Chapter 3

Morticia pov:

The next morning brought what Morticia hoped to be a much less exciting day. At least now the vampires were aware that she knew their secret so she didn't have to walk on eggshells anymore. She just hoped that her presence here wasn't going to cause a massive disruption in Stephanie Meyer's universe.

As she traipsed downstairs in her black jeans and combat boots, per yesterday's usual she was the last one to get to the breakfast table.

"Wow, the last one again. Geez, do you guys synchronize that stuff?" She said sarcastically as she grabbed a cup of coffee, before grabbing the newspaper off the table.

'I need to be on the lookout for any animal attacks, so I can warn the Cullens.' She thought to herself, glancing over the obituaries of the day.

Tony chuckled, "Well some of us go to bed at a respectable time. Not all of us love staying up well into the night like you Tish."

Morticia scoffed, "I do my best thinking at night, and besides I can sleep when I'm dead."

Tony just rolled his eyes at her before he snapped his fingers at a thought.

"Oh, Billy wanted me to remind you that next month the boys on the rez are building a bonfire. He knew it was close to your birthday so he wanted me to invite you." He said, smiling at her.

'Oh fuck. Going to a wolf infested area after I've been spending so much time with vampires. Sounds like a suicide mission to me.' She mentally groaned

"Uh, that sounds like fun but I don't know, Tony. Schoolwork will be picking up by then so I'll have to see... Besides, I wouldn't want to blind them with my pale face" She said with a slight laugh to her voice.

Tony just scoffed and waved his hand, "Whatever, just lettin' ya know if you ever give yourself a break."

Morticia just nodded before she grabbed her backpack and gestured for Caleb to get ready to leave.

The drive to school was much faster this time around and she quickly pulled into a space beside a familiar-looking Volvo.

"Hey, I've gotta talk to some people, think you can make it to your building on your own?" Morticia teased as Caleb just rolled his eyes at her before moving to exit the car.

"I'll see ya later," Caleb called over his shoulder, hurriedly making his way to the building in the distance.

Morticia just shook her head as she moved to open the driver's side door.

"I see you are just as sarcastic at home as you are in public." A melodic voice resonated above her.

She turned her head up to glare at the auburn-haired boy leaning on the side of her car.

"Yeah, maybe she's born with it or maybe she's just a massive bitch. You ever think of that, sparkles?" She said with an attitude as she brushed past him. He quickly turned to press closely behind her.

"I didn't mean to offend you. It's just...difficult." He gritted out lowly.

"Yeah, I get being around me is super difficult for you right now. That's the whole point of the little partnership." She said, gesturing between the two of them.

"No, it's not that." He told her and as she was going to ask him to elaborate Alice suddenly materialized beside her.

"Hey, Morticia. You're sitting with us today at lunch right?" Her tone told Morticia that she was only asking to be polite.

"Wow, you really want me to make a spectacle, don't you Tinkerbell? Sure, What the hell, right?" Morticia replied before turning and making her way to her first class.

Edward Pov:

He could sense Alice's scowl before she growled, "Do you have to be such an asshole? Is it so hard to say a simple, 'Hi, how are you today?"

He growled low so only she would hear, "You have no idea how much restraint I have to use just to be in her presence, that combined with not being able to hear her makes me even more anxious, Alice."

Alice scoffed as she rolled her eyes, "Her future isn't completely clear to me but you don't see me trying to mouth off at her every chance I get. You didn't even say goodbye to her yesterday! What happened to chivalry, huh?" She said before flouncing away to join Jasper by the entrance doors.

He didn't know why he had such a disdain for the woman, Morticia. She set him off in a way no one else did and made his most primal instincts surge up at any moment.

At his line of thoughts, he felt Jasper's calm influence pass over him, and nodding his thanks hurried to catch up with the rest of his family before anything else happened.

Morticia Pov:

The beginning of the school day was long and dull, having already taken these courses, she opted to just sit there and doodle in her notebook. It was the third period of the day before she realized that the features she had begun to draw were the ones of a very familiar sparkly asshole.

'I can't go there.' She thought to herself, moving to rip out the page but stopped herself. It was one of her better pieces and it was only a sketch.

'I'll keep it for the sentiment and nothing more.' She told herself as she moved to put the drawing in her bag once the bell rang.

As she made her way to the cafeteria, she felt a slight twinge of fear when Alice popped her head out of another classroom.

'God she has to quit doing that.' She thought to herself as the pixie practically floated over towards her.

"I'm so glad I caught you. I thought we could walk to lunch together, Jasper had another class across campus so I told him not to wait up." She said, not waiting for Morticia's response before taking her by the arm and basically dragging her to the lunchroom.

You could've heard a pin drop in the silence that followed their entrance into the cafeteria. Everybody was turned towards the entrance with varying looks of awe and disbelief.

"Uh.. can we go sit down please, this is super uncomfortable." Morticia groaned, trying to steer them to the far corner of the room where her siblings sat.

"Don't you want to get any food?" Alice asked her, tilting her head slightly.

"Not really, I had a big breakfast." She lied as they quickly made their way to the table.

Before she even sat down, she could feel Rosalie's irritation and addressed it very quickly.

"How many times do I have to say it for it to sink in Rosalie? I'm not here to infringe upon your family! I only agreed to this because the girls I sat with yesterday are all massive bitches, except Angela, she's sweet and the boys are just masses of hormones waiting to screw whatever they come across. So if you please, can we be civil?" She said, exasperated, causing Emmett and Jasper to nearly fall out of their chairs with laughter. Even Rosalie looked slightly impressed as she nodded.

"Great." Morticia sighed as she took the only open seat next to Mr. broods-a-lot himself. She was quite shocked when, instead of sneering at her direction, he gave her a slight smile and a "hello"

Pulling herself out of her shocked stupor, she quickly replied, "hey." The others at the table were watching the interaction with varying amounts of interest.

Edward shifted slightly towards her before replying, "I know I've been rude lately, and I want to apologize. I shouldn't take it out on you. That isn't fair."

Morticia, quick to cover up her shock, replied, "Wow, that's some nice character development we've got going on here. I like it. Sure, I accept your apology and I'll give you brownie points for coming clean so soon because we both know Alice was the entire reason you're apologizing. She totally ripped your ass."

If the other boys had been human, Morticia was sure she'd have put them into muscle spasms by now. Edward's brow furrowed before he replied, "I'm not used to socializing with humans."

"Humans or females because I'm not sure you're comfortable around either, to be honest. Are you sure there isn't more character growth to be had?" Morticia said teasingly and when she noticed the outrage coming to his face she quickly continued, "I'm kidding. Lighten up, it's what humans do. They joke with their friends."

"But I don't think we should be friends. Or you shouldn't be friends with us." Edward said adamantly in that 'I know everything tone.'

"Wow, Stephanie really pegged you as the perfect masochist huh? Listen up bub, only I get to decide who I'm friends with. If you don't wanna be associated with me that's fine, but remember when your little Bella shows up in a few months and you can't hold yourself back from draining her all because you didn't know how to make a damn friend who smelled quite appetizing." She said irritated and secretly she wished she could get up and storm off but she knew that wouldn't solve anything.

"I'm not a-" He began before she cut him off.

"Look, you are what you are and nothing's going to change that. Bella Swan may be into the whole possessive angle you play up but I'm not. You can take your possessive bullshit and shove it up your ass, sparkles. I didn't ask to be here, probably fucking up the timeline, but I am so I think it would all benefit us to just suck it up and sing kumbaya alright?" Morticia huffed as she leaned back into her seat not giving Edward a second glance.

"Wow, uh. That was intense." Emmett commented from his seat by Rosalie.

"I think she's right. Somebody had to say it and knock him off his high horse." Rosalie replied and gave Morticia what she thought were the beginnings of a smile.

'Holy shit, did I just unfreeze ice bitch's heart?' She wondered. 'Damn.'

"Look I'm not trying to bust your balls or anything, I'm actually trying to help you. Things will go a hell of a lot smoother with you and Bella if you just listen to me." Morticia relented, finally turning her gaze back to the man in question.

"You're 109 years old but physically you're still 17. It's ok to act like a teenager every once in a while and have fun, remember that." She continued, giving him a soft look, hoping she didn't take too many shots at his ego.

"Speaking of fun..." Alice trailed off suggestively.

'Oh, shit. Here we go. Vampire barbie found a new project.' She shuddered to think of the outfits Alice would pick.

"I think we should have a slumber party!" Alice squealed happily

'Well...That wasn't what I expected.' Morticia thought to herself as Alice continued rambling off the plans.

"I know the last time you were at the house, the topic of conversation was a little on the heavy side. But, now since you've explained everything we can just focus on getting to know each other!"

'a veggie vamp sleepover with a human guest. That sounds like an SNL skit to me.' Morticia fantasized as Alice glanced at her expectantly.

"I don't know why you're looking at me for an answer! You're the psychic so you already know what I'm going to say." Morticia said grumpily as she relaxed a tad into her chair.

"Yeah, but you're all fuzzy! And besides, it's polite to ask!" Alice all but pouted at her.

"Ok, easy, I'll do it. But, you have to promise no late-night snacking from anybody...even if I am irresistible I'd rather not go out by being some veggie vamp's fall off the wagon." She chuckled as Jasper sent her what she thought was a worried look.

'Poor Major. I'll have to touch base with him about his gift soon. To be feeling everyone's emotions must be hell on his self-restraint.' She told herself as the rest of the lunch period droned on.

"Alright, now don't forget, the slumber party is at 6 pm on Friday. Oh, and don't worry about having to convince Tony to let you go. Esme has that taken care of." Alice told her as they were walking out into the parking lot later that day.

Morticia turned to Alice with a confused look, "Esme? Why is she calling Tony?"

"Because she is hoping to get Tony to let you hang around us more and she thought he would feel more comfortable knowing a mother figure would be watching you, especially in a house full of boys. It's sweet, how much he worries. Besides, who can resist Esme's charm?" Alice chuckled as Morticia opened the driver's side door to her car.

"I guess you're right, although, Carlisle could have her beat if he used his sexy English accent." Morticia threw a wink over her shoulder before climbing inside the cab.

"You're going to end up giving Carlisle a complex, you know that right?" Alice called to her, shaking her head slightly.

Rolling down the window, Morticia replied, "Oh, I'm planning on it. I have to cause some chaos while I'm here don't I? It's part of the Addams charm." With that said, Morticia began the quick drive home, but not before glancing behind her as she left the parking lot to see the Cullen's laughing and smiling faces.

She didn't know that Friday would bring or any day after that, but one thing was certain. The Cullens were already a large part of her life here and she didn't see them letting her go anytime soon.

Later that night, while she was settling in for the night, Morticia felt a sudden chill as if someone was watching her, or at least was attempting to. With a groan, she marched over to her window and called out softly, "Just get in here and quit being a creepy stalker, Edward," Before making her way to her desk chair.

'No need to try and recreate any bedroom scenes.' She told herself with a shudder.

She felt a gust of wind blow past her face and then suddenly the man himself was there, scowling as usual.

"How did you?..." He trailed off as she held up a hand.

"You made a habit of stalking Bella in her sleep in the books. Might I make a suggestion- That's fucking creepy so don't do that." Morticia said condescendingly as she leaned back in the chair.

"Also, please refrain from peeping in my window at night, Eddie boy. I could sleep naked for all you know and I'd hate to ruin your virtue at such a young age." Her snark didn't appease his scowl nor his next response.

"I can't seem to figure you out. One second I think I'm on to something and the next...It's all very frustrating." He growled out.

"Honey, If women were easy to read, many a relationship may be salvaged, however, keeping some mystery keeps you men on your toes. Believe me, If I told you everything that went on in my head, it would turn your pretty pale ears pink." She said lowly before changing her tone slightly, "Besides, I'm already helping you get your little lover girl, however dull she may be in the books, so why are you so worried about me?"

Edward's scowl seemed to deepen as if that were possible. "You really should keep your distance from us. If the Volturi ever found out-."

Morticia cut him off, "The Volturi will never know anything is amiss. I'm going to help you avoid getting into any trouble that would lead them to pursue your coven. That means you need to take your self-righteousness and shove it up your ass, ok? The only reason they would have to come here would be because I know your secret, however, I also know other secrets that make me valuable to Aro and I really don't want to pique his creepy interest any time soon."

Edward looked stunned for a moment, "So, you plan to play house with a bunch of vampires, what exactly do you get out of it?" His stare unnerved her a tiny bit and she looked away before responding.

"Look, I know this may be hard to believe, but the family I had in 2019 is lost to me. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to return. So, if playing house with a bunch of veggie vamps with severe self-deprecating issues just to get my mind off my grief...I think I'll take that option over being alone here." She finished quietly and Edward shifted slightly.

"Your family...What were they like?" He asked hesitantly.

Morticia smiled and shook her head, "I'm not sure if we're close enough for that just yet. I mean, it has only been a few days, wasn't there some waiting period in 1918 that you had to finish before asking a lady personal questions?" She quipped with a smile.

To her surprise, Edward actually chuckled, "Yes, actually there was an entire plethora of rules to follow, but I think since you already know so much about me, there's really no reason to stand on ceremony."

Still shocked that he had played into her little jab, shaking her head with a smile, she replied. "Well, I guess you're right. I do seem to know all about you and turn about is fair play. How about a trade? A question for a question?"

Edward seemed to consider this and she motioned for him to take a seat in her other chair.

"Alright, my turn. What's your favorite color and why?"

"Technically that was two questions, but I'll allow it. What happened to you asking about my family?" She inquired, raising an eyebrow.

He gave her that wickedly crooked smile. She now understood why Bella turned to mush when he did it, it was quite dazzling, to be honest.

"I've decided that you're right. There are rules to the game and you can't pull out the big questions on the first few rounds so I'm biding my time." He practically purred his response.

'Well, his demeanor certainly has changed quite a bit. Not that I'm complaining. Grumpy Edward was terribly annoying.' She thought.

"Black of course, although I often find myself gravitating towards Red as an accent color. Black because it's such a happy color and red because it makes me think of all the scandalous connotations associated with the color," She replied, teasing. "Now it's my turn. Edward, What is your favorite season of the year, and why?"

Edward looked puzzled at her answer but chuckled as he replied, "I'd have to say winter since it's the only time that we can move around outside quite frequently. It gets kind of annoying being stuck inside with a bunch of mated vampires 24/7."

Morticia was shocked at his playful description but laughed anyway.

"I'd assume so. Winter is very lovely. While others view it as a time for death and decay, I view it as a time for dark beauty. I love it when it snows, the chill in the air, and curling up beside a fireplay with a good book is even better with the dark ambiance of a winter's night." She said dreamily, thinking back to a long time ago when her mother would read them stories by the fire and make fresh hot cocoa.

"Am I correct to assume that Winter is your favorite season as well?" He replied coyly, arching a brow.

"I'm taking that as a question and no. Fall or Autumn is actually my favorite. It's prime time to walk the graveyards and take lovely pictures, especially at night. It gives me chills just thinking about it. The smell of decaying leaves, the pumpkin patches, the haunted houses being erected, oh, and the horror movies! October is an all-out fright-fest for me!" Morticia giggled, "But I'm sure you could probably tell that just from my name or how I dress though, right?"

Edward shook his head, "Actually, you are very different from what anybody would expect. Believe me, I would know." He looked at her very intensely and she felt a blush rise to her cheeks. Quickly she went to change the subject.

"Well, in any case. I think it's time for us to put a hold on this mini interrogation and the human in the room needs to get some sleep. We can worry about the Bella situation at another time. We have plenty of time before she's supposed to arrive anyway." She said with a wave of her hand as she went to stand from her desk.

Oh, how she would come to regret that statement...

Edward followed suit and moved to the window.

"Oh, and Edward, please don't make a habit of squatting beneath my window every night... I wasn't kidding about the sleeping naked thing." Morticia called out to him softly, and then with a wink, she hurried to her bathroom to have what Bella would call, a 'human moment'.

When she returned, Edward was gone but in his place, was left a brown and yellow leaf that had most likely been from the tree in her yard.

'Maybe I'm finally chipping away at that cold exterior he puts up...' She wondered to herself as she turned out the lights and settled against her pillow.

'Maybe one day I can get him to open up a tiny bit...' Her thoughts trailed off as she drifted off into sleep.

~~~~~~~Dream~~~~~~

"Soon...Soon Morticia. Things will happen sooner than you think." That forgotten disembodied voice called out to her inside her dream.

The setting was the forest just outside the forests. To her right, Morticia heard the leaves rustle and branches crunch.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" There was no response but a shadow ran in her line of sight.

"Hey, wait!" She called as she gave chase to the shadow.

The landscape began to blur as she chased the figure, eventually catching up and grabbing ti by the arm.

The figure was a woman, pale and thin with long brown hair and brown eyes.

"Oh, Hello! Do you know where I am?" The woman asked her, innocently.

"No, but who are you?" Morticia replied... she almost looked like.

"I'm Bella... Bella Swan."

'Oh Fuck.' was the only thought Morticia could conceive as she stared at Bella in shock...