I don't own any characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyer.

Montana, July 1949.

Alice, Jasper, and I have traveled to Smellterville, Montana. Being in such close proximity to the Washington state and the Southern part of Canada had its perks. Hunting was a priority for us, but we were also seeking out an opportunity to interact with humans. Small towns were our target market, as even if one of us slips, no major newspaper or news would broadcast it. Every day became a routine for all three of us. We hunted when the sun was about to rise and went into the city either in the afternoon or evening depending on the weather. Montana did not have a lot of sun but still had fewer cloudy days than Alaska or Maine. During good weather days, both Jazz and I were showing Alice our fighting skills. Having just got my sister back, I was not playing a game of chance, and if we would be attacked by anyone, I would rather have her know some moves.

Alice, of course, didn't think it was important as she could always predict if someone were to attack; however, seeing how happy it made Jasper and I when she could dodge our confrontations, agreed to train. My sister stayed agile even after transformation. Despite her tiny size, she was a very capable fighter. Her style of combat could not be described as anything but artistic, she performed leaps and jumped around and over both Jasper and me, distracting us but never yet defeating. She employed only sheer strengths and speed but was able to incapacitate me with cunning strikes and sly tactics when attacking from above. Her gift came in handy as she was able to predict and dodge an attack on her seconds before it touched. Her visions didn't distract her at all, she was fully concentrated, having mentioned that the premonitions made her see a bigger picture.

We finished training for today and started to head home. The house had one floor and a small basement. It was not big or fancy, just practical and cozy. It looked like a dream house for me, Alice did not share my fascination with a "shed" as she liked to call it. It was built around 30 years ago. All wooden, judging by the smell, oak. It had a pointy roof, and no matter how fond I was of fireplaces, the material of the house was definitely not ideal for an open fire. On one of our hunting trips to Washington forests, I found a beautiful meadow. It was filled with colorful wildflowers, and I wasn't able to leave it without digging up some of them out and taking them home. Now they were growing on the windowsills and flowerbeds around the front lawn. The smell was intoxicating right now as they started blooming a few weeks prior.

"You know, sister, I might develop pollen allergies if you don't stop bringing flowers home," Alice whined when I returned the last time. I mentioned that vampires don't get allergies, to which she simply replied, "Well you never know, maybe I am the exception."

I didn't understand the reason behind her dislike of my new hobby. Alice used to love flowers when she was a child, collecting them during walks, receiving them as a gift, helping our mother around with her own peonies and chrysanthemums. That was a part of her character that she forgot and didn't understand anymore; and as much as it made me sad, I knew it was not in my powers to make her become her previous self. Hell, I wasn't even sure if she still liked them as a teenager, not even mentioning a grown adapted vampire with no memories.

Our new place, the first place that had our name on it, cost me all the savings that I had left after my sister's shopping spree in Alaska. I didn't care that much about the money anymore, knowing that in less than a year we would be a part of a new family that apparently didn't mind spending a lot of money on each other. There were some translating jobs that I found around the city, mostly via flyers on posts. During my time as a vampire, languages became my passion. I was fluent in French, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, even Latin. The last one was more educational than practical, but interesting nevertheless. I learned it mostly out of curiosity for how did other languages emerged from it.

I promised myself that I will do a few translations, so we could have some money in case we need it during our search for Cullens, thus I had a few phone numbers saved in my memory for the time that I will need to start working. Our new house also came with a landline, which Tanya and Kate were grateful for. We called the Denalis once every two weeks to share any news that either we or they had. However, seeing as all of us were nonaging vampires that didn't have contact with the outside world, the news were limited to the weather or any premonitions that Alice had.

"We are going to have a visitor tomorrow evening." My sister mentioned when we were entering the house. "Two of them actually."

"Vampires?" Jasper asked and stiffened.

"Yes, red eyes, two males. They are friendly though, just passing through." She mentioned. "We will meet them around six, they would be interested to know more about our diet."

"Alright, I will clean up the living room," I concluded.

"Alice, I know you know better than me." Jasper smiled. "But it would make me very happy if you stay alert while the visitors are here. I've encountered more like us than you, and sometimes fake pleasantries can hide the real person's bad intentions."

"Sometimes, love, you are worrying too much." My sister replied. "I will be careful around them if that will help you, however, there is no need for that." She kissed him on the cheek and went to her room.

"Alice is right. You do worry too much. If our bodies could change, your forehead would have a lot of wrinkles." I smiled.

"As long as my worries make both of you safe, I am alright with that." He said seriously.

I shook my head at his last words and went to change. My hunting improved throughout the years, so there were no more bloodstains on any of my clothes. I was as graceful as a lioness both while hunting and doing the chores. My house pants and Jasper's old shirt were simply a precaution in case of some chemicals spill while I was cleaning. I called Alice a few times so she could grab her monthly clothing catalogs, journals, stationery items that she used to draw her own designs from all across the room. Bobby pins and needles with half-used threads were inside the sofa, on the carpet, underneath the love seat, like she had forgotten about them after each use. I dusted, cleaned the furniture, even dragged out the rug to the lawn to beat all the dirt out of it. No one could say I was a bad hostess.

In the morning we hunted, never going beyond an hour away from the house in case our visitor's pace changed and they would come earlier. All three of us were waiting in a big clearing for them to come before it even hit five. Jasper's worries were now infecting my head too, and without thinking about it, I pulled my shield over us. If these strangers have any psychic abilities, I am not giving them any chance to use them on my family.

Exactly an hour later, I heard the movement in the forest. Tree branches breaking, leaves, and debris flying in the air, I was ready for our guests to show off their faces. Two males came running to the clearing, they stopped as soon as they saw us. The first man in front was very handsome, he had pale olive-toned beneath the typical pallor, his hair was glossy black. He was of a medium build and hard-muscled. He smiled an easy smile, exposing a flash of gleaming white teeth. The second male was tall, maybe as tall as Jasper, a rangy vampire with eager ruby eyes and long sandy hair which he kept back with a leather thong. And it was apparent immediately that he was an adventurer, all of his clothes were ripped and a big friendly smile arouse on his face.

"Hello." The second man spoke. "I am Garrett, this is my friend Laurent, we were passing by when we caught your trail. Pardon my manners, are you Carlisle's children?"

"You know Carlisle?" I asked surprised.

"He is an old friend of mine actually," Garrett answered.

"We are not connected with Carlisle, at least not yet." I looked at my sister. "My name is Bella, this is my brother Jasper, and my sister Alice."

"Family bonds, how interesting." The man spoke again. "That is another proof that your diet makes one like us more civilized."

"Would you like to come to our house, we could share some information," I spoke. "Besides, it looks like you could use a shower and some new clothes."

"That would be very nice, Bella. Thank you." Garrett spoke and nodded to Laurent, who haven't said a word yet.

When we walked into our place, the two looked around. I started thinking they haven't yet been to a modern house. Will I have to explain how the plumbing works?

"Let's sit down. I want to hear more about you before sharing any information about my family."

"Understandable," Garrett said. "I'll start. I was born in the mid-1700s during American Revolution, in New England. I was always a hotheaded patriot and willingly fought for the colonies' right to self-govern. I used to be a true believer in the American dream, my parents made sure of it. I was transformed around the 1780s, during the war. Its massive death toll allowed local vampires to feast frequently, one of them transformed me by accident in the aftermath of the battle. I was with an isolated group of ten soldiers when a vampire attacked, knocking me unconscious at the beginning of his hunt. After draining the other nine soldiers, the vampire was sated enough and he didn't drink much of my blood. Thinking that I was dead, my sire ran afterward. When I woke up three days later as a fully-fledged vampire, I was curious and willing to investigate a mystery, and after I fully adapted to the new lifestyle, strove to understand what had happened to me. Some time has passed, and I met Carlisle Cullen. Though we follow different diets, I consider Carlisle one of the closest friends."

"Human war brought me to this life as well."

"Let me guess? Lieutenant?" Garrett asked.

"Major, actually." Jasper grinned back.

"Sir, yes, sir." the man saluted, and I rolled my eyes. "I served as a corporal, never got a chance to be more than that. Laurent, your turn."

"I was born in the early 1700s in Paris, the one in France, not North America, into an aristocratic but financially embarrassed family during the reign of King Louis XIV." The man started speaking with a noticeable French accent. "I was the third son, and had little in the way of prospects, nevertheless, was recommended for a minor position in the court of the Sun King by my older brother, who married into a more prosperous family. I used to love being a part of the court and had ambitions to rise. I was always attracted to people with power and curried their favor. Some said that I had a knack for discerning who the most important person was in any given grouping, and then attaching myself to that person. There was a certain way about me that made anyone I singled out feel more important. Therefore, I did well among the other aristocrats and had a promising future. My life changed when an ambassador named Boris, purportedly from the Romanov court in Russia, made a diplomatic visit to the French court. The ambassador's strange behavior was thought to be a cultural difference, nothing more or less. He came out of his quarters only at night, kept a retinue of mute servants and soldiers who were totally obedient, and always put off discussions of matters of state. He did seem to enjoy the entertainments of the French court immensely and was very interested in King Louis's art collection. I was drawn to the power that Boris had and befriended him. When the mysterious disappearances of men and women began to attract notice, the ambassador had to move on. Before he did, he offered me the opportunity to go with him, which I accepted out of my thirst for power. Eventually, Boris told me the truth about himself, and I begged him to share his power and immortality, he complied. Boris became my companion for a while, taught me everything I knew, but I grew tired of his jovial habits and left him to find someone with more power. I ran into one of the surviving Romanians, Vladimir…" Jasper's face twitched, and I remarked my head to ask him what his reaction meant. Laurent continued, "…he still radiated some of the power he had once held. However, I did not stay for long as I next turned to the Volturi…" Now both Jazz and I stiffened at that name. "…who held the exact kind of power that I sought. However, Aro turned me away after discovering that I had encountered the Romanians and declared me untrustworthy. I continued to hope that I would get another chance to join the Volturi, though the chance was never offered. I wandered the world, allying with anyone who seemed to have power until I found someone, his name was James, we came to the New World together. It took me some time to realize how barbaric he was, hunting young women, making them think someone is watching their every step. He was a true maniac. I believe that was the time when I realized that power makes one like us very cruel, and I did not want to participate anymore. I left James and Victoria in the 1900s and was traveling alone until fate gave me a friend, companion. Garrett showed me that one doesn't need the power to feel whole, all one needs is a good adventure. We are traveling up North to see the Polar lights."

"You are welcome." Garrett laughed, and we joined.

"So, James is dead?" Laurent asked when all three of us finished our stories.

"Yes, the woman is too. I hope you understand, I couldn't let the bastard live after what he did to Bella and Alice." Jasper answered.

"I am not blaming you, mon ami. I am grateful, James and I didn't part on the good note, and it's a relief to know that no one is tracking me down right now." Laurent replied.

"If you would like it, the shower is at the end of the hall to the right. Jasper will gladly spare a couple of pants and shirts for you as well." I offered.

"Thank you, I appreciate that. I guess our clothes are a little old-fashioned." Garrett laughed. "Whoever first to the shower takes it first." He said and ran to the hall, Laurent never followed him, kept sitting on the couch smirking.

"So, what kind of person was King Louis?" I asked, the man turned his face to me.

"You don't trust me very much." He replied.

"Sorry, it's your mentioning of both the Romanians and the Volturi. You should understand that these two covens are not something you just mention in the conversation from where we come from. More than twenty years have passed since both Bella and I left the South, and even know they are haunting us." Jasper spoke.

"I do understand both the fear and the haunting that you're experiencing, but how can you live normally when you are always looking behind your back. Let me give you something to think about. If Aro wanted you, you wouldn't be sitting here right now." Laurent breathed out.

Jazz and I looked at each other. Maybe we should listen to the man, he encountered them and came out alive. Of course, he wasn't caring for any gifts or I doubt Aro would deny him a place in the guard. All three of us had one, and that completely changed everything. What he could do with only Alice by his side was frightening, and I was 100% sure that I will never let my shield slip if we ever get to see the Italians. They will never find out about her visions.

"I think I am going to persuade Garrett to go see your friends in Alaska. I have never been that far north yet, might be an interesting experience." Laurent continued talking.

"I will let Tanya know to expect our friends to come in a few days." I smiled at him. "She really likes company."

"Yeah, ask her if she wants to play 'Scrabble' with you." Jasper laughed, and I shook my head.

"Scrabble?" Laurent asked confused.

"It is a board game; you have to make words out of the letters that you are given," Alice explained. "It is rather fun. Her anger and desperation I mean, not the game itself."

"I would argue with that," I spoke.

The two men stayed with us for a couple of days, we took our chance at teaching them more about our diet as well as getting them to go hunting with us. Garrett was amused by the new experience he was given, Laurent had a problem with the taste of blood, but nevertheless enjoyed the process of a fight. He even caught a mountain lion during his second try.

I very much enjoyed Garrett's company. He told a lot of war stories, he mentioned being present in every American battle, once even coming close to biting Custer, but the Natives killed him before Garrett had the chance. The man looked rather upset while telling us that part of his story.

As soon as they left, I dialed Tanya's number and let her know to expect Garrett and Laurent. Her enthusiasm grew when she realized those were two males. In her terms, the bachelors were much needed in the North. I laughed a lot when she continued talking about men's company and the ways they could improve the love life of her coven mates and herself. I have never experienced a conversation that long about the benefits of sex; I knew if I could blush, my whole face would have been red. Having wished good luck to Tanya and her family, I was finally able to breathe out and head out of town for some new books. I might not have as much time for myself once we join the Cullens, and I would rather spend it learning something new.

When I returned home with my new purchase, I found Jasper sitting in my room. He was twisting something in his hands and seemed nervous.

"Hey, Jazz, is something wrong? Where is Alice?" I asked.

"She went for a hunt. I need to ask you something, Bella." He looked at me.

"Of course, what is it?"

"I know Alice and I haven't been together for long, but it does feel like I've known her all my life, and I want to spend the rest of it with her by my side. It is a legality question, both she and I know there will be no other person for us in this world. Before I ask her this question, it would be a common courtesy to ask Mr. Brandon for his permission, but seeing as he is not with us at this moment, I am asking you. Bella, I am asking your permission to marry your sister."

Please review.