Of all the members on the Volturi's guard, Jane and Alec had the most freedom. They were Aro's favorites, after all. Well, besides Caterina, of course. No one questioned it when Jane and Alec gave a simple announcement that they would be absent for a few weeks on business. Aro gave no thought to the idea and happily sent them on their way, bidding safe travels. Even if he had decided to debate their truthfulness, they had both mastered guarding their thoughts, just enough that it was never suspicious.
When they reached Washington, their first stop was an alleyway. They had gotten hungry on the plane. Jane tutted at her brother when she noticed a crimson stain on his cloak. He rolled his eyes as she attempted to remove the liquid from the dark fabric.
"I think you're just like mother," Alec taunted.
Jane's actions halted and, in a shocked voice, she asked, "You remember mother?"
"Not much," he shrugged, "but I can assume you're just like her, Janey."
"Don't call me Janey!" She said menacingly, though it no longer had an effect on the boy.
To say that the Cullens were surprised when Alice told them to expect the Witch Twins at their doorstep would be an understatement.
"Hello Jane, Alec," Carlisle greeted politely.
Caterina sat on the couch, wrapped in Rosalie and Renesmee's arms as they comforted her. Jane actually felt bad about the ordeal when she saw the tremendous pain in the blonde's eyes.
"Demetri and Felix took your do - your friend." Jane was never one to beat around the bush. Cat was shocked at the news about Seth.
"So he didn't - he didn't leave me?" Jane shook her head.
"No. See, you're still the center of Demetri's infatuation, and he will not see reason. He's already shattered the poor boy's arm." The Cullens were shocked at the level of sympathy Jane was showing, much less about a shifter.
"Then why are you here?" Esme scolded Rosalie for her brash behavior.
"Understandable question. I - we want no part in his stupid games to vy for your unrequited attention. Eventually, Aro will find out about the boy, and I also don't want him killed."
"Why wouldn't you want him killed?"
"You care for him, and I do like to think we were friends during your time on the Guard, no?"
"Uh, yeah. Friends."
"Wonderful!" Jane smiled, which shocked most if not all of the Cullens. "Now, would it be too much trouble for us to ask to stay?"
"Of course not, Jane. You and Alec are welcome anytime. Thank you again for helping us get Seth back, we owe you our lives." Caterina had quickly become another daughter to Carlisle, despite being older than him, and Seth, another son, despite being another species.
"Do not be so dramatic, Carlisle. I simply do not want another scene between your family and the Guard that would inevitably come with his death."
Jacob and Sam's pack were both called to the home, an official meeting between the four groups. Paul was told multiple times to keep his insulting comments to himself, to which he rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath. A plan was to be conjured to effectively and safely get Seth out of Italy, with a few hiccups occurring in the process.
"I think most of us want him back here in one piece, Jane," Cat said at one point. Her crossed arms sat on her chest.
"Oh. Well, then nevermind," Jane muttered as she scrapped the idea.
After a while, a set plan had still not been developed, and the group made the decision to reconvene the next morning. Jane and Alec were shown to their individual rooms, both with queen sized beds and bookshelves stocked to the brim. There were loveseats in each room and a television. Jane was unpacking her things, placing the few neatly folded black clothes into the dresser.
"Can you explain to me again why you care so much about Seth?" Caterina had not surprised Jane, of course. She had heard the approaching footsteps, but the question did just that.
"I just...I told you, I don't want another scene between your 'family' and us, that's all." Jane seemed unsure in her answer. Sure, Jane excelled at manipulating and menacing people, but that was her job. Lying was never her specialty.
"You said something earlier," Cat's eyebrows furrowed, "about Demetri 'vying for my unrequited attention' and how sick of it you are. Could this be about how you feel about Demetri?"
Jane' s eyes widened and she practically begged Cat to keep her mouth shut, though she was sure Alec had probably already heard. A laugh could be heard through the walls followed by an "I knew it!" and Jane wished she could implode.
"I-I have no particular feelings for Demetri…" the smaller blonde trailed off. When Cat's eyebrow raised with an accusing glare, her resolve melted. "Except that I'm hopelessly in love with him and all he does is talk about you."
Caterina's face scrunched in a particularly unappealing way, "Why me?"
Jane sighed and shrugged, "Probably because you're the only woman in the world who never showed interest. Men are like that."
"Jane, he's an idiot." Caterina sat next to the darkly dressed girl on the bed.
"...And?"
"And what?"
Jane's red eyes found Cat's, "Aren't you supposed to go on some after-school special tangent about how 'wonderful' and 'gorgeous' and 'brilliant' I am? And say that 'if he can't see that, then forget about him'?"
"When did you start watching Full House?" Cat laughed.
"What is that?"
"Nevermind," Cat sighed, "you clearly already know all of those things. Why do you need to hear them from me?"
Jane shrugged. It looked as if she had more to say, but she bit her tongue. Caterina had to fight back a yawn in the Guard member's presence, then made up a lie about wanting to read for the night.
The red eyed vampires never noticed Caterina's heavy breaths matching Renesmee's.