Fred POV

I was so pleased to see Bree. I'd never really had any friends at all in my human life, and I hadn't realised I'd become so attached to Bree until she didn't come to Vancouver. I'd only promised to wait for one day, but I actually stayed there for almost a week before I gave up hope of her ever coming. Assuming her to be dead, I ran as far as I could, and spent several weeks mourning the loss of my first and only friend. It was in that time that I'd resorted to hunting animals, and had lived almost like an animal myself, out in the wilderness for several months.

Eventually my curiosity overcame my survival instinct. My life as a wild nomad was pretty pitiful anyway, so I decided it was worth the risk to try and find out what had happened to Bree. Looking down at the little girl now, it was the best risk I had ever taken in my life. She seemed as happy to see me as I was her. Then something struck me.

"Bree, where's Diego?" I asked. Bree froze, and pain shot across her face. Oh. Bree looked up at my face, and I saw there were tears in her eyes. I pulled her into a hug. So perhaps he hadn't been quite so lucky. Had the Cullens killed him? How could Bree stand to live with them if they had, though?

"What happened?" I asked quietly, as Bree stopped crying some time later. She took a deep breath, as though preparing herself for an unpleasant task.

"Riley lied." Well, duh.

"About…?" I prompted.

"He told me that Diego was already at the clearing, which was why I went to the fight in the first place. When I got there, Diego was nowhere to be seen, and I couldn't find his scent. I realised then that Riley and Victoria must have killed him in that cabin in the woods, and lied to stop me from running off." She was crying again, and it hurt me to see her unhappy. I wrapped her tiny body in my arms again.

"Bree I'm so sorry! I know how much he meant to you; I can only imagine what that must have been like to lose him. Me thinking I'd lost you can only be a shadow of how you must feel." I didn't know what else to say, so I just hugged her in silence, and felt glad I could be here with her now, even if Diego couldn't.

Eventually, Bree pulled out of my embrace, and sat up.

"Do you like it here?" She asked.

"They seem nice." I said, non-committal. I hadn't really been here long enough to form a strong opinion, though I was very thankful to these vampires for keeping Bree safe. "More importantly, do you?" Bree smiled, and that answered my question.

"They've been so kind to me. I actually met Carlisle before I was a vampire; he's a doctor in the hospital here, and I had to go in after my dad…" Bree trailed off. I cocked my head to the side, and looked at her, confused. She took a deep breath again, preparing herself.

"My dad… he used to... um… hit me." She started, and I froze in horror, but she didn't stop talking. "We'd just moved from Idaho because people were getting suspicious, and he beat me up so bad that I had to sneak to the hospital once he was asleep. Carlisle was the doctor who treated me, and he was really kind. I remembered that when I saw them in the clearing, and realised that they didn't want to hurt us." Bree paused to look at me, and I tried to smile, but I was still reeling from the news of her abusive father.

"They saved my life twice that day too; once when they agreed to a truce, and then again when the Volturi – the vampire police – wanted to execute me."

"They sound like decent people. It sure beats having only animals for company!" I joked, and Bree giggled.

"I can't believe I've found you!" Bree said again, smiling at me. "I really thought I'd never see you again."

"Believe me, I felt the same. When you didn't come to Vancouver that day, I was so disappointed. I waited a few more days just in case you got held up, and then I couldn't kid myself anymore. I really thought you were dead. I'm so glad you're not!"

Words could not describe how overjoyed I was to have my only friend back. There was no way to explain the pure joy that I felt. It was like all was right in the world. Every time Bree smiled, or even looked up at me with her cute little face, a warmth filled my heart. I was fairly sure she felt the same, and that filled me with joy too. I was so joyful that I thought I would burst.

A gentle knock on the door interrupted my happy thoughts. Two of the Cullens were stood there, the blond girl – I think she was Rosalie, and the big guy – Edward? No, Emmett.

"Hey, there's gonna be an epic thunderstorm – we're gonna play baseball if you two want to join?" Emmett asked. The sentence confused me slightly, but Bree jumped up excitedly.

"Ooh yes! I've been waiting for this ever since you said there had to be thunder!" Bree's excitement was infectious, and I quickly agreed to join. I glanced down at my torn and dirty clothes; they were probably decent enough to play ball in. Emmett must have seen me look, because he darted out of the room and back again with a pair of pants and a sweater.

"These'll probably fit you." He said, smiling as he handed me his clothes. I was touched by the gesture; I was a total stranger, and he was lending me his clothes? Was this what they were like to Bree too? No wonder she loves them so much. I darted into the bathroom in the corner of Bree's room to change into Emmett's clothes, and then followed Bree and the others down the stairs, where the rest of the Cullens were gathered in the living room.

I noted how Esme gravitated towards Bree, putting an arm round her. It was exactly like watching a doting mother with a young child, and it warmed my – quite literally frozen – heart. These Cullens seemed a good sort. If they really genuinely were this kind and welcoming, maybe they would let me stay too. I didn't want to be separated from Bree again, and she seemed settled and happy here. I let myself imagine, for just a few moments, what it would be like to be part of a coven than didn't literally rip each other limb from limb for fun. To be part of a family. To be settled and safe, and not need to repel everybody in order to make it through a day intact. It was a pleasant thought, but I didn't want to get my hopes up. We'll just ride it out and see where things go. Perhaps they were happy as a family of 8. They might not want anybody else joining them.

What do you think? I'm not sure where I want this to go... purely platonic?! More than that? Really very open to suggestions, I'm stuck! I don't have any more chapters written or planned, so unless I'm struck with inspiration, this might end here... :(