A/N: Hello everyone and thank you for the well wishes as well as your patience. To address a couple of reviews:
No, I never intended for Edythe to be pregnant from this, so I'm sorry to disappoint. However, that part is coming, I promise ;) Just bare with me and enjoy Edythe and Beau as teenagers, then they be young adults/parents. We haven't even gotten to the wedding yet :P
The anniversary date is March 12th, not their 12th anniversary! I had to find a 2005 calendar to work backward in my head to get the actual date, so the technical date is the 12th (the day in the meadow). I hope that clarified and I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 36: Her Little Sister
Eleanor didn't really understand human anatomy; Carine and Edythe had always been the ones interested in healthcare and medicine, while she had leaned more toward whatever suited her in the moment. But she found herself partially wishing to have taken the time to learn it, though she hardly expected to be in the situation she was currently in. And, despite the centuries of training and knowledge Carine had amassed, the human doctor seemed just as shackled in her ability to help the human member of the family as Eleanor was.
Edythe was curled up in a fetal position in Eleanor's lap, her forehead pressed delicately to her right shoulder. Her eyes were closed against the pounding headache, trying to fight the nausea until the anti-vomiting medication flowing into her veins through the IV took effect. Her breathing was low and shallow, but from pain or fever, she wouldn't say. Her body was warm, like a heating pad against where she touched Eleanor's frigid skin. It would have been uncomfortable, but Eleanor didn't mind, knowing her lack of body temperature was soothing to her sister.
Eleanor hoped Carine was right, that this was just a short bout of sickness, secondary to Edythe's dangerous, reckless escapade two nights prior. Her human body was so fragile, a fact that had seemed to have been emphasized again and again since Edythe had become human. Eleanor had never really thought about human fragility much, only in passing when Edythe had expressed her musings and fears over Beau back when she had first met him. She thought Edythe had been over-exaggerating then, but now, she knew she had been completely right and more.
Eleanor was the protector of the family; it had been a role she had donned during her human life, as the eldest of many siblings, she had been the one to step up to help with the farm and her parents. She had been out on an errand when she encountered the bear that invariably led her to her vampirism. Since then, she had taken on that role without question, especially given her greater strength compared to the average vampire.
But her strength turned out to be nothing but useless in the face of human illness, and nothing she, or any of the family, could do to take away what was hurting Edythe so badly. All they could do was comfort her, and do what they could to ease her pain.
And so, Eleanor had no qualms about staying with Edythe between the hours of her passing out after her arrival home, and Carine's return from work, keeping skin-to-skin contact to try to keep her cool. Now, she held Edythe gingerly against her side, one arm across her middle to support her, while the other lay against the back of her neck. Eleanor could feel the way Edythe was holding herself so carefully, and knew the reason behind it.
"What hurts?" She asked anxiously, recognizing the familiar signs, from watching Edythe recover from the car accident. But, ever stubborn, the human just shook her head just slightly, not saying anything.
"Edy, we've been over this," she said firmly, "Don't keep us out." Edythe sighed after a moment.
"Everything," she whispered, "My head, my stomach, my arms. Aching, but intense. And I feel like I want to throw up, like my stomach is trying to twist itself into knots." The words were no more out of her mouth when Carine was besides her and Eleanor. Her cool hand felt gently across Edythe's flank and Edythe worked not to cringe, her eyes clamped shut against Eleanor's shoulder as she let her mother examine her. All the vampires were aware of her reaction and Carine finished quickly.
"Nothing feels swollen; unfortunately, it's just a side effect from the flu," Carine said quietly, more to the rest of her coven than to Edythe. "But I'm going to give you something for the discomfort." Edythe shook her head, trying to protest, to say she didn't need anything.
"Yes," Carine said; the tone wasn't stern but Edythe could hear that there would be no room for argument. "It's either this, or we take you to the hospital." Underneath the fatigue and discomfort in her expression, Carine could see the edges of a pout on Edythe's lips and, despite herself, she fought a smile.
"Always so stubborn," she murmured, her fingers brushing back a piece of bronze hair that had come loose from Edythe's twist before drawing up the dose and adding it to the IV bag besides her. Edythe shifted suddenly, as if to readjust, but after a moment, they could tell she was trying to get up, despite the weakness that plagued her body.
"Ah ah, I don't want you moving," Carine countered, catching Edythe's wrist in one hand while the other wrapped around her waist. Edythe leaned heavily into her, and Carine could tell she was half-asleep, the drowsiness from the medications finally taking effect. Carine stoked her thumb across the back of Edythe's hand.
"It's late, Edythe. Just rest," she coaxed, her voice dropping to a quiet whisper. "Please, sweetheart, just let us take care of you." At the same time that Edythe seemed to obey, Carine glanced up at Eleanor, asking with her eyes if it was okay. Eleanor nodded immediately, pulling Edythe back to her, tucking her sister's head under her chin. Despite her fatigue, Edythe still had enough in her to protest.
"You don't need to say. There's nothing you can do to fix it," she mumbled, her eyes still not open.
"Oh, hush, enough of that," Archie's voice was suddenly close and she felt something cool and wet graze across her forehead. She didn't feel any shift in the bed as Archie settled beside Eleanor, taking Carine's place as he held a damp washcloth in his free hand, his other wrapped around one of Edythe's fidgeting hands.
"We will do what we can," he told her, "And there's nothing you can do to stop us. So just accept it, and try not to stress. Let yourself recover." Carine stepped back half a step as her two children tended to Edythe, fighting another smile as Edythe sighed; though the sound was weak, she could hear the dramatics in the response. But Edythe seemed to accept her fate, and allowed herself to accept the help. It didn't take long for her heart rate to slow. They seemed to take a sigh of relief as she finally succumbed to unconsciousness.
"I see her going to her massage appointment later on this afternoon," Archie said, looking up at Carine, who nodded. "She doesn't look as bad as now. So that means she'll be over it?" Carine pursed her lips slightly, her hand reaching out unconsciously to brush against Edythe's cheek; even asleep, the human leaned just slightly into her mother's touch.
"Most likely. But I'll feel better once her fever breaks," the doctor said quietly.
"How will we know?" Eleanor asked.
"She'll start to sweat, start to feel the effects of the fever,"Carine said. "The fever breaks when the internal thermostat in her body resets to ninety seven, ninety eight. And her body will do what it needs to get rid of the excess heat. She may wake up from being uncomfortable; at that point, she may want to drink." Eleanor and Archie nodded in understanding.
"Call me if her breathing gets too heavy," Carine instructed before leaving the room, leaving her children there with Edythe. Earnest moved to follow her and she could see the concern in his honey eyes. She reached out to press her palm to the side of his face and he pressed his lips firmly to her palm.
"She's so weak," he lamented. Carine smiled sadly.
"I know, but she will be alright. With time, and old-fashioned care, attention, and support," she assured her, while also assuring her children, who she knew still were tense in the other room. "That's what we need to give her, whether she likes it or not."
Eleanor closed her eyes as she laid her chin gently on the top of Edythe's head. She supported her weight fully, holding Edythe upright as she slept soundly, overcome by the drowsiness of the medications. Archie stayed besides her, while Jessamine stayed near the door and Royal across the room. No one spoke; no one moved. And the night wore on.
Just before six, Eleanor could feel the change and she glanced down, noticing the minuscule change in Edythe's body temperature, as well as the thin sheen of sweat across her forehead. She breathed out a sigh of relief. Carine returned to the room as Archie reached forward to wash the perspiration from Edythe's face.
"Her fever broke," Carine confirmed a moment later, "Her temperature will start to go down after a few hours. Hopefully, she will feel well enough to try to eat."
Feeling slightly more relieved, Jessamine moved to leave, Archie following behind her reluctantly, only appeased by the vision he had of Edythe being willing try something around mid-day. Both of them moved to shower and get ready for their morning classes. Royal, however, paused at the door. He stepped toward where Eleanor sat on the bed with Edythe, Carine besides her.
"Are you coming?" Royal asked quietly. Carine glanced at Eleanor, ready to take Edythe from her, but was surprised when Eleanor shook her head, her hold tightening ever so slightly.
"I'm going to stay," she said simply, her eyes coming up to meet her mate's. She didn't miss the flash of something in his eyes. She knew that Royal had gradually come around to the idea of Edythe being human, especially after the accident that had very nearly killed her. But he had never been close with her, in comparison to their other siblings. Royal knew how close Edythe and Eleanor were, but he found her desire to stay distasteful.
"She'll be fine. Carine will be with her all day," Royal objected, trying not to sound harsh.
"Roy, she needs me right now," Eleanor responded quietly, her eyes pleading. She could see the expression in his face, and she knew him well enough to know what he was thinking, but he wouldn't say in front of Carine.
"I know you don't understand, and you might be hurt. But I'm sorry, I need to stay," she said, then added. "I know you two butt heads, but I want to have the time with her, especially when she wants me, when she's like this." Eleanor hesitated then spoke once more, this time quieter, a pain coloring her tone in a way neither Carine or Royal had ever heard before.
"We don't have forever with her anymore, Roy. I want to spend as much time with her as I can, while she's still my baby sister, while she's still here."
The two other vampires froze, shocked by the blatant reminder. The emotion in Eleanor's voice was not typical of the usually buoyant, happy-go-lucky person she normally was. But the stark reminder of Edythe's humanity, once again, had beaten at the back of her head one too many times. She was reminded that one day Edythe would grow up, grow on; she would go on to veterinary school, become a doctor. She and Beau would marry and have kids one day, the natural passage of time affecting her in the way it would never affect them.
The Cullens would watch Edythe age, watch her live and grow, until one day, she wasn't there anymore. And Eleanor would never get her little sister back. The thought was too painful for her to conceive, despite how often it was staring her in the face.
And so, Eleanor had found the best way for her to cope: to be with Edythe and enjoy her and live with her as much as she could. To create as many good memories and moments to last Eleanor's a vampire's lifetime. It would never take away the hurt, she knew, but it would ensure she never wasted one moment of the precious time she had.
The reminder unsettled both Royal and Carine; Carine had to fight back the crushing wave of despair and grief at the thought. Similarly to Eleanor, she had been burying, refusing to acknowledge the reality of the ending, focusing too hard on the present. But, despite the idea of the pain she would one day endure when Edythe and Beau left this world, she could not help but be thankful for the world they lived in now.
Carine loved Edythe being human, to having what she wanted more than all else; she loved the happiness in her eyes when she could touch and love Beau in ways she had been too scared to do beforehand. She loved that Edythe could have the parts of being human that she longed for, in the same way she and the rest of them did. She loved being able to assume the role of mother and parent for her daughter—just as she knew Earnest loved to do the same as Edythe's father—and her children enjoyed being able to treat Edythe like the little sister she was.
Carine loved that, in Edythe being human, they all got the same opportunity to live a normal human life. Despite the obstacles and never-ending tribulations Edythe and they as a family had had to navigate in the past few months, Carine was hopeful that once the initial storm passed, once the rockiness calmed, their lives could be as fruitful as they once hoped. The possibility of that coming joy and happiness was so tempting and impelling she could do nothing but wish for it to come, for Edythe to be free of the turmoil she had gone through.
Carine reached out and squeezed Eleanor's free hand tightly, her expression mirroring those feelings. Eleanor responded in kind, knowing her creator felt the same as she did. She glanced up hesitantly at Royal, taken aback to see the softness in his eyes.
"She and I may be at odds a lot of the time," he murmured as he gazed down at Edythe's sleeping form, "But she's still my sister. And I'll love her the way I always have."
Carine couldn't help a smile at his words, the expression staying in place as Royal leaned down to kiss Eleanor goodbye before departing the room.
As Carine assumed Archie's role, smoothing a fresh washcloth across Edythe's sweating forehead, she could hear the sounds of the rest of her family resuming their responsibilities. They, like Carine, had stopped to pause in response to Eleanor's words. And she knew that, like her, they had all similar emotions and reactions flitting through their heads in response. They were acutely aware of what they were signing up for when Edythe became human, but that didn't stop them from having to internalize or process the negative repercussions of that choice.
Carine shifted closer to Eleanor, pulling the blanket down to Edythe's waist, working to keep her cool as her body worked to bring her temperature down. As the hours passed and Edythe continued to sleep, Carine unhooked the IV line, satisfied that she could get by without it. It was just after eleven when Edythe's heart rate picked up a notch and she began to shift. She twisted just slightly in Eleanor's lap before opening her eyes, the green bleary and covered in a film of sleepiness.
"Good morning," Carine said softly, squeezing the hand she held, "How are you feeling?"
Edythe didn't respond at first, her eyes casting downward as she took a mental inventory. The stomach ache had receded, and her arms were no longer sore. The nausea was gone—for the moment, at least—the pounding in her head was minimal. Her throat was parched, and she was stiff from sleeping for so long, and there was bad taste in her mouth.
"Better, I think," she murmured after a moment. "My arms and stomach doesn't hurt; the headache isn't as bad. I don't feel like I want to throw my spleen up, at least not now. My head still hurts a little, but my throat is dry."
Carine nodded, relieved to hear Edythe giving her what sounded like full details. She reached behind her, producing a small water bottle that Earnest had brought up, and offered it to her. Edythe moved to sit up, her stiff muscles protesting the movement. She stretched slightly then took the bottle and unscrewed the cap.
Carine and Eleanor watched her carefully as she took a couple of small sips, waiting a few moments in between. She finished a few ounces before pushing it away, not wanting to push her luck. Without seeming to think about it, she leaned into Eleanor's side. The three of them said nothing for a few minutes, waiting tensely for something to change. When nothing did, Carine seemed to take a breath.
"It's definitely progress," she said encouragingly. "How about you take a shower or bath and then maybe we can try soup?" Edythe nodded slightly, then moved to throw her legs over the edge of the bed. Neither vampire moved to help her, knowing she wouldn't take kindly to it, but watched her scrupulously as she stood and made her way to the bathroom.
Edythe dressed down slowly, taking her time to prepare for her shower. She took care to wash her scalps through with shampoo and to comb through her hair before rinsing her conditioner. The feeling of cleanliness was soothing and the warm steam helped with her sinuses. A knock on the door from Eleanor preceded her sister's arrival; normally, Edythe would have rolled her eyes or made a comment. But she was beginning to accept the protective attentiveness of her family, and so she said nothing.
When she stepped out of the shower stall, Eleanor was already filling the bath, tossing in some unlabeled liquid into the water. Edythe raised an eyebrow in question.
"It's supposed to help with muscle aches," Eleanor explained with shrug. "Besides, a hot bath won't do you any harm." Edythe couldn't help but agree and easily stepped over the lip fo the tub, sinking down into the warm depths. Eleanor left her be, slipping out of the small crack in the door.
Edythe gave herself twenty minutes of soaking before reluctantly getting out. Again, she took her time to detangle her hair and wash her face, patting herself dry before glancing at the clothes Eleanor had laid out for her. It was a pair of soft high-waisted leggings and a long-sleeve shirt, perfect lounge wear for a lazy day at home. She donned the clothes easily, and was feeling very comfy by the time she stepped out of the bathroom.
She was taken aback though when she saw Carine and Earnest already there, Eleanor sitting crosslegged on the bed while Earnest was holding a breakfast tray. She smiled though, knowing they were spoiling her, and that any argument on her part would not result in a victory. And, though she would never admit it, she was glad to not have tog o downstairs, to enjoy food in the comfort of her bed and blankets.
There was just a small bowl of chicken broth and soup prepared along with some apple juice. She tried not to appear hesitant as she picked up her spoon and was thankful when Eleanor started in on a conversation with Carine about the latest hunting prospects at the nearby national park—they were almost due for a hunting trip and were interested in the idea of larger game that had been supposedly overpopulating the area. Edythe knew the talk was only to break the silence but she knew they were watching her every move, ready to step in if needed.
Edythe began with a few cautious sips of the broth, mentally preparing for her stomach to rebel. When it didn't, she continued; the nauseous feeling that receded back to the bottom of her stomach stay stagnant, enough that she felt confident enough to take larger gulps. By the time she had finished—only able to finish two-thirds of the bowl—Carine and Eleanor were watching her, satisfied smiles on their faces. Edythe returned the smile halfheartedly, sighing and crossing her arms over her middle, thankful to be able to ease the hunger pangs that had been ricocheting around her abdomen for over a day.
Edythe leaned back into the pillows as she finished, listening to the conversation between her mother and sister, partaking every once in a while. The tranquility, the lack of expectations, was not lost on Edythe, and she felt more at peace than she had in a while. Her body was still tired, worn out both physically and emotionally, but this morning had helped to give her the opportunity for a reset, and she hoped her allowance to trust her family would continue, despite her tendencies to not let them fuss over her.
Edythe admitted she didn't mind being treated like the baby, and was relieved that she could be taken care of, after so long trying to fix everything herself. Handing the burden off, or at least offsetting it slightly, allowed her the ability to breathe and steady herself. Her family was more than capable, and more than willing, to help her through it. She was just learning to teach herself to let them.
A/N: Again, I never would have known this chapter would have gone this way before sitting down to write it. But I thought it was necessary to work to give the Cullens more equal share in this story. And I love the dynamic between Eleanor and Edythe, such a cute, sibling-esque, quintessential big sister-little sister relationship.
And Royal has been in the backseat for a lot of this. Again, Edythe and he are not as attached at the hip as maybe Archie or Eleanor, but he still is there. And he does have his own feelings. Maybe I'm just an optimist in this case, but the picture painted in Midnight Sun of Rosalie is just so self-absorbed and narcissistic.
I know I may be going off the books to make Royal less like his female counterpart, but I feel it's for the better, in this case (especially since Royal doesn't have as much claim as to why he hates his human life—sans no female reproductive system that aches at the sight of a human baby).
Again, not a huge amount happened in this chapter, but maybe some more exploration of character thought and development, as well as the cutsy family fluff you guys know I love! I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think, if you like, and I'll see you next week!