said with mock sincerity.
Seth should have known better. I pulled Bella up in my arms just in time, snatching her out of the way as Emmett grabbed Seth and dashed for the door, laying "smoochie" kisses all over the top of Seth's head as he ran. Seth at least had the courtesy to wait until they cleared the porch before he "went wolf", as he liked to call it.
"Emmett, leave Seth alone," Alice yelled out at them. "He needs to study and he's using you as a distraction."
"You're playing into his hands, Emmett! Let his leg go, Seth!" she yelled, as Seth grabbed Emmett's leg with his teeth and jerked, knocking Emmett off balance. We felt the vibrations as Emmett slammed into the ground.
Carlisle chuckled as Alice stomped her foot in vexation. "Emmett Cullen, I swear if you don't separate from him, I'm calling Bonnie and Clyde off for awhile. And Seth Clearwater, you'll have to deal with the "not your type" person for all the help on Economics. As intelligent as Emmett is, I'm still better. So make your decision, both of you."
Even I was impressed with the determination in her voice. Seth had asked her help in making a good grade, and she took her tutoring seriously. Emmett came through the door first with a bashful look on his face. Alice snarled when Seth didn't immediately follow.
"Give the guy a break, sis; he had to go get another pair of pants."
Alice chuckled softly, "Ok, I'll give him that."
Carlisle, Nessie, and I passed Seth as he returned, on our way to my garage. We were going to the hospital so that we could utilize the lab for our private research project. Carlisle had obtained permission from the hospital director this time, so we wouldn't have to operate in stealth. The man was "willing to do anything for Esme's husband". Carlisle had rolled his eyes when he realized the decision was being made as a result of Esme's worth as a social organizer, as opposed to his selfless work at the hospital.
We made it to the hospital in short order and quickly set up the microscopes, slides, and stain. Nessie placed the carrier between us on the counter, and reached for the first vial. She and Henry's ability to be around humans and the smell of their blood had astounded us almost as much as Bella's control. The family had come to the conclusion that their human side gave them an added layer of control.
"Slide one will be Embry's. I'll do the staining and slide prep since you and Poppa know what you're looking for. If you find anything, let me know, because I want to see it and then I'll map it on the paper we brought."
She expertly handled the glass and handed identical slides to both Carlisle and me. Looking at each of the chromosomes took extraordinary patience and time. As before, when I used the lab for Gabriel, these microscopes combined with our vampire sight opened up a world of wonders to Carlisle and me. We were doing in one night what would take humans weeks to accomplish. It was tedious work. We quickly eliminated the sex chromosomes because of Leah, but had to look through the others. I heard Carlisle's excited gasp and knew he'd found something.
"Edward, I'm on the twenty second chromosome and I believe it may be our culprit. Its structure past the centromere is different. I'm going to bypass it and look at the last two, but I'll come back afterward."
I was directly behind him, and was just moving to look at that one as well. Nessie had been right. So far, there was no sign of any recessive mutations. The wolves were an exceptionally genetically favored group. Pulling the twenty second one into light, I saw exactly what Carlisle had described. I followed his plan and fast forwarded to the last two.
"Wait, Edward, the last one is something I've never seen. It's the mutated one clearly. I've never studied the genetic makeup of wolves, but I suspect that when we can, we'll see the similarities."
Number twenty three was normal, and I whistled when I brought the last one into view under the magnification. "Say hello to my leettle friend," I mimicked Al Pacino in honor of Emmett. He'd driven us crazy with that line for years.
"My thoughts exactly," Carlisle chuckled. "I think we need to locate some good research on the genus Canis. I wouldn't even know where to start with that one. Now, the other one is a different story."
Nessie had all but pushed me out of the way and was glued to the microscope looking at the structure. She'd taken over intermittently either Carlisle or my microscope during the scan of the previous ones. I poked her in the ribs to get her to move over, and with a grin at her disgruntled expression, I went back to the original suspect. As I followed the matching alleles down the chain, Carlisle, having done the same, called out, "22q31-q32."
I smiled in satisfaction finding it right afterward, but was immediately puzzled. It was a dominant trait, not a recessive one as we'd thought. Over the next few hours, we worked through Leah, Seth, Jacob, Embry, Paul, Quil, Jared and Sam's blood samples. We found exactly the same genetic structures. Nessie had long since fallen asleep against me and I'd quickly found an unused stretcher and laid her out on it. By unspoken agreement, Carlisle and I had held Gabe's blood until the end. He grinned at me, nodding his head at the slide.
"You do the honors, Edward. I'm curious to know if little Gabriel will be running with the pack one day."
I slowly worked through the sample, and when I hit the twenty second chromosome, I smiled. Carlisle saw the change in my posture and I heard his thoughts.
You know, I think Sam will be pleased. At least Leah won't be the only side of the couple capable of enjoying that part of their nature. Just as Nessie said, imagine their offspring and how strong the characteristics will be.
I turned to him and leaned back into the chair unconsciously, the habit of acting human being so ingrained into my actions. So we'd figured out the why, but not the how.
"But what activates it, the creation of the extra chromosome and, subsequently, the transformation?" Carlisle mumbled softly, questioning the same thing as I was contemplating.
"Well, we know that changes in hormones can activate many processes in the body like puberty, so possibly their bodies have just adapted to utilize that process," I postulated.
Carlisle added, "However, almost all of the original pack were well past puberty so that couldn't have been the trigger, at least not solely."
I heard his thoughts. He ran through every process he could think of, as I did the same. We were attempting to identify a biological process that would occur during that period of a human life that might serve as the catalyst. We were running into dead ends.
And then, as if divine providence was sending us an answer, a nurse covered in blood walked by the door. Carlisle and I turned toward the smell, and I heard the thought strike him at the same time.
"Our smell. It acts as a pheromone for humans," he said, his eyes slanting in excitement.
"And the accessory olfactory system in humans picks up pheromones."
Carlisle grinned, "for some stronger than others."
"And that sensory input travels not to the cortex, but the hypothalamus…" I added.
"…Which matures at puberty, and then utilizes hormones to the control the various processes within the body." Carlisle's voice was beginning to show excitement, mimicking mine.
"The hypothalamus is also associated with influencing anger, body temperature, and mating behaviors."
Carlisle sat up as I heard his thoughts center on those facts. "The aggression of the wolves when they first face the transformation, it makes sense when you consider that fact. They come in contact with our scent, and it begins the reaction. The chromosome with the trigger allele receives the chemical messages that the hypothalamus sends, and begins to transform them creating the mutated chromosome pair. The hypothalamus would be sending out high doses of the hormone, which explains the fever, and the additional aggression. Most likely, in some way, the hypothalamus is also altered through the process, and continues to send out increased levels of the hormones afterward, maintaining the higher body temperature."
"Carlisle, I just remembered something. Pheromonal cues can affect the female reproductive cycle. Research has shown that in certain species, a female will remain unproductive until her mate is available. They did various experiments attempting to manipulate the process. Finally they covered other males in the mate's urine or semen and the female's cycle started again."
I looked up to find him smiling at me. "If you tease me like Emmett did, I'll swear …"
"… Edward, I'm grinning because I'm pleased. You know I've always enjoyed talking shop talk with you. So you believe that the cessation of Leah's cycle is a way of protecting her from becoming impregnated by anyone other than her mate. It's quite possible, since Gabriel's scent will alter at puberty, and definitely after his change."
"Yes, and think about it. The imprinting recognizes the mate, and for those for which the mate is not available yet for procreation, it protects them by turning off the sexual impulses. Thank God," I added.
Carlisle burst out in laughter, and actually placed his hands over his mouth attempting to stifle it in an attempt to not wake Nessie.
"Edward, I hate to inform you, but if the smells I've been picking up off Nessie are any clue, your time of reckoning is quickly approaching."
I grabbed my hair in my hands and placed my elbows on the lab table in front of me. "I know, don't remind me. I was attempting to ignore it, hoping for one more year since Nahuel indicated his sisters weren't fertile until they were around six," I mumbled toward the floor.
"Edward, she's half human and you know that there is a wide variety in the ages of maturation. Look at Henry, he already looks fully grown."
"His father is a beast though. He'll probably keep growing," I mumbled.
Visions of Felix ran through both of our minds.
After a few moments I looked back up at him. "Carlisle, promise me something."
He quirked his eyebrow at me and silently said in great humor, "Yes."
"Keep me from killing Jacob, please."
"I promise. Well, speaking of killing, let's check on our other little scientific inquiry."
Carlisle rose, going over to a locked cabinet and brought out several petri dishes. Over the years I'd seen too many of Carlisle and Esme's sexual escapades through my gift, so to share this experience with him really shouldn't be that humiliating. Both Esme and Bella had clearly enjoyed the ways in which our 'little friends' had been harvested, so I refused to allow my embarrassment to rule me.
He handed me the one labeled with an E and he took the other with his initial. Within a second, he stated the obvious. "Day forty five and the sperm cells are still active. Is it the same for yours?"
A simple nod was all he needed.
"This settles it. A fertile human female is basically guaranteed to become pregnant if a vampire male has sex with her. Probably the only limiting factor is whether or not they survive intercourse itself. Aro must never know. He'd use this knowledge to wreak havoc."
I agreed. This particular knowledge was better let undiscovered by anyone other than us.
"Is there any reason to continue monitoring this, Edward? If not, I can take them down to the basement and make sure the petri dishes, the wolves' blood, and the slides are destroyed in the incinerator?"
I shook my head, lost in my thoughts for the moment. I felt his hand gently squeeze my shoulder gaining my attention.
"We'll keep Jacob's for comparison when we can access data regarding the other genus, but I'll destroy the rest. I'd lay odds that his is the one you're most interested in anyway. I'll meet you at the SUV."
I quickly cleaned up the lab, making sure that we hadn't left any evidence and then gently rolled the stretcher to where I'd found it. I pulled Nessie in my arms and made my way to Rover. Carlisle was beside me before I'd even finished buckling her in to the seat.
"So we know from your other experiments that forty five days is just the beginning of how long the sperm can stay alive, and that the numerous environments you've exposed your experiments to have had no effect on the viability," Carlisle said, looking back at Nessie as we pulled out of the hospital drive.
"She's sound asleep. She's like Bella was, once she's gone it takes a hurricane to wake her. You can speak freely."
"Actually it's a shame that you can't submit this work as your dissertation. Talk about astounding the medical community," he said, looking out the window with a slight smile.
"Somehow I don't see that as maintaining a low profile. The premise of bio-applications of analysis is fine. Lightner was excited enough with that research."
"Indeed," he conceded in his slightly accented voice.
"I just have to finish up teaching the undergraduate class this week, and make it through my meeting with the dissertation committee on Friday and I'll be done."
"You say that as if you haven't enjoyed it this time around," he teased, knowing full well that wasn't entirely the truth.
"You're quite aware that I've enjoyed the lab, and the new research to which I've had access. But dealing with the undergraduate classes I've had to teach has been interesting."
"I'm sure you've had nothing to do with the increase in enrollment of females in the biology classes at the University. I attempted to dispel that notion for Dr. Lightner when we spoke last. He, of course, disagreed. He told me that if he could convince you to come back as a research professor that the department would be able to argue with the University for more endowments and space. He sees you as his 'golden child,' and I believe he is going to attempt to woo you."
"Pfft… he sees this face as his 'golden child.'"
Carlisle chuckled, enjoying teasing me.
"I don't think you have a lot of room to talk, considering the amount of nurse transfer requests the hospital gets for the emergency room now."
He laughed out loud. "Okay, I'll drop the subject. Have you and Bella spoken about what you want to do about medical school yet?"
"We've talked. Jacob and Bella still have one more year, and I know that Nessie will want to think about college soon. I'm hoping that I can convince her to wait on marrying Jacob until she gets out of college …"
His laughter echoed through the truck, drowning out my words. Sure… love to see you pull that one off. How long did Bella make it out of high school?
"We had unique circumstances…"
Impossibly, his laughter grew louder. He was taking deep unnecessary gasps of air. Ok, it was funny. I was sounding like Bella in this conversation – attempting to rationalize marriage away. I couldn't even argue that point.
"You know, at least you could be the one to support me here."
He snorted and then patted my shoulder with his hand, attempting to appear reassuring. But just when he almost had himself under control the laughter started again.
"I won't give my permission for the wedding unless he assures me she will attend college," I huffed out.
"That is something I can stand behind, Edward. I won't even attempt to support you in the other, because it isn't going to work. You and I both know that," he smiled over to me, his humor at my obstinacy apparent.
Since he was in such a good mood, I took the moment to propose what Bella and I had discussed.
"Would you consider staying here for another four years, Carlisle? The University Medical School ranked number one for primary care, and number six for research and internal medicine according to the latest U.S. News and World Report stats. I'm sure with a recommendation from Dr. Lightner my application would be considered. Nessie is interested in pursuing a chemistry major. We can get Jenks to produce the necessary documentation like he did for my undergraduate degree, and she can apply at the University. They can live in the cottage, where he'll be close enough to La Push. I know it's a risk. We don't usually stay in one place this long, but it'll give me four more years with her before we have to make a decision that will possibly separate us. If you think it's too much, Bella and I can stay but we just don't want to be away from the family …"
He stopped my uncharacteristic rush of words by putting his hand on my arm. "Edward, it'll be fine. We'd already been discussing possibly buying some land on the Oregon coast somewhere, but Esme would love to remain here. It's close enough to Forks and the Wyoming house that it makes it comfortable. I suggest we put it before the others and see if anyone has objections. I doubt you'll find any, and quite honestly it will make me more comfortable staying near the pack."
"We'll speak with the group then, and if they are amenable to the idea, I'll go ahead and begin the application process for the medical school," I said, pulling down the road toward the house.
Esme met us at the front door. "Edward, bring Nessie inside to sleep. Bella went on to school with Jacob and said she would meet you after your class to ride home. She had to go in early to meet her study group."
I carried Nessie up to one of the guest bedrooms and tucked her in bed. She'd probably sleep most of the day. Several of the copper colored ringlets fell in her face and I gently brushed them back before turning to leave. Esme stood at the door watching me with a gentle smile on her face. She looked like a model standing in the door, but all I could think about was the incredible leader she was for our family, and how much she meant to me.
"What are you grinning about Edward Cullen?" she spoke gently while shaking her head at me.
"You," I said racing over to her and picking her up to hug.
She squeezed me hard in return and then patted the sides of my face. "I'm so proud of you. But before you have me sobbing like a baby, you need to get to school. I believe you have a few more classes to teach before you are freed from the devoted student base you've acquired."
I rolled my eyes at her and finally let her down to the ground. After kissing her forehead, I ran to the house to take a shower, get dressed, and grab my computer and portfolio. Within a few minutes I was driving toward the biology building. One more week of teaching undergrad classes.
Not that I hadn't enjoyed the experience, but the undivided attention of a large group of humans was never my idea of fun. All grad students were required to teach at least one undergrad biology class a semester, and as much as I'd pleaded, it hadn't done any good. The infamous Dr. Lightner could probably even make a vampire flinch if he really tried.
I glided into the room and set up my props before all the students arrived. Several groups of giggling co-eds were already in place. As I heard their thoughts I reminded myself…two more classes. Within just a few more minutes, the classroom was full, and I began reviewing information for the final that would occur during the next class.
Mmm, mmm, mmm, Mr. Professor, you're looking mighty fine in those pants. Her thoughts hit me at about the same time as her scent wafted to the front of the room. Bella had entered through the door and sat at the back of the room. I was incredibly grateful that I was facing the board because my smile would have given me away. Biology lectures just weren't that interesting. Practical application, however…
I never knew just how many women were taking your class, Edward. You'll have to fill me in on their thoughts later tonight. Or maybe you can just show me, since you totally ignored me last night for some microscope. The blond in front, she's really staring at your butt. Should I tell her it's much more attractive with the clothes off?
I turned at the moment to catch her eyes to warn her off her little game, disguising it as a glance around the class for any hands raised in question. Unfortunately, the blond she'd just mentioned was the one who was brave enough to raise her hand. Bella grinned seductively at me as I answered the student's question. I startled when I saw Bella unbutton the top three buttons on her shirt. The valley between her breasts was clearly apparent, but just to make sure that I was aware of the fact; she brushed her fingers across the bared skin as if she was readjusting the shirt. My moan was apparent only to her, and conversely her resulting giggle would only be heard by my ears.
I forced myself to turn back to the board…for my own sanity.
I just realized that, in a few days, you are going to hold the title of Doctor. Would you be willing to check out a few things for me? I have a few aches that I'm sure you would have just the medicine for. In particular…
I turned around quickly, calling on another student, attempting to distract Bella. It was a very bad move. She was shrugging out of her jacket, which just so happened to make the gap in her shirt widen out dangerously. I locked down control of my body and, as quickly as possible, I stepped behind the desk. I began picking up various papers to give a plausible excuse for why I would have moved.
Hmm…bend down like that again. It stretched your shirt across your shoulders. My mouth began watering just imagining the taste.
Then she played dirty. Suddenly I saw the fantasy in her mind. I was lying on our bed face down. Bella straddled my waist in one of those torturous outfits that Alice helped her purchase. As I shared the fantasy, her outfit solidified into a blue g-string.
She whispered to me, "Do you like that one, Edward? Alice gave it to me just the other day. I've been saving it. Maybe I'll wear it tonight."
Her fantasy continued in our collective conscious. She ran her hands along the muscles of my back, watching them twitch in anticipation. Then she followed along my backbone with her tongue as she slowly lowered her body to mine. Her hands entangled in my hair as she nibbled along my shoulders.
I dropped a pencil, using the excuse to bend down behind the desk.
"Bella, you'd better stop. My mind can pay attention to both you and the students, but my body is all about you," I told her quietly, using the desk to hide the quick movements of my lips, and my body's traitorous reaction.
I stood and realized I'd only made it worse. She had a pen pressed to her lips, and the way she rubbed it across her lips was blatantly erotic. I turned away with a soft hiss when her tongue ran across the tip.
As I continued with the review, she flashed a vision of us entangled in our steaming shower. I was leaning back against the tile as Bella slowly worked her way down my chest, her nails embedded in my thighs holding me still. I gasped softly as her vision had her lips wrapping around the part of me that refused to listen to logic at the moment. Several of the students looked at my back with questioning looks. I, in turn, looked at the clock on the wall. Fifteen more torturous minutes. Surely Bella couldn't do too much damage to my fragile self control.
I was so wrong. By the time I dismissed the class, I was a shuddering mess. She'd sent me pictures of us in about every position we'd ever attempted, usually choosing ones where she was shouting my name or moaning incoherently.
I promised myself that we were going out in the Volvo as soon as Nessie fell asleep this evening. The images she utilized of our time making out in the back seat of the car were definitely ones worth recreating.
She slowly glided towards me as the last student walked out of the classroom. I stood as still as stone as she trailed her fingers up my arm. She continued toward one of the doors behind me. Opening it, she turned toward me.
"What a nice closet you have, Professor Cullen. Oh, and look, there's a way to lock the door from the inside."
It was either a miracle or a sign of her thoughtful planning that she had decided to wear a short skirt to class that day. The silk underwear lay in shreds on the floor as I wrapped her legs around my waist and buried my face in her hair. I moaned, feeling her body surround me as I used the leverage from the wall that I'd forced her against to mesh our bodies, making it impossible to know where one ended and the other began. My fingers wrapped around her small hips, holding her totally immobile so that I could pay her back for the excruciating hour of torture she had just inflicted upon me. Neither of us lasted long the first time.
"Hmm. You know, my physical science teacher didn't give me this kind of attention when I was his student. Perhaps I didn't get the full experience of that class. I think I'll file a complaint," she pondered playfully, once she was able to talk.
A rumble issued from my chest at the thought of anyone touching a hair on her head, and she smiled in satisfaction at her little game. Hmm…the perfect payback was conveniently at hand. I was out the door and back within a second, all my stuff in hand. Bella had taken the time to right her clothes and brush her fingers lightly through her destroyed hair, assuming we were about to depart towards home. So when I locked the door to the closet behind me, she turned toward me questioningly.
"The next class will be here momentarily. You are going to have to be extremely quiet to keep them from hearing you Bella."
Her look was a mixture of horror, incredulousness, and guilty pleasure. Within a moment, I'd laid out several lab coats in the tiny space and had Bella's naked body pinned below mine. I grinned when she threw me her first thought of retribution. I was so much better at being quiet than she was, but it would be close considering she was going to use her gift against me to increase my pleasure. As we heard the class begin to fill the room, I placed Bella's hands over her mouth and began my slow descent down her body with my lips.
A/N: I promise this is the last technical chapter. I had to finish the explanation of the wolves. Why, oh why, didn't I have a professor like this in college?
As always, I want to thank my Betas:
CullenFest – she was the very first personal email I received when I began writing this story months ago. Her support early on is the only reason I even continued. Thanks SO much for all the encouragement! Please go over and visit her stories here on FF.
Crmcneill - for his mighty red pen, and help in mapping out strategy. Contrary to how he presents himself on his FF profile, he is an incredibly patient man. The only way to thank him is to get through this next few chapter, so that we can get to a section in the story he has been dying to write for me. ;)
