Intimate Portraits

(Another little time jump (/) Also here is what I envision Aurora's necklace to look like: . )

"I will see you in a few months my little lamb," whispered Bianca.

Aurora stood; her face buried in her mother's arms. She held her tight, breathing in the comforting scent of her skin cream and Jean Patou perfume. The three weeks had flown by and now Aurora's parents were leaving Forks, returning to their winter residence in Spain. Though Aurora suddenly wished she could turn back all the clocks in the world, the time spent with her parents had been one of sheer delight, with plenty of mirth.

Aurora's father, Robert, had spent most evenings in Carlisle's study, studiously discussing ancient literature texts with Carlisle. Robert regaled Carlisle with stories of his time lecturing at Oxford University, while Carlisle for his part entranced Robert with various tales from his medical experience- some gruesome, others mildly irreverent though amusing. Aurora and her mother would spend hours with Rosalie and Alice flipping through stacks of fashion magazines, all critiquing or aweing at potential wedding dresses for Aurora. With Aurora's mother's painfully efficient organizational skills and Rosalie and Alice's sharp eye for haute couture, Aurora had now only a select few wedding dresses to pick from. On days when Forks wasn't enveloped in rain or fog, the Francises and the Cullens would leisurely walk in the forests of Forks. Emmett and Jasper had even taken a keen interest in the various fly-fishing techniques Robert had shown off one afternoon.

Aurora sniffled, as her mother embraced her.

"Now, now, no need to open the floodgates," her mother gently teased. "We'll be back in June."

It was decided that Aurora and Carlisle would marry in June, giving Alice and Rosalie time to plan what Alice promised to be a show-stopping, but tastefully elegant wedding.

"I love you, mama," Aurora said softly. "I love you so much."

Aurora's father came towards Aurora, cuddling her and his wife in a bearhug.

"Now remember Aurora, we're only a phone call away," her father said. "And you know we'll always stand behind you. No matter what. We're all family and we'll stand together as a family."

Aurora nodded, grasping her parents tightly. The three embraced one more time before Aurora's mother and father started towards the Cullens car. Jasper would drive them to Port Angeles that afternoon. Aurora's mother pulled Aurora aside as her husband bantered with the Cullens, saying his goodbyes.

"Now I know that the bride-to-be should get something old and something blue on her wedding day." She said. "But your father I thought that now is as good time as any."

Bianca reached into her purse, taking out an object wrapped in yellowed tissue paper. She delicately unwrapped it. In her hand, Aurora's mother held a large pendant made of diamonds and sapphires. Aurora blinked, staring at it.

"Mama, no, I can't," she stammered, shaking her head, pushing her mom's hand away.

Bianca clicked her tongue.

"It was your great-great-great grandmother's Aurora," she whispered. "She handed it down to her daughter, then her daughter handed it down to her daughter and her daughter after that. And now it is your turn to wear it."

She motioned for Aurora to turn around. Aurora relented, seeing the determined look in her mother's eyes. Aurora scooped her hair into her hand, holding it, while her mother fastened the pendant. She turned around, seeing her mother's glassy eyes.

"Now, who is opening the floodgates?" Aurora gently teased.

She embraced her mother tightly. Carlisle came to stand beside Aurora as her mother took out a hanky, dabbing her eyes.

"Take care of my cherub Carlisle," her mother sniffled.

Carlisle smiled.

"You know I will," he said solemnly.

Aurora helped her parents into the car, before shutting the door. She waved goodbye to her parents, watching the car disappear behind the trees. Carlisle embraced Aurora from the back, putting his chin on her head.

"So… What shall we have for dinner tonight Mrs. Cullen?" he asked softly.

Aurora smiled, peering upwards.

"Venison for you," she giggled. "Chinese take-out for me."

/

As the months passed, Aurora had conceded to Carlisle's previous endorsement of Aurora exploring photography on her own, without an agency backing her. With the Cullens' support, Aurora quickly built up a reputation for being one of the best portrait photographers in the state. She had heaps of clients chomping at the bit to pose for her or begging her to take on photo spreads, and wealthy buyers willing to pay for her striking photos. Though Aurora sometimes wondered if Carlisle didn't in one way or another gently persuade some clients more than she would have liked, though she never mentioned it to him – knowing he would smile his mercurial smile and walk off. She settled into a comfortable routine of immersive work, while Carlisle and the coven continued their life in Forks, knowing their secret was safe with their soon-to-be "Step-Mother". Things seemed to be as smooth as could possibly be.

One afternoon as Aurora was finishing up a series of edits for portraiture she had done of a group of local fishermen, a knock came at her bungalow door. She wasn't expecting Carlisle till late that evening as he had a double shift at the hospital – it was flu season. She furrowed her brow, padding to the front door, opening it. There was no one there. Aurora frowned, looking around, wondering if the person had walked to the back of the home. She walked outside, wrapping her hands around herself as the bitterly cold air hit her skin. She stopped dead in her tracks as a thick beige envelope lay on her front step. The envelope was damp, its ends rumpled.

"Nice courier service," she mumbled.

Taking the envelope inside and slamming the door, Aurora went back to her office. She easily ripped open the envelope and reached inside. She immediately felt the smooth photo paper beneath her fingers. She was captivated – she was usually the one sending envelopes with photos – not receiving them. She pulled out the photos. All color drained from her face as she stared at her own naked form in the black and white photos. There were at least 30 different photos of Aurora and Carlisle, all in various forms of undress or lovemaking. Some had been taken in Aurora's bedroom. Others in the forest and others were from Carlisle's study. Aurora picked up one photo. Carlisle was leaning over her naked body on the bed, her eyes were closed, she was smiling. Aurora's neck was bleeding, as Carlisle's mouth and chin were dripping with blood that traveled down to his stomach. Looking closer, Aurora couldn't make out Carlisle's fangs in the photo – though the blood added an especially dramatic touch to the scene. She sifted through the photos once again, racking her brain. Was this some sort of sick joke? How could someone have taken these photos without Aurora or Carlisle noticing? She shook her head.

"Telephoto lens dummy," she sneered. "And the huge, peeping-tom windows don't help."

As Aurora frantically looked through each photo, she noticed a small note was stuck onto the back of one of the photos. She glared at it before taking it into her hand.

There's a small choice in rotten apples.

Aurora stared at the writing on the card, thinking she had vaguely read the lines somewhere before. She slumped down into her desk, ogling the photos. An idea suddenly popped into her head.

"It takes a photographer to catch a photographer," she growled.

Aurora set to work scanning each photo, then uploading it to her laptop, using her photo editing software like Sherlock Holmes would use clues, to figure out who the mystery voyeur might be.

Craning her neck, Aurora heard Carlisle's car in the driveway. She groaned as the explicit photos littered her desk. Before she could shuffle them inside her desk, Carlisle was already standing in her doorway, leaning against the frame.

"I didn't realize you were into boudoir photography Mrs. Cullen," Carlisle mused, eyeing the photos. "Next time warn me, so you can get my good side."

Aurora glared at him.

"They're not mine," she said emphatically. "Someone has been spying on us."

Carlisle walked to her desk, picking up a photo. He studied it.

"A tasteless joke?" he inquired.

Aurora shook her head, showing him the note. Carlisle read it, his eyes growing dark.

"William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew," he said deliberately.

Aurora turned back to her laptop, opening the photos on her laptop as Carlisle continued to study the note.

"I managed to figure out that whoever this person is, they have a top-of-the-line telephoto lens. Assuming they were shooting from quite a distance, it's a monster lens, and those aren't cheap to come by,' she said. "They're also using a stabilizer, and possibly have a night vision camera meant to photograph wildlife, not to mention camo gear to conceal themselves. Most wildlife photographers use military or hunter-grade camouflage clothes."

Carlisle leaned over Aurora's chair, scowling.

"In English please?" he replied.

Aurora sighed in exasperation.

"Carlisle, whoever this is – they are either a professional photographer or have connections to get this kind of equipment from someone who is," she said alarmingly.

Carlisle tossed the photo back onto Aurora's desk.

"They want us to know that they know about us – about me," Carlisle hummed in anger. "Whoever this is, they are waiting for another show."

Aurora's mouth fell wide open as Carlisle stalked to the bedroom, looking out of the window. Aurora followed, tiptoeing behind him.

"Carlisle," she began. "Why would someone be trying to blackmail us?"

Carlisle shook his head, running his hand through his hair.

"I don't know my love. But I do know one thing – to catch a predator who gets his thrill from eyeing his prey, you must think as the predator" Carlisle snarled.

Aurora clicked her tongue.

"In English please," she replied.

Carlisle turned back to look at Aurora, a strange grin playing on his lips.

"Why don't you go have dinner, my love," Carlisle cooed. "Then change into the little red bustier you love tormenting me with."

Aurora arched her eyebrows.

"I am NOT putting on a peepshow for some freak hiding in the trees," she said darkly.

Carlisle walked over to her, his eyes smoldering. He gently shoved Aurora into the nearby wall, by the armoire, pulling her hands up above her head.

"Oh no my love," Carlisle whispered, "This predator is not going to get the satisfaction of seeing any part of my wife."

Aurora grinned.

"Future wife," she countered.