Chapter 12

Mean Something

Knowing that the Cullens were vampires didn't change things, funnily enough. The fact that they could sit still for hours was a boon for her ability to draw real life. Though she still fucking hated hands. Why were they so annoying? Eyebrows, eyes, eyelashes, hell even noses, she could get with a bit of tweaking but hands? Nah.

Well, the skeleton she could do, but for some fucking reason, trying to just put muscles and shit on top of that, no. They always looked munted. Which was probably the reason as to why she tried to limit doing them. Yes, that also meant she got less practice but fuck off, Edward.

The telepath huffed a laugh over by the piano. It was only him, Esme, and her in the house. Everyone else was hunting. Lucy was spending the weekend at an audition in Seattle and unfortunately for the twins, they had a family thing that meant they had to go to Tacoma.

'Willow?' Esme asked, causing the brunette to look up over her frames.

'Yes?'

'Have people ever told you that your pieces are wonderful?'

Uh…shit, say something. 'Thank you?' Not as a question.

Esme waved her over to a patch of wall and when the matriarch wasn't watching, Willow sent Edward a wide-eyed look. 'What the fuck?' she mouthed.

'Go.' He answered back silently, playing.

Setting her sketchpad down, she followed Esme to stare at the midnight blue patch wall. Willow looked up and down the hall and realised that this bit seemed naked compared to everywhere else. The Cullen household was so elegantly decorated, warm and welcoming whilst using the natural lighting from the windows in order to make it seem so open. So why was this bit empty?

'I was wondering if you would do a piece for me?'

'What do you have in mind?' Willow scratched her head. 'And, it would have to wait till the summer holidays. I mean, I can get you ideas drawn up whilst I'm here if you have things in mind already? It's up to you.'

It wasn't completely strange for people to ask for something. Willow just couldn't quite work out why Esme was asking her when the family wasn't exactly tight on cash. Was she doing it because of the Mating bond with Jasper?

Going by how Esme lit up, Willow was going with the fact that the caramel-haired woman just liked art and different artists. She came back with an idea board, suggestions, and colour schemes. Willow could work with that. She enjoyed it when someone had an idea of what they wanted.

'Come with me.' Esme bounced into her crafting room where there was a table on wheels with bits and bobs scattered around and then an architect's drafting table too. 'Only if you're up for it, dear, I didn't mean to put you on the spot.'

'No, you're okay,' Willow waved away, looking over the idea board, taking in the paint shades and tones. 'Have you any subjects that you're particularly drawn to?'

Esme sat across from her, 'Well, we usually have a piece to symbolise where we are. We have art like that in every one of our houses but because we renovated this one, I just haven't gotten the chance to find anything that…fits on that section. Then I saw your work and how Jasper raved about the detail that you put it and how you somehow managed to get a piece done a week for class? Carlisle even went to check out that mural that you did for the paediatrics ward and he adored it. So, I thought, and everyone agreed by the way, that it would be fitting to have the piece created by someone who'd grown up here and if they just so happened to join the family, even better.'

Nodding, Willow pushed her glasses and sleeves up, 'Have you seen the lavender that grows here?'

'No.'

'Over in Mount Rainier, they're so pretty. It's like they just blanket areas in the spring.'

'Oh, I love lavender.'

'Lavender and that smell of rain are my favourites.'

'I would think you'd find it comforting,' Esme mused, head cocking, 'the sound of it.'

'Very much so. I find it sometimes difficult to sleep when I'm in New Hampshire, it doesn't rain a lot there.'

'That's where your mother lives, correct?'

'Yes. She moved with my older twin siblings when they were eighteen, they decided to go to school in that direction and preferred her company anyway. Dad and I always got along better though, so it was alright with us. So, did you lot actually move down from Alaska or was that a cover-up?'

Esme laughed, and it was warm, soft, like wind chimes. 'We have…extended family of sorts in Denali so we were with them for a few months but then Alice had a vision and we moved here. I had been looking for something else to do with my time. I'm a freelance architect.'

'I'm not great with math but it boggles me what you guys can create.'

Esme laughed again and Willow held a finger up as she darted back for her art stuff, flipping to a new page before digging for a pencil. 'Alright, what ideas have you got?'

Fresh from a hunt, adrenalin high, Emmett announced their presence in the house with his booming voice. Jasper's gaze immediately went to where he had left Willow on the sofa and frowned when she was not there. 'She's working with Esme in the craft room.'

Nodding to Edward's answer, he moved to the room, knocking gently to find his Mate peaking up over her frames as both her and Esme lent over a large sheet of paper, colours scattered around them as they brainstormed. 'Are you all back already?'

'We just got back.' Jasper leant in the doorway as he took her in. Her maroon cardigan was thrown over the back of one of the stools, revealing her toned arms and shoulders as she leant on the table. She was still in what she considered her work stuff but had decided that since the dark wash overalls were not dirty to leave them on as she'd come into the house. The Yoda socks had made him smile as she padded through the foyer.

Moving over to her, Willow shifted towards him as his arm slid around her waist. The table was strewn with different colours, materials, ideas, and drawing utensils but the two of them had seemingly come up with an idea that complimented the wall colour. 'You've been busy.'

'Hands were beginning to infuriate me,' Willow tossed to him as her hands settled on his chest. 'So, any other idea was better than wanting to throw my sketchpad out the window.'

'I'm sure.' Jasper laughed, kissing her forehead. 'You needed to be back by five, right?'

'Mhm. Wait, what's the time?'

'Only, a quarter to four, dear.' Esme patted her arm and within two seconds the room was cleared, Willow's things stacked gently with the concept art in a tube as to not damage it. 'Why don't we get you something to eat and then you can head on your way?'

If that meant that Willow got more of her cookies, then she was all for it. 'Seems like a plan.'

'It feels like I haven't seen you, sapling.' Richard sighed mournfully as they sank into the sofa, dinner on their laps.

Willow sent him a look as she cut her chicken. 'It's not your fault that you're working the shifts you've been given. Don't worry about me.'

'Carlisle told me you've been asked to paint something for Esme?'

She nodded. 'Yeah but it'll not be done by maybe autumn because of school and Mrs Cullen knows that and is happy to wait. It was different from Finn's piece. Watercolour takes less time to do and dry. Acrylic can be…temperamental.'

'I'm sure.' He laughed. 'How has everything been going with Jasper, by the way?'

'Good.' Willow admitted. 'His parents seem to like me, and I already got along with everyone else from school. It felt a bit weird in the beginning –'

'—because you were probably anxious, as per.'

'True.' She waved her fork.

'Have you told him of your mother?'

Willow shook her head. 'Not yet. I know I need to or at least let him know that it's not exactly the regular relationship but I'm…working up to it. How was work, by the way?'

Richard let her change the subject and they spent the time, catching up. He'd been given later shifts so they had rarely crossed paths over the last two weeks. 'I'm on nights this week, remember?'

'Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, yeah I know, you put it in the calendar.'

He set his plate on the coffee table, before turning to look at her. 'If I allowed you to have Jasper over instead of your other friends, can I trust you not to do anything stupid?'

'Considering we've only been dating for three months, Dad,' Willow pushed around a pea, 'we're not there yet but yes, you can.'

'Okay, good,' he nodded, 'because I know you don't exactly feel comfortable saying at home by yourself. That doesn't mean that you can't have the others over, I'm sure if you ask Carlisle and Esme, they wouldn't be opposed to having the house to themselves. You could move Jon and Eve's mattresses up to your space and may a few nights of it.'

Willow thought on it. 'That wouldn't be a bad idea.'

Getting up, Richard took the plates since Willow cooked, 'Go and run it by everyone, and then come down and we can catch up with SG-1.'

'Sounds like a plan.'

Darting up the stairs, she closed her door and her phone began to ring as she made her way over to the bed. Rolling her eyes as Trelawney went across her phone screen as she flipped it open, Willow answered, 'I take it you've cleared it with everyone?'

'Yes.' Willow pictured Alice rocking on her toes. 'We could make it a long weekend kind of thing?'

'Like how? Do Thursday, Friday and then release you to the wild on Saturday?'

There was a slightly tinny laugh over the phone. 'If you're up for it?'

'Let me run it by Georgie and Co and I'll get back to you. Yes, I know you probably already know the answer but us mortals need to do some leg work.'

'Okay, phone back after.'

'Yes, dear. Bye.'

Hanging up, Willow moved over to her laptop and dialled her human friends. Lucy answered pretty quickly but it took a few tries to get Scott to answer. 'Yo, sorry, Dad had me tidying the garage. Gi's coming up now.'

'Nah, it's cool. So Dad's on nights this week, you lot want to come over Thursday – Friday and we'll make something of it? The Cullens have been given the green light.'

'Oh, can we do a Disney marathon?' Lucy bounced in her fluffy chair.

Willow swished in her chair, 'I don't see why not? Scott?'

He looked up from his phone, his navy wall behind him covered in sports stuff and pictures, 'Yeah, sounds good. I was just texting Gi, she's asking now.'

'Cool.' Willow nodded, checking the plant on her desk and frowning when she realised that it was dry. 'Give us a second.'

'Plant mother duties have been activated.' Lucy drawled and, as she walked past with her watering can, Willow flipped her off.

She flipped on the little fairy lights over her bay window as she was watering the flowers and whatnot over there when Georgie shouted. 'We can go.'

'I mean,' Willow sat back down, carefully putting the can back down. 'There's not a lot of times where your folks have said no?'

'They're planning on taking Soph down to Seattle for the weekend anyway.' She shrugged as she leant over the back of Scott's chair. 'Dad has a meeting on Friday so Mum and her are going to go down after school. Mum's got no dire projects on the go anyway.'

'That's nice.' Willow smiled, 'So you lot come over here after I'm done with work on Thursday and we have to then lug the mattresses up to my room as quietly as possible. Actually, I might ask if Dad can help me Wednesday, means he doesn't have to listen to us thumping and cursing up the stairs whilst he's trying to sleep.'

Lucy tipped her head. 'We aren't the quietest of people.'

'That's because we let the Tweedles take one mattress by themselves that nearly started World War Three.' Her comment generated snorts from everyone and she checked the time, 'Cool, alright, I'm going to catch up on SG-1 with Dad and I have to call Alice back.'

'Alright, bye girl.'

'Bye you lot.' Hanging up on them, Willow dialled Alice, 'So instead of heading to yours, you lot came head over here either after I get back from work or go and 'have dinner' then come over. Dealer's choice.'

Alice was quiet for a second, probably looking into her crystal ball – oh present ideas – and Willow had zoned out herself. 'We'll come after, with stuff.'

Alice hadn't realised that Willow hadn't been paying attention herself and had ended up on the damn floor again because her voice had spooked her. Willow swallowed a grunt of pain. 'Willow?'

'Just stubbed my toe that's all.' She gritted as her hip throbbed. 'Listen, I'm away to watch tv with Dad, so we'll talk more at school, 'kay?'

'Yep. Bye.'

Rolling her eyes, Willow brought her phone with her as she heaved herself up off the floor, rubbing her hip. Fuck that hurt.

'Gravity decide to get you to see if it worked?'

'I have as much luck as Daniel does.' Willow muttered, flopping down beside him. 'They're all good to come over. I was hoping that because you love me, you'll help move the mattresses up Wednesday?' her chin landed on his shoulder. 'So that we don't wake you up?'

'You drive a hard bargain.' He narrowed his eyes. 'Deal.'

'Nice.'

It was a tie between anxiety keeping her up or insomnia.

Ever since she found out about vampires, well, her imagination seemed to run for the hills, leaving her with charming images in her dreams that had her up when dawn broke. Just the idea that the demons under her bed were in fact potentially real had her clamping her limbs to her body every time she got into bed. Along with bolting over after having to turn off the lights.

Well, she did that anyway because she was a sensible person but semantics.

'Demons?'

'Not that I know of.' Jasper huffed a laugh as he welcomed her back onto her bed, slotting her to lean against his chest between his legs. 'Why?'

'Still gonna keep my limbs out of reach of underneath my bed, thanks.'

His laugh vibrated through her chest as she nestled her head against his shoulder, The Mummy beginning to play on her DVD player. 'Now, I'm not so sure on mummies…'

'Jasper Whitlock!' she screeched and he rolled the two over as she went to smack him. He'd rolled her so that she was face up against the white pillows.

'I'm teasin'.' Jasper muttered, scattering a few kisses of apology up her neck. Willow still pouted up at him. 'I'm sorry.'

'How do you know mummies don't have curses on them? Humans have been revenging their tombs for centuries – how do you know that the World Wars weren't because of the curses on the treasures?'

'Anyone ever tell you that have an incredibly active imagination?'

'My therapist.' Wariness entered her emotional palette. 'Did I check the doors?'

Jasper kissed her gently. 'Yes,' he murmured against her mouth, 'I even double-checked for you.'

'Oh,' she relaxed, hands moving around his neck, pulling him closer. 'Okay.'

Huffing a gentle laugh against her mouth still, he murmured, 'We're missing the movie.'

'Nobody cares about Imhotep, so shush up and kiss me.'

'Happily.'

The two of them actually did end up watching the movie that night. Willow had slightly messier hair and some kiss-bruised lips but they did watch it and the second one.

'Do you know the entire script for both of these?' Jasper laughed as she mouthed, hand smoothing the skin of her hip. 'Honey, what are you doing? These guys don't use doors.'

'Yes.'

'Nerd.' He murmured warmly into her crown as they continued to watch as Ardeth, Rick and Evy fought the resurrected servants of Imhotep on the double-decker through London.

'I also know most of The Lord of the Rings and both Star Wars prequels too.'

Willow didn't see Jasper's amused headshake at her admittance because her head didn't move from where it was resting above his long-dead heart, her arm slung around his waist. She was such a nerd but didn't see it as something negative as most people would. If anything, Willow – and Scott by extension – was proud of her knowledge of niche things like musicals, science fiction and plants. Jasper was man enough to admit to himself that he enjoyed watching her eyes turn brighter as she talked about a subject that not only, she enjoyed but knew a lot about. The green of her gaze seemed to ensnare him as he watched her talk.

By the end of The Mummy Returns, Willow had deemed it late enough – 12.17 – to go to sleep. Tucking herself up under the covers, Jasper lay down with her after putting the DVDs both away along with the player. Having set her alarm before they'd even started watching, Willow burrowed deep and welcomed Jasper back onto the bed, liking the slight temperature different he gave under the duvet and blanket. Enjoying the kiss to the forehead with a sleepy hum, she pressed her forehead against his throat and within minutes of beginning to play with her hair, Willow was asleep.

I have come to the realisation that heck, my Muse likes to end a majority if not all of my chapters with Willow asleep. For some reason, that's a great place to stop in my head.

Anyway, thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews that this has been getting, it really does make my day to know that you all love Willow as much as I do - I just finished chapter 21 and we are getting close to the Danger Magnet coming so Vampire Drama is on the horizon for Willow. Because of that revelation, I thought that for the Holidays, I would give you all another chapter to brighten your day/evening/nights (time zones are absolute bitches) and wish you all a safe and calm Holiday Season.

Enjoy,

K x