Author's note: Sorry this took so long! Major writer's block - mostly because this story is getting ready to wrap up. I might do a couple of more chapters, but we will see. :) And thank you everyone for the reviews! I look forward to reading them!


Day Forty-Seven of Forever:


Beau ran at full speed through the lush forest, the resting heartbeats of nearby wildlife softly crooning around him. The lull petered out the closer he got to their hidden home, signalling the start of a new day as all around him began to wake. New sounds met his ears instead: a tepid set of footsteps on hardwood, the subtle swishing of fabric, and then the chiming of granite fingers on ivory keys. The familiarity of the sounds of home warmed his chest, making him increase his speed substantially.

Soft music floated through the air as he finally came in view of the rustic cottage. The simple melody slowly morphed into his lullaby, clearly Edythe's way of welcoming Beau back to their home. The sound wrapped around him lovingly like a fleece blanket. It heartened him, strengthening his resolve to get things back on track for his wife's sake.

He braced himself with a steely breath before opening the door. The music flooded the inside of the cottage richly, bouncing off the wooden floors. Edythe called out to Beau from behind the keys, her cashmere and honey voice washing over him. It had been too long since he had heard that lightness in her tone; he hadn't realized how long it had been until then, giving him pause while also filling him with longing. He felt guilty for having dropped the ball so clearly in regards to his marriage but knew his failure only strengthened his resolve.

He had to do better. Edythe deserved better.

Beau crossed into the main part of the sitting room, intent on apologizing to his wife right away, dropping to his knees and begging if necessary, but the words caught in his throat.

Edythe was seemingly absorbed in her symphony, nonplussed as she played despite the fact that the outfit she wore was far from appropriate for a concerto. It was a deep blue baby doll, completely sheer besides the cups that were secured by ties over her shoulders. The string panties she wore under were thin and lacy, delicate in every way as they clung to her form, providing minimal coverage. It was more than enough to freeze Beau where he stood, all rational thought fleeing him.

She looked up at Beau, smiling sweetly as she played into the newer part of his song. "How was your trip with Eleanor, love?"

"Uh... It was... it was good." Beau was having trouble stringing together his words.

Edythe hummed contently as her lavender lids fluttered close. "I'm glad. She seemed confident she's be able to get through to you and it looks like she was right."

Beau was thrown, off kilter from the seemingly normal line of conversation that was in direct contrast to the lingerie Edythe wore. But she pressed on as if her outfit was not the least bit out of ordinary for discussing his recent outing with their sister. "You look better now, anyway, so I guess I owe her for that." She then peeked up at his from under her dark eyelashes coyly. "I'm just glad to have you here with me. Thank you for coming home."

"Mmm hmm." Beau rubbed the back of his neck, not sure if was supposed to address her state of dress or not. "Uh, what's all this about?"

"I missed our home," she answered softly, the last notes of the song ringing still as she pulled away from the piano.

"Not exactly what I was referring to," Beau said after clearing his throat. He slid the bench out with Edythe still primly sitting on it so she was facing him. Her legs were crossed demurely despite her daring outfit. The contrast of her pale flesh against the deep blue fabric was indecently attractive.

"You didn't let me finish." Her eyes were playful but something else lingered there too. "I missed our home. I missed being wrapped up in our love in our cottage. This was a place where it could be just the two of us with no obstacles between us, no barriers. It's where we were finally able to become one, intimately, physically, and emotionally. I just want to go back to that." She reached out, caressing his face. "I want to be as close to you as possible and revel in how much I love you. To force away all the fear and uncertainty, to just be us unfiltered again."

Beau got to his knees before her, laying his head on her lap. He sucked in a shaken breath, taking in the rich fragrance of her exposed skin. "I want that too," he admitted quietly. "I want to get back to that place with you, but I don't think it comes from being here."

"It doesn't," she agreed, stroking his hair. "But this is where we originally got to that place. I think the reminder will help."

"And the, uh, lace?"

"A wedding gift from my sisters," she said with a laugh. "I thought if I was going to welcome my husband home I should properly do it all the way."

"Well I am feeling very welcomed." He trailed his fingers up the flesh of her thigh and along the line of thin fabric.

"Mission accomplished then." But her tone quickly lost its mirth. "But in all seriousness, I know what you're going through is going to be impossible to come to terms with all at once; a pep talk from our sister and a few risqué lingerie items are hardly going to change that. But I know who you are, Beau, and I know together we can get to a healthy place. It just may take some time. But we'll get there."

Of that he had no doubt; it would be a process. But what was important at this moment was making the first steps, something he was committed to finally doing. He couldn't wallow in self pity for the rest of his time on earth - that wasn't going to do anyone any good, least of all Edythe. He had to face this head on.

He realized now he had gone into this world of theirs naively, understanding only in theory what it meant to be a vampire. The true scale of what it meant had been something lofty, something he could not grasp until forced to confront it by Victor's need for vengeance. And now that he saw for himself what it truly meant to be a monster he had to move on to the next part of it - acceptance. But that would have to come with time. Of course he had nothing but that now.

And in the meanwhile he would continue to live as best he could with the woman he loved faithfully by his side through it. There were certainly worse things.

Beau nodded with his newfound understanding, his fingers still skirting around the band of the sheer garments she wore. "I'm pretty confident about the progress we're making so far, especially in regards to this whole being welcomed home to lingerie aspect of it. But to clarify, I believe I heard you use the word 'items' as in plural? As in multiple pieces of lingerie?"

She rolled her eyes but her smile returned. "You did hear correctly. My sisters were very generous in supplementing my collection of negligees and other intimate pieces of clothing."

"Ah."

"Would you like to see?" She laughed as he continue to ghost over her body.

"Oh yes. Very much so, actually."

"Good," she replied, her voice dropping an octave seductively. "Because I plan on using the bulk of this day we've been allotted to show you each and every item to both our satisfaction. How does that sound?"

"It sounds like we haven't a second to waste," Beau growled, low and husky.

She curled over him, her hands roaming down his back. "But my brother has made it very clear that if we are not home tonight he will be coming here personally to separate us." Beau groaned. "There is much to be done, love."

"To get ready to move," Beau realized as he sulked. He had already consciously decided, of course, so it made sense that Archie was getting the ball rolling. He placed a trail of chaste kisses along Edythe's inner thigh, feeling her legs spread apart slightly to give him more skin to access. "Guess I shouldn't be too surprised."

Edythe sighed breathlessly at his efforts. "Mmmm. Well he wants to make sure all of us are settled and ready before the start of new school year."

"All of us?" he questioned, his lips stilling.

She slid her fingers under Beau's chin, lifting his face to hers. Her eyes were kind. "All of us."

He swallowed visibly, but nodded.

Edythe shook her head. "Don't be nervous, love. I'll be there with you every step of the way. We all will be."

"It's so soon," he croaked.

"You will be fine," she promised.

"How can you know that?"

"Because it's you. You are you, Beau, and you have always met and exceeded my expectations." She kissed his lips, silencing his protest. Her eyes were twinkling as she pulled away, taking in his pout. "You have never let me down, despite what you may think. You are the man I love, my husband and my partner, and I know you more intimately than any person on this planet can claim."

"I don't even know me," Beau admitted, clearly shaken by his own admission. "After everything I've learned that I'm capable of, everything I've done... I feel like I don't really know myself anymore."

"Then let me remind you who you are." Edythe got to her feet, pulling Beau into a standing position too. She spun backwards so she could face him, but tugged him by his waist into their bedroom. When they were standing in front of the full length mirror, Edythe turned him so he faced their reflections.

Beau slightly cringed, as was his custom, when faced with his alien appearance. Even now, he couldn't help but to be struck by the stark differences in his appearance verses what he remembered from when he was human. But the creature he faced now looked even worse for wear that he might have suspected, his wild-looking features the result of his dash through the woods and his off-putting maroon eyes still with lavender bruises underneath. He thought this version of himself might have fit in more among the haggard nomads than the immaculate Cullen family.

Suppressing a shudder, he forced his eyes towards the petite woman beside his reflection and found her gazing up at him with overwhelming affection.

"Beau." With just saying his name, Edythe stilled his unpleasant line of thought. Her love for him was evident. She leaned her head against his shoulder, her gaze smouldering as she took him in. "Beaufort Michael Swan," she started again, her lips curled into his favorite smile. "You are the man I have chosen to spend my life with. You are my serenity, my peace in this world that is so loud and dark that before you I felt I was drowning constantly. You brought me to the surface and returned the sky to my view simply by seeing me, and now it's my turn."

She took his right hand then and brought it to her lips, kissing his upturned palm. "With this hand you have caressed my face," she whispered in her velvety soprano, her eyes never leaving his. "You have shared your warmth with me as a human, as an immortal, and as a man - touched me as I have never been touched before and made me understand what it truly means to have been loved. No matter what else these hands are capable of, I know their gentleness above all else."

She brought his hand to the spot where here heart no longer beat, working it down her body slowly over the lacy garment. They moved along the curve of her beast, dipping to her waist, over the expanse of her hips and thigh, before moving back up again and settling in the center of her chest. Where their bare skin touched, something electrical surged to life. It was if they were being drawn in by a live current. It charged and pulsed, as alive and tangible as a beating heart, swirling around them as they touched.

"Do you feel that too?" she whispered, visibly tingling.

"Yes," he answered simply, knowing immediately what she was referring to. The pulsing that had been building between them since that first day in Biology was something that Beau had just accepted it as a part of what drew them together. He had never thought to ask if Edythe had felt it too but she clearly did.

She turned to him, running her other hand up his arm, silently marveling at the sinewy muscles below the surface as he reacted to her gentle touch. "With these arms," she continued. "You have held me close countless times - even when you should have turned me away. I have laid in them and watched you dream of me and called my name. I have felt them wrap around me and make me whole. You have picked me up with these arms and cradled me, teased me, and even carried me across the threshold of our home." Edythe sighed contently as she caressed him. "I have never felt more cherished than when I am in your arms, Beau. This is where my true home is - here, beside you."

Her touch receded and Beau missed it right away, wanting to draw her back in. But he did not have to wait long. Edythe worked her hands under his shirt, lifting it overhead and tossing it away. She then kissed her way up and along his flesh, sliding now both of her hands up to tangle around his neck.

He trembled when her lips came to a halt over his collar. She spoke directly against his skin now. "The blood that still pulses in your body tormented and intrigued me and nearly drove me crazy before. A potent mixture of amazing fragrances that cling to you still - your scent of sunshine and surf and vanilla and fresh cinnamon - a scent that is just so impossibly you that it makes me dizzy. Even with that the bloodlust gone away, the aroma still makes my insides squirm," she purred, pressing her body to his, making him hiss out loud with want. "You asked me once if I was as intoxicated by your presence as you were mine - and the answer in unequivocally yes. I want to drink in your scent and have it fill me up until I burst."

"Edythe," Beau moaned. He wanted to touch her.

She knew it too. "Not yet."

But she didn't play fair; her hands were winding down to his waist setting his skin ablaze. He found himself rocking against her unintentionally. She did not still him but instead encouraged him on as she dug her fingers into his hips.

"Our bodies has connected countless times." Edythe's voice was crushed velvet now. "I have felt you move inside me as we filled our needs, tasted the sweetness of your skin, marveled at the intensity of our lovemaking. Through our bodies we have expressed what words can not. You have shown me your every raw desire," she all but whimpered as her body writhed with his. "I have learned what makes you moan, what makes you lose all sense of control, what makes you cum." Beau pressed his erection more firmly against her lower stomach at that, the word a thousand times more erotic on her lips than he would have suspected. "And I plan on making use of our eternity together to map out every inch of your flesh and enjoy you to my heart's fulfillment."

Their bodies were interlocked, her breasts flush with his torso, his hips grinding into her pelvis. Edythe kissed along his chest in a frenzied way, her sighs spilling across his skin in the most maddening way. But she did not fully give in to her desire yet, still having more to express to her husband.

"And even still, these are all just pieces of who you are. Just fragments of what make up the amazing man I love. For as much as I know your body, I know your heart and mind just as intimately. I know you, Beau, and I love you more than I could ever say with just words." The hands around his neck pulled him lower until Edythe could pepper his face with kisses. He returned her fervor in earnest, winding his hands into her bronze hair as their lips collided.

"If you ever forget who you are," she breathed between kisses. "I will be here to remind you. I will always be here, Beau. Always."

There was nothing more that needed to be said verbally. Their caresses spoke volumes, their need at it's peak and overflowing.

Still pressed together, they worked their way over to the plush bed, Beau pulling Edythe on top of him. She nuzzled her body against him, her hands frantically undoing his pants and shimming them down. He aided her until he was finally undressed for her, his length finding purchase between her thighs. She pressed down on him through the thin fabric, seeping through almost immediately. Her sex recognized him, seeking out the warmth it could only revel in with their joining. She rolled her hips down as she undid the fabric ties at her hips, the material that separated them giving way so she might welcome him in.

Beau's hands skimmed over the back of her thighs, groaning and cupping her ass as her wetness wrapped around the tip of his cock. But Edythe did not fully lower herself onto him yet, basking in the sensation of him rocking against her entrance. It was torture of the most pleasurable kind.

As Edythe rubbed against him sensually, her breast swayed in the nearly sheer cups of her negligee. Beau found himself transfixed as they bounced, gracing him occasionally with a hint of her pink nipples as the garment shifted hazardously. He lifted himself up, still grabbing her full bottom with both hands. Using his teeth, he lowered one cup to reveal the creamy mound. He swept his tongue over the sensitive skin, swirling across the nub almost lazily. His actions spurred on her grinding until she was taking more of his length into her flesh, her walls gripping him intimately.

She shifted her hips down a fraction, mewling at the sensation of having taken him in fully. It was familiar, filling her body as well as her very being. Edythe felt complete. This was how things were meant to be.

Beau could feel it too. Being inside Edythe was returning home, was finding where he belonged even when he didn't know he was lost. She grounded him, gave him somewhere to go back to when there was nothing - because there would always be this, always be the two of them.

The frenzy was ebbing away into something almost gentle. Their pace eased up, their lovemaking taking precedent over fulfilling the needs of their flesh.

Touching, kissing, sighing; Edythe and Beau shared themselves wordlessly. They moved together hypnotically, joined in the most intimate way physically and emotionally.

He breathed her in as he kissed along the column of her neck, his teeth grazing against the skin carefully but with enough pressure that she shivered. Languidly he rolled his tongue over her skin, kissing and sucking in equal parts.

"Ohh," she moaned emphatically, writhing against his mouth. Edythe dragged her nails up and along his sides slowly, her hips raising and dropping as she pressed her body to his. She slid against him eagerly, finding pleasure in the way he teased her deepest regions as he met her thrusts. The pressure was building, gathered below her navel and spreading to the tips of her toes.

Beau was panting against her neck now, tasting the fragrance of her skin as his venom pooled along his tongue. It was overwhelming and impossibly potent. The sound of his sucking melded with her erratic breathing, desperation and lust in complete harmony as their bodies met in heat. He met her thrust for thrust, moan for moan though still neither were in any hurry to find their release. The joy of feeling each others' pleasure and prolonging the moment took priority.

The slow intensity of their lovemaking grew into mind-numbing ecstasy over and over as they savored each intimate touch. It was a different feeling from that of their passionate honeymoon where they were slave to their newfound urges; this something more akin to finding comfort in each others' embrace, still passionate but serene as well. Again, the barriers around them fell away until there was only two connected souls, bound forevermore.

Sometime later they detangled themselves unceremoniously knowing their alone time was up, though still sharing light caresses as they redressed. As Beau loosely tied Edythe's hair back for her, a mess of tangles from his fingers running through it, he noticed two marks at the juncture of her neck and collar. They were peach against the cream of her neck, standing out marginally like a shadow on her fair skin. Fascinated, he pressed his fingertips to the blemishes and found them warmer than the surrounding flesh.

Beau puzzled. "Uh, can vampires get hickeys?"

Edythe looked at her husband incredulously before erupting in long peak of melodic laughter, her voice a synonymy as it echoed through the home. She brought her hands to her neck where his hands were, feeling along the dip to marvel in the warmth as well. It was the exact spot where his lips had teased her; he had apparently printed her with his love.

"The short answer is yes," she said between chuckles. "It's not a true hickey, of course, as blood does not circulate for us as it does humans, however. It's from the venom when you kissed me there. Our skin reacts to the fresh venom, making my own venom pool under the surface to become flushed. It's darker there, isn't it?"

"Noticeably so," Beau admitted sheepishly. "Might have got a little out of hand there. Sorry, sweetheart."

"Oh, it will fade with time," Edythe said with a wink. "And then you can just mark me again." The idea did sound promising. She saw the eagerness on her husbands face and chuckled more. "Or maybe I'll just cover your entire body with marks of my own."

"Not opposed to that. Nope, not in the least bit." Eleanor would tease them mercilessly for the evidence of their tryst but Beau knew it would be well worth it. Every time he looked at the mark it filled him with a sense of pride and a longing to decorate her skin with more. But there would be more time that later - an entire eternity of it.

The couple returned to the main house soon after, somewhat drunk on their romp still. As predicted, Eleanor relentlessly made fun at their expense but was gracious enough to stop short of actual innuendo, staying true to her promise to Beau. After she had her fill of their embarrassment, she clued them in on their plans for the night.

"Archie said we're going to be leaving Washington soon," Eleanor said, looking at Beau for confirmation.

He nodded once. "It makes more sense to leave now."

"True, true. So since we may not be around for much longer I was thinking we should do something." She gestured out the window. "A last hurrah of sorts."

Edythe mulled that over. "Well what did you have in mind?"

Jessamine was the one who answered her, however, peeking her head out of Archie's rooms she addressed them. "I think we should use the time we have allotted to ease Beau into human populations. A little test run to see if it's prudent to jump headfirst into anything." The blond looked at Beau apologetically. "I'm don't mean to imply anything, of course, but I thought you might like to confirm the extent of your control now before we skip town and it's too late."

Beau was not offended, however; Jessamine smiled as she felt his gratitude for his sister's thoughtfulness. "No, that makes sense, Jess. Better to know now."

"How about we take him out on a little excursion?" Eleanor suggested, clapping her hands together excitedly. "A little classic vampire outting?"

"Well it's certainly not the worst idea in the world," Edythe conceded, but frowned as she dipped into Eleanor's mind. "But are you sure about the choice of venue? Shouldn't we start slow?"

"Well yeah but it's kinda the perfect place to test him. And it's a Friday so it'll be a slow roll out if we get there early enough." She looked quite proud of herself. "We'll show up at like nine when it's still dead and see how he fairs. If it's too much we leave before the midnight crowd makes things rowdy."

Edythe thought it over for a second before calling out to her brother. "What do you think, Archie?"

"See for yourself," he replied from somewhere on the third floor.

Whatever he showed Edythe satisfied her. She turned to her husband with an expectant expression. "Would you be up to a trip to Seattle tonight?"

He shrugged. "Uh, sure, I guess. What are we gonna be doing?"

"There are some live venues this time of year that line up with the colleges' start of the summer semester," she stated almost as excited as her sister now. "The music isn't amazing but the atmosphere is what makes it an interesting evening. It's almost infectious."

"It gets wild," Eleanor added, pumping her fists over her head. "Dancing all night and just everyone partying, having a great time. We try to hit up the scene every now and again."

"Watching twenty-somethings get falling over drunk does break up the monotony of endless day and night nicely," Jessamine chuckled.

"Wait, are we going clubbing?" Beau asked disbelievingly. It was not exactly what he pictured when Eleanor mentioned a vampire field trip.

"Heck yeah!" El said with a wink "Ever been to a nightclub before?"

"Yeah, no - underage."

She grinned. "Not gonna stop you tonight. You're gonna love it."

"And this is a normal occurrence for you guys?" Beau asked, still confused.

"It is actually a little cliche," Archie admitted, popping out of the library to lean over the banister. He grinned down at Beau. "Stalking around the city under the cover of darkness and all that. But we do it for the same reason drunken college students do: to let loose and have fun. Besides, it's safer to let our facade slip when we're out at night rather than during the day."

"It's a lot easier to blend in when the humans are too intoxicated to remember anything strange about us," Edythe explained. "If we move too quickly or one of the lights hits us strangely, they'll just pass it off as having too much to drink. So if you should accidentally be less than human for your first time in public its best to do it in a place where no one will have any solid recollection of it later."

Beau shook his head. "I'm just having a hard time picturing vampires partying with mere humans as a good idea."

"It can be pretty entertaining," Jessamine promised with a smirk, now at the bottom of the staircase. "But emotions do tend to run high though so it can get a little overwhelming."

"You'll be fine," her husband assured her, appearing at her side, bumping the side of his hip into hers playfully.

"And the newborn?" Royal said with a raised eyebrow as he entered through the door of the glass wall. It was obvious he had been fiddling around in his garage from his less than put together appearance, worn-down jeans and an oil stained muscle shirt.

"Yeah, how will the newborn fair?" Beau mused aloud, frowning. He was having a hard time picturing himself in a smokey room surrounded by sweaty co-eds, teeming with fresh blood. He forced down the rise of venom that threatened to flood his mouth. "Is it really a good idea for me to be around so many humans in an enclosed space?"

"You'll be fine too," Archie promised, grabbing him by his arm. "With so many of us together, humans tend to steer clear. It's just in their nature - besides the occasional odd one such as yourself."

"You mean a weirdo," Beau corrected. "With no sense of self-preservation."

"Well what else would you consider it if you saw a sweet little rabbit making friendly with a big bad wolf?"

"Well if the wolf was a beautiful as Edythe...?"

"I am far from a mangy wolf." Edythe flashed her teeth but it was playful. "A lioness would perhaps be most apt."

"Semantics." Archie squeezed Beau's arm. "Come on, let's get you showered and dressed. I have the perfect outfit in mind-"

"Another rousing game of dress up Beau?" The brunette groaned. "I'm not your personal Ken doll, you know."

"It's not my fault you don't know how to dress yourself," Archie admonished.

"I managed it for seventeen years before somehow," Beau muttered but he let himself be whisked upstairs.

Archie clicked his tongue. "You might as well been dressing in the dark before. Until you can manage to not pair khaki slacks with a hoodie," he said, gesturing to Beau's current outfit disgustedly. "You don't have a say here."

Beau rolled his eyes, knowing he was fighting a losing battle. He waved defeatedly as his wife, making her laugh, before subjecting himself to hurricane Archie.

Half an hour later, the hurricane had receded and Beau was graciously allowed to return to the living room, only a little worse for wear. He now wore a pair of dark distressed jean with a deep green slim-fit button down. Archie has insisted Beau leave the collar open and the first two buttons undone but Beau couldn't help but notice how it drew his eyes to the crescent-shaped scar on his neck. Now safely out of the smaller vampires' view, Beau took the opportunity to fasten the garment properly.

But no sooner had he begun reach down to hide the disfigurement and Jessamine appeared before him. She shook her head, slapping his hands away.

"I'd feel more comfortable-" he started.

"Don't," she said with a flick of her hair. He took in her outfit then, a navy crop top with black jeans that appeared to be painted on. Her outfit showed a fair amount of skin unabashedly, as if she was unaware of the various blemishes that littered her arms. She was making no attempt to hide from the scars, instead seeming to embrace them. Seeing he was taking in her appearance, the blonde smiled knowingly.

"Archie doesn't let me be self conscious about my scars," Jessamine said her golden eyes lighting up. She reached up, unbuttoning Beau's collar and straightening it out, patting his chest affectionately. "You don't get to be either."

He smiled back, ducking his head as Royal came up behind him and ruffled his hair. He was dressed now in dark jeans with a burgundy v-neck under a black leather jacket. "Come on, I'm ready to go already. You riding with me or Edythe, Beau?"

"Do you even need to ask?" Jessamine asked sardonically. She led their party into the main entry where they awaited the rest of their siblings.

"Well she is going to be taking the Vanquish so if he is still squeamish about her driving he might be better off with me."

"Because you're so much better about minding your speed," Edythe herself spoke up, appearing at the top of the stairs. She looked very stylish in a short black halter dress and her wavy hair pulled into a high ponytail. She winked at her husband, already aware of the way he was drinking in the exposed skin of her chest and legs.

Royal huffed. "I don't have a built in radar detector like some people. And there is no way I'm letting my baby get impounded."

"Like you couldn't just bat your eyes out of a ticket," Edythe countered.

"I've seen him do it," Jessamine explained to Beau. "Male officer too. No one is immune to Royal's charm."

"I'm not even surprised," Beau snickered. Picturing anyone saying no to Royal, regardless of gender, seemed an impossibility.

Royal scoffed but Beau thought he was secretly pleased by the attention he garnered. "Even so. I still make it a point to obey most traffic laws unlike some people. Wouldn't do to have a cop pull over a car-full of apparently teenage vampires in the dead of night - especially when one of those vampires bares a certain resemblance to the deceased son of a local police chief."

"I would never be caught," Edythe declared as she sashayed her way down the staircase. "Thanks to my handy little gift. So it would be safer to have him with me since you're not quite as infallible."

Royal rolled his eyes. "Obnoxious. I don't know how you deal with her, Beau."

"Unconditional love," Beau explained, pulling a laughing Edythe into his arms tightly.

Eleanor emerged from her room next, wearing what looked like a bright red bra under a short black vest paired with a black mini skirt. Her curls tumbled widely down her back as she moved. Royal appreciated her ensemble with a low wolf whistle. She winked in response, slinking into his embrace.

"Still waiting on Archie?" she inquired as her husband's hands roamed over her body.

"Primadonna," Royal grumbled.

Archie's irritated voice floated down to them. "I heard that!"

"I know," his brother replied flippantly.

The last of the siblings barreled down the stairs finally, looking just as fashionable as always in a pair of black slacks and a shiny silver shirt. He tossed a pair of sunglasses to Jessamine and then another to Beau before he donned a black beanie over his cropped hair.

"Put those on before we get to Seattle," he instructed Beau. "To hide the eyes. It'll be dark inside the club so you won't need contacts but you probably don't want to give the bouncer a heartattack."

"Yeah I'd rather avoid that," Beau snorted, inspecting the heavily tinted shades.

Archie shepherded everyone to the cars then, but hung back with Beau to shove two cards into his hand then: a black credit card and a new drivers' license. Both cards reflected a new name for him, one that made him raise an eyebrow at the smaller man.

"Beau Cullen?"

"Well you won't be able to use the last name Swan for at least a few decades - it'd be too easy to look you up on the Internet and see you're kinda supposed to be dead," Archie stated as they followed their siblings to the detached garage. "And this is only a temporary identity anyway. It also says you're 22 if you check the birth date - gotta get you into the club somehow. So congrats on your first fake ID."

Beau chuckled. "I'm not opposed to the name. I just thought it was funny to see I'm taking Edythe's last name when she's so opposed to mine. We're doing it a little backwards I guess."

"Earnest took Carine's," Archie said with a shrug. "So did I for that matter."

"I guess you're right. Edythe will probably get a kick out of this." He held up the other card. "And an AmEx? What am I going to do with this?"

"Second form of identification, just in case. Or if you see anything you want." Archie grinned. "You're one of us now so you'll have access to our endless fortunes, Beau. Really, doesn't hesitate if there's ever anything you want - unless it's clothes in which case I reserve the right to veto any purchases, just so you're forewarned."

Beau wisely chose to say nothing as he slid the two cards into his new - and incredibly expensive - leather wallet - a wedding gift from Carine. It would take some time before he was completely comfortable with the Cullen family's generosity.

Archie peeled off to join his wife in the backseat of the M3 with Eleanor riding shotgun while Royal played the radio in the front seat. Edythe was already waiting for Beau in her sleek Vanquish with the windows down. Beau shook his head at the car as he carefully climbed in, irrationally afraid he would damage the vehicle just by looking at it funny.

"Do I even want to know how fast this car can go?" he asked, eyeing the sleek dashboard that looked like it belonged on a spaceship.

She flashed him a wide smile. "You'll see."

And see he did. Edythe broke every traffic law known to man with her breakneck speed - maybe even the laws of physics. The speed didn't bother Beau nearly as much as it bothered the cars they passed, however; even at top speed occasionally pushing 175 MPH the car moved impossibly smooth as Edythe served and glided down the interstate. Of course they saw no cops on the road, only bewildered vehicles they left in their wake.

Beau amused himself during the trip by creeping his hand up Edythe's thigh at snails pace, watching the accelerator jump as he rattled her. She stayed perfectly between the lines of the road of course but Beau knew her mind was occupied with something else besides her driving from the way her dark eyes bore into his. It made for a very charged drive.

They made beyond excellent time, pulling into the city in just two hours, a feat he would have thought impossible prior to knowing Edythe. As they waited for their siblings to arrive in the city as well, they parked in a nearly deserted lot on the outskirts of town to await the sun to dropping over the horizon so they could venture outside safely. Edythe used this wealth of time to pay Beau back for his teasing by climbing into his lap and making her state of arousal known. There was little he could do in the leather exterior that fully satisfied either of their lust, but they made do. However, all too soon their siblings had caught up with them, flashing their high-beams into the intimate space obnoxiously until a scowling Edythe got back behind the wheel. Beau rolled his eyes as he adjusted himself, resisting the childish urge to stick his tongue out at them for their interference.

The sky was turning dark when they Cullens pulled into a luxuriously stacked garage, parking on the top level beside each other. Beau helped Edythe out of the car, chuckling as she righted her dress. She slapped his chest playfully, pushing him away even as her body language told a very different story. Beau briefly considered pressing her onto the hood of the Vanquish, wondering how much force would be too much for the vehicle to handle.

"You'll wear out the shocks if you keep abusing the Vanquish like that," Royal chastised his sister as he exited his car, reminding the couple they were not alone.

"Then I guess you'll just have to right them after," she replied, holding her head high. "As you have had to do for your BMW dozens of times over. Don't get all hollier than thou with me, Royal - you will lose."

He snorted. "Just stating facts, Edythe. No need to get so defensive. If you want to dry hump your husband in a three hundred thousand dollar car, that's your prerogative. I was just reminding you of the consequences-"

"Play nice," Jessamine interrupted, putting her arm around her brother's waist and the other around her sister, instantly defusing the tension with her gift.

Eleanor smirked at Beau. "You guys didn't get that out of your system earlier?"

"Hey, we had a deal," Beau reminded her, shoving her lightly as he slipped on his pair of dark sunglasses. He could still see through them with ease despite the intense tint.

"Just asking a question," she said innocently. "And technically I agreed not to talk about what you and E get into behind closed doors - I think whatever you two do in abandoned parking lots is still free game."

"Well the doors of the Vanquish were closed," Beau said, humoring her. He knew she was ribbing him on purpose to keep his mind off of what he was about to do and Beau was grateful for it. He was already a bundle of nerves. There was no one in the parking lot except them but he could still smell the faint aromas in the air. He was tempted to shut off his sense of smell completely but knew it would defy the point of the exercise; he wasn't testing his control if he wasn't breathing, after all.

Archie squeezed in next his two siblings, looking up at both of them with a smirk. "I don't think the closed doors thing counts when the doors are half windows. You're kind of inviting teasing by making it that easy to see what you're up to."

"Who's side are you on?" Beau attempted to elbow his brother but Archie dodged neatly.

"I'm on the side of truth," Archie said with a grin. "If you didn't want us all up in your business maybe you should pick better places to get all hot and heavy."

Beau groaned as the pair of them laughed. They were exiting the parking garage now and on the main street, arranged in two lines of three on the sidewalk. He knew it wasn't a coincidence that his strongest and psychic siblings were the ones flanking him. Archie had one arm around Beau still, squeezing him slightly to prevent him for walking too fast, anchoring Beau to his side. Eleanor was upwind of her brothers, the first line of warning should the wind change and carry the first whiff of human towards them. She looked taut with anticipation.

It happened without fanfare. As the trio was crossing in front of a rundown pizzeria with the others right behind them, the door of the establishment blew open and an impossibly human scent fluttered into the street. Beau's jaw clenched, his head whipping towards the source: a balding man sweeping debris out of his shop. He was sweating from working in the stuffy store all day, his head bent over as he worked. He didn't acknowledge the group of teenagers as they passed by except the automatic responses of prey when it unknowingly comes in contact with predators; his pupils dilated slightly, his heart rate accelerated, and his already overworked sweat glands went into overdrive. In other words, his scent became even more appetizing.

Venom surged into Beau's mouth and an intense burning scorched his throat. The scent of fresh blood was a thousand times worse and a thousand times better than he remembered. He almost whimpered as he ground his teeth together, feeling his sanity slowly retreating as he became overwhelmed by thirst.

He felt a small hand on his back then. Edythe. His posture slackened only slightly. "His name is Alberto," she whispered too quietly for any but her siblings to hear. "It helps to see them as people. He has been married for over 20 years and has three children. He adores his four grandchildren and has another on the way any day."

"A week from Tuesday," Archie confirmed in the same gentle voice. "It'll be a girl. Allegra."

Beau nodded shakily but couldn't say anything as the warm scent held him hostage. The burning was an echo of the pain he had felt during his transformation, white-hot and unyielding. It made it nearly impossible to concentrate on anything else. No matter how many times he tried to swallow down the venom to elevate the burn in his throat, it remained constant. It was like he was attempting to swallow a piping hot iron.

The human had yet to notice that their group was standing awkwardly in front of the window of his shop but would eventually turn towards them when it became obvious they had no intention of going inside. The longer they drew attention to themselves, the more likely the man would approach them and perhaps try to entice them in. It was an interaction he might not survive.

"Concentrate," Jessamine murmured. "You have to focus, Beau."

"Why aren't you helping him?" Edythe hissed at her sister.

"I can't make him not feel the thirst," the blond replied calmly. But she shuffled her feet impatiently.

"You could distract him."

"He needs to learn how to do this on his own." She directed her words back at Beau now. "Remember your lessons with Kirill and how you manipulated your shield in the forest after getting rid of Victor." Beau stiffened at the reminder. She clicked her tongue. "Not now, Beau. That's not going to help. Focus on the shield. Find the source of your bloodlust and lock it down." Her words were softer now. "You can do this, Beau. You're doing amazingly already, but you need to keep going."

Beau didn't feel like he was doing amazing, however. He thought he was one short second away from ruining everything. Like a rubber band being pulled too far, threatening to snap with the slightest provocation.

There was a war raging in his mind. Logically, Beau knew he didn't want to hurt the man - hurt Alberto, he corrected mentally as he remembered to see him as a person - but he didn't feel like there was much of a choice. His instincts were all screaming at him to stop fighting and just give in. To be the monster he already knew he was. But a larger part of him, his somehow still functioning voice of reason, knew he had to get control of himself. He had to prove to himself that could handle this, could push down the urge to kill. It was the only way he would feel any relief; he had to know that he was better than he had been when Victor lured him into the forest, had to know he was more than just his predatory side.

He took in a shaky breath, letting the burn seep into his being. It was painful, beyond painful, but he had to endure it. The burn was not nearly as painful as Alberto's murder would be on his psyche. He could not be responsible for another person's death - it would destroy him.

He didn't want to be a monster, he didn't want to be a murderer. He repeated this to himself over and over again, willing it to be burned into his mind.

As he solely concentrated on that thought, Beau realized he was able to maintain his more coherent thoughts, able to think and process effectively. He had been stalled when the scent of fresh blood wrapped around him, but that no longer seemed to be the case. It was like he was singularly centering around the part of his brain that controlled his reason. In doing so, he was ignoring the too-familiar thirst that had been fighting to consume him. So long as he was able to keep his thoughts focused, like Jess had said, the thirst took a backseat and could be shoved away to an extent. It wouldn't go away but it could be managed, at least.

The burn was more manageable now. Beau unclenched his jaw and loosened his posture, feeling his muscles relax as he did. Around him, his siblings shared a collective sigh.

"Very good," Jessamine complimented, sounding a little taken back. It had taken him less time than she had thought to reign himself in.

The interaction had only taken less than a minute even though it had felt a lot longer. Alberto finished his sweeping, casting a curious glance at the beautiful youths before him. He shifted his weight, debating if he should invite them inside, but seemed to think better of it.

With the spell broken, they were able to continue down the sidewalk. As they followed the road, they passed more people: a couple fighting across the street, an older woman tugging along a small child, a business man hurriedly dashing the opposite way. Each time someone came into the vicinity, the Cullens visibly tensed, but Beau did not have any lapses. He kept his head up, not slowing his nearly human pace, with the only sign of the strain he was under being the tight line of his mouth. He compartmentalized, remembering Edythe's mantra of mind over matter. So long as he saw himself rising above his baser instincts, he could survive - as would the people he encountered. And so the monster inside remained at bay.

Archie led them down a few winding pathways and back alleys, clearly picking a convoluted route that minimized their chances of running into humans. He kept up a steady stream of conversation with Eleanor; he would have appeared at ease if not for the arm he kept around Beau, lightly squeezing.

They finally arrived at what appeared to be a hole-in-the-wall bar, not somewhere anyone would typically plan to go to but instead just ended up. There was a middle-aged man on a stool leaning against the brick exterior. He hastily checked their IDs, flinching slightly when Beau - less careful than his siblings - touched his hand by accident. Beau found the man's skin uncomfortably warm, used to the moderate temperature of his family's touch now. He wondered idly how Edythe ever got used to the heat he had exuded before, alien as it had to have been for her.

After briefly fumbling when handing back their IDs, the man allowed them entry, shifting away slightly as they passed.

It wasn't a large space, but could hold fifty or so patrons without upsetting the fire marshals. A raised stage with a DJ booth at one corner took up a fifth of the room; the band was not slated to come on for a while so the sound system played a collection of top forties in the meantime. The back wall was a single long bar with empty stools denoting the still early hour of the night. The dance floor was lined with a few standing tables in a half circle. It made for an intimate space, even more so with the Cullens as the only guests.

Royal and Eleanor headed straight to the bar where a single bartender was wiping down the wells while the rest of their siblings sought out where they would camp for the night.

Archie lead Beau to the farthest table from the door, beaming now. "Hard part is over," he promised. "It's always trickier to deal with humans outside because of the shifting winds. Indoors the air gets stagnant and there isn't as much risk. And with a place this small," he added, gesturing to the room. "It'll never get crowded enough to be overwhelming."

"So it'll be smooth sailing?" Beau felt a little skeptical as he pocketed his sunglasses.

But Archie nodded. "No really, it will. Have some faith in yourself - you're doing better than any of us thought you would."

Beau was spared from having to respond by the return of Royal and Eleanor. Between them they carried a tray with six shot glasses with a bitter-smelling liquid inside and two full glasses with a less-soured drink. They placed it on the table where their party was now gathered around.

"Props?" Beau asked, looking at the drinks that he knew would go untouched.

"Partially," Royal said, picking up one of the shots and putting it before Beau. "We can't drink it, obviously, but we should appear to be drinking. And while we are at it we should make sure you can handle delicate objects."

"You haven't really broken any objects so far," Eleanor said with a chuckle. Beau purposefully avoided her eyes, remembering the Jacuzzi in the cottage and not wanting to give her any fodder of making fun of him. "But you haven't had to handle really fragile stuff yet. As a rule Earnest usually builds our homes with pretty enforced materials for things like doorknobs and faucets. We could still destroy them, obviously, but only if we were careless. But this is basically a dive bar so their glassware is cheap as shit. See if you can pick up that shot."

Sure this was some sort of prank, Beau slowly reached towards the tiny glass cup put before him. No sooner had he wrapped his fingers around the base and it shattered, the liquid bursting over. He drew back his hand in shock.

"You weren't kidding," he grumbled.

Edythe took a napkin from the tray and wiped his hand. "Glass is easily breakable even for humans," she said soothingly. "With the texture of our skin in combination with our strength, we have to be very prudent when exercising control."

"It's best to start with shot glasses," Eleanor said as she crushed the rest of the glass with her hand, smoothing it into fine grains. She unceremoniously swept it onto the floor. "Small and easy to replace."

"We will tip very well to make up for the ones you break," Archie promised. He picked up another shot and put it in front of Beau. "Try again. Even less pressure and don't pinch it this time."

Beau did as instructed and was able to put his fingers around the glass this time, but when he picked it up it shattered as well. He shook his hand moodily as the drink dripped over his fingers.

Jessamine gave him an understanding smile. This time she crushed the incriminating shards. "When you picked it up, you automatically applied pressure. Humans do it so they can lift the drink without it sloshing because they are naturally out of equilibrium - but we don't have any balance issues so it's not necessary."

"And pick it up from the base," Archie added. "The glass is thicker there."

This time he was able to pick up the shot and keep it in one piece.

"Very good," Eleanor said with a smirk. "Now try to set it back down."

Thinking this was the easy part, he went to place it back down only to break a third glass on impact with the table. He growled in frustration, making Eleanor laugh.

"You knew that was going to happen," he accused her as she leaned in to get rid of the evidence.

"Yup," she said, popping the 'p'.

"Try to be helpful," Edythe chastised her sister as she sopped up the liquid with another napkin. "Otherwise he'll go through their entire stock of glassware."

Beau nudged his wife. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"It's not a very extensive stock," she corrected. "I didn't mean to-"

"Relax. It was a joke." He turned to El. "What did I do wrong?"

"Gotta brace for impact," she chuckled. "When you put it back down, it's the weight of the glass hitting the table plus your own strength slamming down on it. The two solid forces work against each other and compress the glass between them. Don't put the glass down with the same amount of force you used to pick it up - gotta use even less."

"I barely used any force at all," he argued.

"And yet it was still too much. Watch." Eleanor demonstrated by picking up one of the few remaining shots, gently setting it down a second later. It didn't even make a clanking sound nor disturb the liquid inside. She winked at his incredulous expression. "Just takes practice. So get to practicing."

So under the watchful eyes of his family, practice he did. Beau quickly went through the remaining shot glasses, prompting Archie to reappear with a new tray only minutes later. Though everyone gave him pointers Beau's impatience to master his strength resulted in more shattered glasses. He grew increasingly discouraged despite his siblings instance that this was something that would come to him with time, not unlike remaining clean after a hunt. It was with a grim smile that he finally successfully managed to pick up shot glass number twelve and keep it in once piece upon putting it back down. His siblings cheered quietly, making him flush as much as a vampire could.

Eleanor picked up one of the full-sized cups, toasting Beau. "Nice job, little bro. I was sure we'd have to get a third round."

"I wasn't," Archie said smugly. "So it looks like El was the only loser in this pot. That means you pay up, sis."

Beau shook his head, but was pleased to know they hadn't all bet against him this time. "Still haven't learned your lesson, Ellie?"

She guffawed. "I just like taking the long shots - it was obvious you're a quick learner. I just bet against the house cause it makes it interesting."

"The house always wins," Archie promised. He got to his feet then. "Oh, looks like we have company. And right on time."

Not a second later, two woman walked through the door. It closed heavily behind them, but thankfully swung in rather than out; the warm aroma didn't even carry over to where the group of vampires were gathered. Taking in the dead room, the pair looked as if they were rethinking their choice of venue - until they spotted the only other patrons. They dissolved into whispers that reached Beau and his family none-the-less.

The smaller of the two was nearly vibrating with excitement. "Oh my god! Do you see them?"

"Uh yeah!" The other, a dark-haired woman with long legs, was trying to be discreet with her staring but failing. "Think they're local?"

"They don't make 'em like that in Washington," she promised dreamily. "Gotta be, like, out of towners from New York or something."

Despite being clearly enamored, they made no move to get closer to the Cullens, preferring to take up stools at the bar that they angled towards the occupied corner. It was most likely their subconscious that kept them away, something Beau was grateful for until Archie ruined the small comfort.

"Think you're up to buying those girls a drink?"

Beau froze. "What? Why?"

"More practice," he said, grinning. "It's not enough to just not kill humans, you know. You'll have to speak with them, too, at some point."

"I don't recall you guys doing a whole lot of that," Beau countered, fishing through his murky memories. From what he remembered, the Cullens had did an excellent job keeping to themselves in school.

"Oh well we do it sparingly, of course," Archie admitted.

"We don't ignore them," Edythe added. "They just tend to avoid us in general unless forced to interact for some reason. So if someone addresses you in any capacity, you have to be ready for it." She frowned, however. "But I think we should wait for a different patron. Those girls-"

"Are what? Going to flirt with Beau?" Royal scoffed. "Obviously they will - if they aren't too tongue-tied."

Beau stared at the table-top, feeling bashful at the implication.

"This is a nightclub, Edythe," Jessamine said, trying to soothe the smaller vampire's sense of unease - and hint of jealousy. "No matter who Beau approaches tonight, there will be an assumption. Better to get this over with now while the space is nearly empty."

"Then I'll go with him," Edythe decided.

Eleanor shook her head. "You know they won't talk to him if they think you're together, E. Too intimidating." Edythe scowled. "Yeah, that face right there? They'll be tripping over themselves to get out the door. You stay put."

Archie jumped off his stool. "I'll walk Beau over. He's gonna be a little awkward on his own."

"No doubt about that," Beau grumbled, not bothering to fight him on that. He hadn't made it a practice before to talk to women in general, much less talking to women when he wanted to rip out their throats and drain them of their blood.

"Just make eye-contact," Eleanor said. "But not too much - humans get easily distracted and don't usually look at someone head on for longer than a few seconds. And make sure to blink every thirty seconds."

"Right. Blinking."

"Ask them about themselves," Jess added. "They'll do most of the talking so you'll just need to nod every once and a while. If their scent gets to be too much, turn your head away so it doesn't overpower you."

"And don't sit down," Royal offered. "It will give them the wrong impression. Just lean against the bar. Shuffled around every few seconds like you're uncomfortable."

"That won't be too hard at least," Beau sighed.

Edythe put her hand on his forearm. Her siblings smirked but pointedly looked away. "You'll be fine, love. If it makes you feel any better, I'm less concerned about you controlling yourself - those girls are the real problem."

He hadn't considered that. If either of the girls were too forward, trying to touch him in some way or getting too close with their heady scent, it would make it infinitely harder to resist their blood. "You think they're going to jump me?"

She drew her fingers up his arm slowly. "I do seem to recall a certain human who, when in the presence of a vampire he found attractive, did not always manage to manage his hormones as effectively as he should have. It did lead to some close calls."

"You dazzled me," he breathed, leaning into Edythe as he spoke. She shivered as he spoke into her ear. "I can't take full blame for what followed."

"Well do your best not to dazzle the poor girls or we'll be mopping them off the floor," Edythe said, trying to sound blase but not quite managing to squash the bite that coated her tongue.

He couldn't help but be slightly amused. "Edythe. This is really bothering you, isn't it?"

"I can't imagine most people would be happy to see their husband getting cozy with other women," she huffed, closing her body off with her folded arms.

Beau drew her in close, effectively engulfing her small frame inside his embrace. "Have I mentioned how adorable you are when you're jealous? Cause you are. Seriously." He laughed quietly as she tried to detangle herself from his arms, no doubt rankled by his comment. "No, none of that. Let me just take in your scent a little longer - it grounds me and keeps me sane." He held her like that a while longer, his lips skimming her neck and exposed shoulders. Beau traced over the flushed expanses of skin he had created earlier in the day, enjoying the way Edythe visibly reacted to his touch. Her frostiness melted away as she let herself be comforted, pressing into him as her muscles uncoiled.

Beau grinned to see his efforts rewarded. "Feeling better?"

She nodded demurely, her eyes partially glazed over.

"He's gotten really good at getting handling her being irrational," Royal remarked idly, drawing the couple out of their imagined bubble.

"Who knew all it took to get Edythe to chill out was getting laid?" El added with a laugh. Edythe may or may not have responded to that comment with an unlady-like gesture.

Jessamine snickered. "Okay, you could cut the sexual tension between you two with a knife right now. Making me a little uncomfortable - how about we get back to the task at hand, hmm?"

"Fine, fine," Edythe relented. Beau released her, but kept his hand on her hip a little longer. "Go not kill those girls, Beau."

"Yes ma'am." He ducked in to give her a quick peck on the lips.

Before he could be lead to the bar, Royal caught the sleeve of his shirt. "Uh, Beau? You might want to lose the wedding ring before going over."

Beau shook his head, squeezing Edythe's hip as she fought down the snarl that grew in her chest. "No way. I'm not actually trying to hit on them. Just talking to them to see if I can keep them both alive during a five-minute conversation."

Royal shrugged. "Your call."

"Good call," Archie confirmed, blinking away a vision. Whatever he had seen agitated Edythe, making her snap her teeth.

"I'll be right back," Beau promised, willing himself calm. He didn't exactly feel confident about what he was going to do, but he didn't want to show Edythe how on edge he felt for risk of increasing her own anxiety. But, as always, she seemed to be perfectly in tune with her mate.

Her expression softened. "Come back to me, love."

"Always." He got in one last kiss before Archie dragged him away.

At the bar, the two girls were watching their approach with saucer-wide eyes. Their scents were flaring up as adrenaline coursed through their thin veins, staggering Beau slightly even as Archie led him closer. The pair of women smelled warm and fragrant, despite the cloud of intense perfume they were saturated in. Unlike when Beau's keen sense of smell detected the presence of one of his family members, however, he could not discern any particular aroma for the girls. They smelled the same, like heat and sweat and human - a dangerous combination that Beau had to put out of his mind. He gulped down the fresh ooze of venom, forcing his features into what he felt was a neutral expression.

The bartender, a light-haired man with an unfriendly expression, welcomed the newcomers to the bar-top; they kept a few stools between them and the human girls. "What'll it be, gentlemen?"

Beau had no idea how you were supposed to order a drink so he deferred to Archie, who sat as a buffer between himself the the girls.

"Two Bud Lights," he said confidently. Archie turned his head towards the women and smiled carefully, only showing a small expanse of teeth. They giggled in return, but the spike of their heart-rates could have been from fear as much as excitement. Beau thought he remembered being afraid of Archie the first time they were in close proximity, something about him appearing more dangerous and vampire-like than Edythe. "What are you two drinking?"

One girl, the smaller one, apparently felt brave and manged to smile back even as her hands shook around her pink drink. "Um. C-cosmos."

Archie nodded. "Can me and my brother buy you lovely ladies the next round?"

"Sure!" Her voice was higher as she forced out the word, her nerves apparent. "I'm Kylie. And this is my roommate Jen."

"Nice to meet you." Archie made no move to shake her hand, conveniently grabbing the beer bottle that was placed in front of him in that instant. "I'm Archie and this is Beau."

"Nice to meet you too," the other girl, Jen, mumbled, unable to look at them as directly as her friend. She fidgeted, reminding Beau to do the same.

Archie elbowed Beau playfully. "Don't be shy, Beau. Say hi."

Leaning around the bar, Beau dipped his head at the two girls. "It's very nice to meet both of you," he finally said in a low voice.

The reaction was immediate: both girls hearts stopped for a fraction of a second before taking off like a pair of drums. Beau tried not to wince as their blood pulsed attractively under their skin, threatening to explode. He clenched his hands into fists on his lap, willing his eyes away from the throbbing vein that was most obvious in Kylie's pale neck. It was like a beacon, inviting him towards the promise of fresh blood.

Trying not to look too pained as a new wave of burning filled him, Beau dropped his eyes back to the bar.

Oblivious to the torment she was putting him through, Kylie leaned towards them. "So what are you guys doing in the city?"

"Visiting," Archie said smoothly. "Yourself?"

"We're students," she giggled. "Just finished our second year at University of Washington. We're celebrating not flunking out!"

Archie raised his beer. "Well cheers to that."

"So, um, are you guys students?" Her eyes flickered from Archie to Beau.

"I'm an Architecture major," Archie said smoothly. He looked at Beau expectantly, clearly saying he was not going to carry the whole conversation.

"English," Beau said quietly, choosing the first thing that came to mind.

"That's got to be fascinating!" Beau thought Kylie was overdoing the enthusiasm for such a bland answer. He cringed slightly as she scooted her stool closer, the metal screeching loudly to his sensitive ears. "Got a favorite book?"

"Too many to count," he said, going for honesty and hoping it would be vague enough to kill her interest.

"I'm the same," Kylie gushed, her grin widening. "I thought about going down the English track but ended up in doing the Classics instead."

Beau tilted his head, offering her a tight-lipped smile. Her heart fluttered and his throat erupted into flames.

To cover his brother's obvious discomfort, Archie picked up the conversation, talking about the merits of various courses with the ease of an airline hostess. Kylie looked a little disappointed to have the conversation shifted but responded in kind, even as her eyes remained on Beau. Jen stayed silent, her dull panic audible in her fluctuating pulse; of the two of them, it was clear who had a better flight-or-fight response, her sense of self-preservation nearly rocketing her out of her chair. Of course, her surging anxiety and adrenaline only made her blood smell that much sweeter, making Beau grind his teeth.

But despite the lure the two women presented, Beau felt confident he could ignore the building scorching of his throat. It was impossibly painful, but as long as he minded himself Beau knew it could be shoved away. In fact, he only really felt the burn when he thought about it; if he focused on the conversation as it flowed, it was effectively ignored until the girls unknowingly triggered it again with a flick of hair or a sigh that drifted their warmth across the bar surface. When that occurred, he would simply repeat the process again of steeling himself and letting his attention be deviated elsewhere. It was a tiresome cycle but one that kept the girls safe so he was grateful for it.

Kylie stopped her yammering mid-sentence as Beau reached for his beer, intent on seeing if he could gently grab the bottle even in the midst of distracting human scents. Her eyes widened as she all but shouted, "You're married?"

Beau looked down at his wedding ring, a real smile stealing over his face. "Yeah I am."

"O-oh," she said, trying to make her voice calm. "I just thought you looked pretty young, is all."

"He's a newlywed," Archie explained, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.

Kylie followed his thumb and paled as she spied the rest of their group. "Which one is she?"

Beau turned to look at their table, too. Their siblings were all facing different directions artfully, clearly just as beautiful and aloof as they had appeared on Beau's first day of school in Forks. But he knew them better now and saw the small intricacies of their personalities; Royal was bored as he ran his finger along the rim of his glass, Jessamine was holding back a snicker in response to whatever the human women were feeling at that moment, and Eleanor was rocking in her chair, impatient for her brothers to return so she could tease them. His wife was doing her best to appear uninterested in the conversation that was taking place at the bar, but was slightly angled towards them, giving away her attentiveness. Beau wondered about the second conversation she was no doubt receiving from them mentally and if it was the reason she appeared so stiff.

"The wife is the beautiful redhead in the black dress," he said lovingly. The redhead in question's soft answering laugh then filled his head with music too quiet for human ears. Edythe had her arms crossed over her chest, but was faintly smiling at least now. He was sure she was torn between annoyance and amusement.

Kylie's eyes zoomed in on Edythe and finding her match well met sullenly turned back to the bar. "She's a lucky girl."

"I beg to differ," Beau replied lightly. It was easier for him to make conversation now with Edythe has the focus. "I'm lucky she puts up with me."

"Trust me, you're both fairly obnoxious," Archie laughed. He put his arm around Beau, pride shining in his eyes. "You'll never believe what we caught those two up to in a parked car earlier..."

Beau laughed along as Archie recounted the tale, too thrilled with his progress to be embarrassed. All the tension slipped away quietly and the burn in his throat was thoroughly forgotten.

He didn't even notice as the bar slowly filled over the next few hours during which time Beau and Archie had rejoined their family and the band finally came on stage. He felt light-heartened for the rest of the night, almost high on his success. When Eleanor recounted all the ways Kylie had wanted to jump his bones, Beau took it in stride. He let Jessamine teach him how to dance unnoticed in a crowd of humans and listened to Royal's tips to avoid gathering too much attention from female humans. Archie showed him how to get rid of his drinks so that humans didn't catch on, subtly switching out their full drinks out with the empty glasses of other well-inebriated patrons. And he was content to let a very possessive Edythe perch on his lap for the bulk of the night, drinking in the aroma of her skin until it dominated his senses and all other scents faded into oblivion.

For the first time in a long time, he felt he was doing things right, felt he might be able to handle what this new life was throwing his way. That confidence carried him through the rest of the night.