Disclaimer: This story is based on the characters created by Stephanie Meyer in the Twilight Saga. I do not own any of these characters.

Garrett

1995

When I'd left her, Bella had folded herself in a corner chair to the right of the children's section on the library. A regular library companion of hers by the name of Kelly sat next to her, each of them enveloped in a book they would pull away from in an hour and discuss. Kelly was several years older than Bella, and always impressed at the level Bella read. These afternoons were meant as challenges for my bright little girl, a weekly book club that sometimes the librarians would drop in on. Each of them engaged with Bella as an equal and I appreciated their inclusivity and the way they encouraged Bella's passion for books.

These afternoons where she was occupied I typically wandered the library. At the moment I wasn't interested in studying anything in particular so I was skimming the history books, pulling random semi-true recordings of the years I'd lived, the battles I'd fought. I'd lost track of time reminiscing and turned the row to find an empty chair in the corner. Kelly seemed to notice my eyes and nodded to her right, shrugging.

It wasn't often Bella left her place without finding me to let me know where she was going. I moment of panic lurched through me but I fought to calm myself, Kelly would look more concerned if someone had come and grabbed her. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, both trying to calm myself and pick up the direction her scent had gone. In that breath, instead of calm, further panic and a flash of rage gripped with my thoughts. In the air mixed with the scent of my daughter, was the sweet scent of two others of my kind. I fought a growl and started in her direction consciously reminding myself that I needed to move at human pace. I pushed my hearing outward and tried to focus on differentiating footfalls as well as trying to pinpoint the scent of the others. Hoping beyond all hope that it was Carlisle and Esme.

As I was about to turn the corner Bella's voice chimed through the air. "You look like my pops, are you related?" She asked, she was just out of sight.

"I don't think so, but I can help you find your papa." I squeezed my eyes shut and exhaled the breath I didn't know I was holding. I turned the corner and approached. Eleazar stared at me incredulously and Carmen stood from her crouch in front of Bella, a soft smile on her face.

"Garrett," Eleazar clipped.

"Carmen, Eleazar," I nodded to each of them, "It's good to see you!"

"You do know my pops!" Bella teased, seeming thrilled. She turned around and tugged at my sleeve, "Are you related? They have your pretty eyes!" She half whispered. I knelt down to her.

"Yes," I glanced at Eleazar, "this is my cousin Eleazar, and his wife Carmen." I told her. The smile spread cautiously on Carmen's face and I addressed her for the big blow. "This is my daughter, Bella." I told them.

The line of Eleazar's jaw set but Carmen didn't seem fazed. She looked to Bella, "A beautiful name for a beautiful girl." She said softly, Bella beamed in response and she turned to me again.

"Can they come over?" She asked, and I looked to the two of them. Eleazar would need an explanation and here was not the place, though he didn't appear too keen on hearing what I had to say.

"I think that sounds like a great idea, doll. As long as that's okay with them." I addressed Carmen again and she nodded kindly. Bella gasped in excitement and stalked away to grab her things. I turned to Eleazar, "Let me explain before you go drawing your conclusions." I held my hands out both as a gesture of innocence and a warning. I technically hadn't broken any laws yet and all he needed to do was hear me out to know that.

I never had a problem with Eleazar, he was just a little too by the book for me. Carmen evened him out well enough, so having her here was a benefit. She touched his arm and his face softened slightly, if it'd been him alone he'd likely be reporting me to the Volturi off the bat. I was grateful to have her here.

After a moment Bella returned with her back pack and the book she'd been reading. "Did you check that out?" I asked, she huffed and stomped away again.

"She's funny," Carmen said.

"Yeah, she's pretty great." I grinned, Eleazar continued to remain silent and as Bella arrived a second time he turned on his heel for the door. I took Bella's hand and we exited the library to the parking lot.

"We'll follow you," Carmen said as we parted to our cars, I nodded and soon we were loaded up and on our way.

I watched Bella from the rear view, she was smiling.

We raced south, the pair of vampires on our tail, and the closer we got to the house the more Bella bounced in her seat. We didn't have company apart from sitters when I went on hunting trips, I didn't tend to try and make friends, and Bella never seemed interested in enough of those around her age to invite them over. Though I did wonder if part of that was my doing as well.

We pulled to the front of the house and Bella was unbuckled and opening the car door before I was even in park.

"Slow down there, doll. They're coming in." I chuckled, opening my door and moving around the car. She was already skipping to the front door waiting for us.

Carmen exited the car first, Eleazar's hands were firmly on the steering wheel and his jaw was locked. He sighed as her door shut and I caught the glance she gave him before she turned to Bella and I with a smile.

"What a beautiful home," She said, approaching.

"Pops fixed it for us!" Bella said, matter of factly. Carmen looked to me with an upturned eyebrow and I smiled.

"I've learned some new tricks in the last few years." I said, shrugging. I turned to unlock the front door and Eleazar exited the car and met Carmen behind Bella and I on the steps.

Bella ran to her room as soon as the door was open, I heard her drop her backpack on the floor and some shuffling as she picked some things up off the floor. Her room was most often a swirl of organized chaos. Her own little nest, that was only cleaned up a few times a month when she ran out of clean clothes or it got too messy to maneuver and I asked her to pick up.

I led Carmen and Eleazar to the living room and took a seat in my well broken in chair. I had developed many human habits in my years taking care of Bella. Carmen watched me thoughtfully as she settled in next to Eleazar on the couch.

"I never thought I'd see a day where you would settle down." She said with a smile, I grinned in return.

"Parenthood will do that to a person." She nodded with her lips pursed, Eleazar was glaring at me, clearly waiting for an explanation.

I could still hear Bella tossing things around in her room and figured her being busy would be the best time for this conversation. I was grateful that others of my kind spoke quickly.

I recapped the last several years I'd lived up north in my role as Bella's father. I made sure not to leave out that there had been struggles with my vampirism, but was clear that we had made it this far successfully. I let them know that as of now she was not aware of what I was, and it was still to be determined when I would tell her. I also told them that when the time came, it would be up to her whether or not she would like to become like me.

Eleazar was quick to jump on the fact that if she chose to remain a human she would not only be at risk but was a risk. As he began a rant about all the things that could go wrong, Carmen put a hand on his shoulder. I saw a frustrated look cross his face and then he met her eyes. She smiled understandingly at him and then turned back to me.

"My husband brings up many good points that I'm sure have all crossed your mind, and I see that you have done a great deal of thinking about this situation you've found yourself in. I also see that it has now been made far more complicated since we've become involved." She glanced worriedly back at Eleazar and as she did the subtle squeak of Bella's door marked her return.

"Auntie Carmen do you want to see my book collection?" Bella asked as she reared the corner. I watched the smile spread across Carmen's face at Bella's ability to welcome her as family immediately. Carmen agreed and followed Bella back to her room.

I turned back to Eleazar and he was watching the space where Carmen had disappeared down the hall. He was quiet for a long moment. He seemed to be considering things - particularly what his wife had stated. After some silence he turned back to me.

"Your intention was not to let any of our kind know until she was old enough to make her decision." The way he asked didn't seem like a question, but I nodded in response. He uncrossed one arm and lifted a thoughtful finger to his lips, assessing me. As he did I listened at the conversation Bella and Carmen were having. Bella was describing each book in her collection and why they were there. There weren't too many so far and they were all books which Bella had read more than once and would want to read again, she liked each of them for different reasons. Her tone was very matter of fact, and Carmen seemed to enjoy the thought Bella put into each of the books she decided to purchase. I found myself smiling as my attention turned back to Eleazar. He seemed to have been tuned in to their exchange as well, and after a second he continued.

"It has become very complicated for all of us, now that Carmen and myself know. This is a very dangerous situation and a very painful one if things turn out poorly." He stopped, my jaw was set trying not to make a remark. I'd known all of this, Carmen saw that I knew all this. "As ignorant as I think your initial decision may have been, I'm impressed with how you've changed and handled things since."

To say I was surprised was an understatement. Not at the blow to my intelligence, Eleazar often found me too reckless for his liking. But surprised at the fact that he seemed to accept the decision, and praised me for following through. I know there was a lot left unsaid, but I was at least comforted for now, knowing no one would be going to the Volturi.

A few moments later I heard Bella's voice moving through the hall, giving Carmen a tour of the house. When they re-entered the living room Bella had Carmen's hand firmly in hers and Carmen was watching her adoringly. Seeing the two of them brought forth the guilt of Bella not having a mother around, and I found myself bouncing my knee, anxious. Carmen thanked Bella for the tour and she beamed. After a second she turned to Eleazar.

"Uncle Ea-sy," she stopped, frowning and looked to me in mild horror. She'd butchered his name and knew it, I snorted, fully enjoying the mistake. Carmen grinned wide and even Eleazar cracked a smile.

"Eleazar, doll. But I'm sure Uncle Easy will work the same." She smiled and blushed softly turning back to Eleazar.

"Would you like a tour of the house?" She asked, skipping over a second attempt at his name for the time being. Eleazar watched her thoughtfully for a second before he nodded and switched places with Carmen.

"She's a very bright young girl," Carmen chimed. I smiled and nodded.

We sat listening as Bella gave a similar tour to Eleazar. He asked her a few questions like how old she was and what her favorite subject was in school. She answered matter-of-factly "Eight,""Reading," and she asked him where he lived and how he met Carmen. He was very careful with his responses to her, and answered as best he could. By the time they made it back to the living room I could tell she'd fully won him over.

Eleazar found his place next to Carmen and Bella stood next to me. "Do you think we could visit Denali on our next trip?" She asked hopefully. I glanced over at Carmen and Eleazar who shared a concerned look.

"I'm not sure about that doll, but maybe they'd like to come with us some time?" I glanced over again and back at Bella, she was frowning.

"Why couldn't we go see them?" Her tone was frustrated. We were all quiet for a moment, and I was surprised to hear Eleazar speak first.

"Where we live isn't very safe for children, there are many bears and dangerous animals in the forests of Alaska." The furrow in Bella's brown deepened. That explanation was not going to be enough for my stubborn girl.

"I wouldn't go out in the woods by myself." She said, firmly. Eleazar's eyes shifted to mine and I pressed my lips together. I was always as honest as I could be with her, and this circumstance wouldn't change that. I sat up in the chair and turned to her. I grabbed her hands and met her eyes.

"Eleazar and Carmen's live with other people up in Denali with, any they have a hard time with kids around." I could sense the protest in Eleazar's face but refused to look away from Bella.

"So we can't go, because they might not like me?" Her words caused an ache in my chest.

"No doll, nothing like that." I sighed trying to figure out the best way to explain the situation. Though I'd never met the sisters I knew their story well enough. "Tanya, Kate, and Irina lost their brother a long time ago while he was still young, and having kids around brings up sad memories of him."

"Their brother died?" She asked looking to Carmen. She gave her a sad nod, and Bella turned back to me staring at our hands. "What happened?" She asked softly, and the dread settled in. She had asked me this question about her mom, to which I's answered truthfully. That had been a very hard week for us. But she had been old enough to know, and was old enough now to know some of this, I just had to make sure I worded it right.

"Do you remember what I said when we started talking about rules?" She thought for a moment and nodded with a hint of a smile.

"That they were meant to be broken." her voice was confident again. I smiled and from the corner of my eye saw Eleazar shake his head.

"Some rules, yes. But what are the rules we follow, always?"

"Rules that keep people safe." She said, without hesitation.

"That's right."

"And their brother broke rules that kept people safe?"

I nodded, "He didn't mean to but he hurt a lot of people, and then he died. And that is a hard thing for the sisters to remember." Her brows were furrowed again as she thought about things and after a minute she nodded and turned to Carmen and Eleazar.

"Okay, then I'd like to make a deal." They exchanged a look, "You come with us on trips until I'm not a little kid anymore - like ten - and then I get to come see where you live in Denali and meet the rest of the family." Carmen smiled.

"We would love to come vacation with you." She chuckled, Eleazar nodded.

"But you'll need to be at least sixteen before you meet Tanya and her sisters."

I watched the frown return for a moment but after some thought she stepped forward and offered her right hand, "Deal." She stated.

"Deal," He responded meeting her hand with his, and they shook on it.