The first time we have to stop for gas is much sooner than I would have liked, which is to be expected at the speeds we're driving when possible. After I take Renesmee on a quick trip to the bathroom (the only downside of our daughter consuming human food is the digestion process), and ignore the stares of the cashiers behind the counter, we rejoin our family at the gas pumps. Everyone is out of their various cars, pacing and pretending to stretch out their legs as any human would- they really have this act down pat. Renesmee skips over to her Aunt Rose and gives her a big hug, laughing joyfully when the blonde scoops her up effortlessly. I follow her lead, joining my sister and daughter with a smile sent towards Edward at the sight of our happy loved ones.
"What do you think the new house will be like, Ness?"
"I don't know, no one will show me any pictures!"
"How cruel!" Rosalie teases, playfully pulling one of her curls.
"Everyone's determined for it to be a surprise," I laugh out, placing a hand on my daughter's back as she's held tenderly by her aunt.
"Well, it should be exciting, even if it is an adjustment. It'll be your's and Ness' first time living in a house with everyone rather than just Edward. It'll take some getting used to."
"It'll be fun, right, Ness? Getting to spend so much time with the family?"
"Definitely!" She reaches out, placing a palm on both Rosalie and I's cheeks before images start flashing through my mind. Pictures of our family's rowdy board game nights (Emmett loudly protesting that Edward and Alice are cheating), Rosalie destroying her mate at Mortal Kombat while the rest of us sit on the couch laughing and watching, quiet evenings where we're all just doing our own things in the same room, soaking up each other's presence. Picture after picture flashes by, causing warmth and happiness to bubble up in my chest. We may not have been born into this family, but we found it nonetheless, and we love each other fiercely. Rosalie and I both grin when the memories stop and I join in on their embrace, closing my eyes and dropping my shield so I can let Edward join in on the happy memories and thoughts floating through my mind.
"Hey!" Alice's delicate, bell-like voice chimes in suddenly from behind us and causes my shield to snap back into place. "Why wasn't I invited to the party?" We pull away slightly and laugh before I hold out my free arm in invitation, Alice spinning her way into the hug and gripping us tighter than should be possible for one so small.
"Okay, okay," Rosalie steps back after a moment and puts Nessie back on her feet, rolling her eyes in faux annoyance. "Enough with the sappy hug already."
I sigh and shake my head, giving the blonde a playfully disappointed look. "Do you have to ruin every moment, Rose?"
"Yes." We all laugh at that, Nessie included, and the humans that are standing by their cars as they gas up turn to look at us. I can't blame them, the sound is melodic and it takes you aback the first time you hear it. I remember that sensation well.
"Let's do this!" Emmett whoops out, rushing over to wrap his arms around Rosalie's chest from behind with his dimples on full display. "Time to hit the road ladies!" Rose rolls her eyes fondly at her mate's loud display before waving goodbye and allowing him to pull her to their car. Esme and Carlisle are already seated in his Mercedes and are speaking quietly amongst themselves about the details of Carlisle's new position. I take Renesmee's hand and watch as Alice prances over to Jasper and her yellow Porsche, kissing him gently and lovingly before they slip inside.
"Ready to get going again?" Her big brown eyes peer up at me, sparkling with excitement and intelligence.
"Yes, Mommy. I can't wait to get there."
"Me neither, Ness. Come on, lets join Daddy." We gracefully return to the Volvo, Edward grinning at us the whole way. She hops into the back seat and buckles up before I close the door, turning to face Edward who'd come around the car to meet me.
"I'll never get used to you and Rosalie being close." He chuckles and wraps his arms around me, pulling me into his chest.
"I don't think I ever will either," I laugh, peering up at his painfully handsome face that I can appreciate so much more now with my improved eyesight.
"It fills me with happiness to see you fit so flawlessly amongst our family."
"I was born to be a Cullen, Edward. I love them all way more than is reasonable."
"Hey, lovebirds!" We turn towards Emmett's booming voice, Edward looking moderately annoyed and me feeling sheepish. "Wrap it up, we gotta get a move on." If I could I'd be blushing furiously as every person patronising the gas station turns to look at us due to our brother's incapability and complete lack of desire to be subtle. I quickly turn and climb back into the car, ignoring Nessie's wind chime giggles sounding from the back seat and choosing instead to pick at invisible lint on my jeans. I see Edward flip Emmett off from my peripheral vision and can't hold back the grin that grows across my face at the sight. He moves quickly back towards his door, his bronze hair glinting in the minimal sunlight that manages to escape the ever cloudy Washington sky. Luckily it wasn't enough to make his skin shine inhumanly. He slides into the driver's seat and turns on the car, turning back to double check that Renesmee is buckled up before following our family's many cars back onto the road.
The sun comes out in force a few hours later, making me thankful for our barely legal tinted windows and Carlisle's strategic driving that keeps us on the most deserted roads as often as possible. Occasionally we do have to take the interstate, which slows our progress by a decent amount. But as soon as we pull of and back onto the deserted roads it becomes too much of a temptation for Emmett, who often breaks formation to challenge Edward to a race. Renesmee loves it when this happens, chanting 'faster, faster' from the back seat and cheering with every one of her dad's victories. A squad car hiding amongst the trees about two miles up on a hidden path interrupts one of these races, causing Edward to quickly decelerate and honk once. Both cars are quick to rejoin the caravan and we all carefully obey the speed limit, much to everyone's annoyance- vampires like to go fast.
As soon as Edward gives the all clear the race is back on, Nessie's cheering and Rosalie's advising on when Emmett should clutch still incredibly audible over the roaring of engines. The disappointment of a tie is interrupted by Edward's ringtone and Carlisle's name lighting up the screen. I answer it and press speaker unnecessarily before his soothing voice echoes around the car.
"Edward, there's a gas station four miles up and I need to refuel. I'm sure you and Emmett are in desperate need of gas as well."
"I'm practically running on empty," Edward chuckles, fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel.
"It's settled then, we'll pull over." At that the call is over and the gas station is appearing on the horizon, the Cullen caravan quick to pull into the lot. It's a small gas station, shady looking and only claiming two pumps. We split up, two to a pump, one fuelling and one waiting, and step out of our cars. Emmett and Edward quickly begin taunting each other, Emmett promising to demolish us next time and Edward snorting in amused disagreement. Renesmee dashes off towards where the pavement of the parking lot meets the grass leading into the forest, entertaining herself by picking the wildflowers growing there. I join Edward in leaning against our car and taunting Emmett, Rosalie joining in as well when she hears us ganging up on her husband.
"Enough." She cuts in, a smug smirk on her face. "I'm driving this time." I have a lot of faith in my husband, he's accomplished the impossible many times including just by existing, but Rosalie is an automobile master. In short, we're screwed.
I asked her once if she had seen the Fast and Furious movies as I watched her work on Alice's Porsche. She'd looked at me like I'd grown two heads, looking like a supermodel lying there in a jumpsuit and smeared in motor oil. As soon as she'd finished whatever she was working on I'd pulled her into the house, forcing her into a Fast and Furious marathon with me. She'd loved them, watching the impressive driving manoeuvres with wide eyes. She spent the next day perfecting her favourite moves from the films and challenging Emmett to drag races.
Thirty minutes later, after everyone finished pumping gas and loading back up, Emmett waving smugly at the gaping employee staring at us and our expensive cars through the window as we pulled out, we're idling in a straight line across the road. My hands grip the steering wheel tightly and I look over at Alice in the driver's seat of her Porsche on my right. On my left is Esme behind the wheel of the Mercedes and to her left in Rosalie raring to go in her red BMW. After Rosalie had stated that she was taking over on behalf of Emmett it was decided that for the final race we'd all participate and the ladies would drive. We're only three hours from the new house if we drive at human speeds, but at our unsafe speeds it will only take us an hour and fifteen minutes. So, for our last hurrah of the road trip, we're going all out.
The engines are purring and revving occasionally as we all grin at each other wickedly. Two seconds pass before I hear Alice, at slightly louder than speaking level, say "Go." In an instant we're all flying down the road, vampiric reflexes keeping us on the road and preventing any collisions as the sounds of my family cheering and shouting echoes from their cars. Edward is chuckling, but mostly keeping quiet so I can focus. Nessie is another story, she's shouting and laughing from the backseat, pushing for me to win. When we decided to race Alice had seen us using a certain tree as our finish line and drew it for us quickly so we'd know what to look for. It's definitely unique looking, and easy to pick out amongst the rest of the trees . It's gnarled and twisted, bent over sideways and joining oddly with another pine to its right. The cheering escalates in volume when the tree finally becomes visible and I push the pedal as far down as it would go without explicitly deciding to do so, removing Alice's edge. I pull ahead of Alice and Esme, causing Nessie to let a loud cheer and raise her hands into the air. Hope bubbles up in my throat and I grin broadly as the tree grows closer and closer. The thought that I just might win is decimated as Rosalie comes roaring by, leaving us in the dust and blowing past the tree acting as our finish line, emerging victorious. I hear Alice curse as we all slow to a stop, Emmett jumping out of the car and pulling Rosalie out through her door so he can pick her up and twirl her around.
"That's my wife!" He shouts before placing her back on her feet and giving Edward the finger, everyone else stepping from their cars as well. We're all grinning, excitement buzzing in the air and bickering breaking out about Rosalie having an unfair advantage due to all the practice she's had and Alice glaring at me claiming I cheated.
"Alright, alright," Carlisle finally breaks us all up and we all dissolve into laughter once more. "Everyone back in the cars, it's time to go see our new house." Edward swoops Renesmee into his arms and throws her gently into the air as he strides back to the car. I laugh and watch them lovingly, following behind and sliding into the passenger seat as Edward makes Nessie buckles up. The rest of the drive is peaceful, and about an hour later we're pulling into a long, twisting driveway that's obscured by trees. It's reminiscent of our driveway in Forks, and I know that's intentional. Just like how the house being a bit of ways out of town and nestled in the woods, out of sight of any humans and near our food source is intentional. We have very specific needs when house hunting.
Renesmee is out of the car and dashing towards the house before the Volvo is even still, Alice speeding to catch her halfway so she doesn't spoil the surprise and we can all enter together.
The house seems almost layered, with a wrap around balcony on the second floor that thick tree branches hang over, giving us a fun exit and entrance. There's quite a few windows, but not nearly as many as our home in Forks. The house is tall and all slants and angles with a large porch. It's beautiful. We're quiet as we walk through the front door, Renesmee holding my right hand and Edward gripping my left. The door opens up into a large sitting room decorated in creams and soft blues, the furniture numerous and overstuffed. To the right is an archway the leads into a kitchen that's full of top of the line stainless steel appliances and a large oak dining table big enough to fit us all despite the fact that only two of us actually eat. Straight ahead is the laundry room and next to that the stairs leading to the second floor. We separate and go to inspect our individual rooms, five in total. Edward's and I's is at the end of the hall to the right with Renesmee's right next door. Rosalie and Emmett are to our left and down the hall is Alice and Jasper's room as well as Jacobs. The floor is divided in half by the staircase leading up, plateauing into the hall, and then carrying on to the third floor which consists of Carlisle and Esme's room as well as Carlisle's office.
Nessie's room is beautiful and feminine, draped in lavender and silver with a canopy bed surrounded by a delicate gauzy fabric. Her closet is bigger than her one at the cottage and her dresser is ornate with a large mirror topping it. She once again has a chaise under her window they looks out into the forest and she has an interconnecting bathroom. Edward and I watch her explore for a few minutes with soft smiles before leaving her to check out our own room. Its larger, larger than Nessie's but surely it the house's master bedroom. The back wall is all windows and a sliding glass door that opens up to the balcony. The sight of the bed pressed against the left wall brings a bright smile to my face. It's the bed Alice bought for my first sleepover at the Cullen house as a human. The bed I first attempted to seduce Edward on.
That thought would have left me blushing if possible, and my gaze moves towards the bookshelf stocked full of books and CDs by the wall of windows. Our closet is huge and Alice apparently unpacked all of our clothes when she came to decorate, as they're hanging nicely and organised by colour and style. Next to the bed is a doorway that leads into our bathroom. It's beautiful with white marble and gold trimming. It has both a shower and a claw foot tub that I can't wait to soak in. I'm shaken from my thoughts by the feeling of Edward's hands on my hips as he lifts me up to swing me over his shoulder. I let out an indignant noise of protest and slap his back. I bounce twice when he tosses me on the bed before crawling after me. His moves are predatory and his eyes are dark with lust rather than hunger. He pins my hands above my head and presses a gentle kiss to my exposed throat before pulling away with a grin.
"What do you think? Do you like the new house?"
"It's beautiful." My voice is breathy and my focus is on something other than our conversation, the feeling of his body pressing against mine thoroughly distracting me.
"It is." He whispers, nose nuzzling against mine and our lips brushing with each word. "But it's nothing compared to you." My heart flutters at his words and I give him a broad grin before surging forward to press my lips against his, moaning as our tongues intertwine. The moment is interrupted by Emmett barging into our room and leaping onto the bed.
"Gross, Eddikins. We don't have time for you two to make boring vanilla love, we've gotta go with Esme to pick up groceries for Nessie and Jacob. Carlisle wants us all to go into town so people get used to the sight of us before school starts." Edward groans and flops on his back next to me, leaving me flustered- albeit invisibly so- and annoyed.
"That never works," Edward sighs out, rubbing his face with both hand, "it just gets the rumour mill started early."
"Yeah, well," Emmett leaps up and reaches across me to slap my husband in the chest, "it's what Mom and Dad want, you try arguing with 'em."
"Okay," I sit up, laughing at Emmett's antics and Edward's annoyance. "We're coming, we're coming. Has Jacob gotten here yet?"
"Nope, the mutt must still be on the way. I'll go tell Esme you're onboard." Edward groans and rolls back onto me once our brother had left the room, burying his face in the crook of my neck.
"We haven't been living in the same house for even an hour and we're already getting interrupted." I laugh and hug the back of his head, dropping a kiss on his copper locks.
"We have tonight, and if we have to explore the woods for a decent spot beforehand then we will."
"Promises, promises." He growls, nipping my neck before leaping off the bed. "Come on, love. Let's go downstairs before I change my mind and disappoint Esme by keeping you locked in here for the next three days." He helps me off the bed and holds my hand as we speed down the stairs. Nessie dashes to our side and leaps into Edward's arms with no warning, causing him to let out a loving laugh as he spins them around. The family is all gathered in the sitting room ready to go. We're going to take two cars to get there: Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett in the Mercedes; Edward, Alice, Jasper, Ness, and I in the Volvo.
Esme leads the way out the door, purse over her shoulder, and the rest of us trail behind. Carlisle locks the door after us before moving to the front of the group and wrapping an arm around his wife. We load up quick, Rose glowing with happiness when Renesmee cuddles up into her side, not that there's much room for anything else with the three of them piled in back there. The amount of time it takes us to get into town is longer than the amount of time it takes us to actually locate the store in this seemingly one road town. We all take a collective breath when we pull into the parking lot in preparation for the scent of heady human blood that I know is going to nearly knock me off my feet. It's been awhile since we've been around humans other than Jake and Charlie, choosing instead to keep to ourselves after my transformation, so we're not taking any chances.