Chapter Info

Title: Family

Number: 19/36

Warnings: Angst

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I would love to hear your reviews, thoughts, comments, and questions about this story!

UnseenAngel17: I usually update every day because I have up to chapter thirty-five finished out of thirty-six. :) And I'm working on thirty-six right now. Thank you so much for reading and commenting!

Don'tBelieveInFear: This chapter should answer the question about seeing the others. As for her relationship to them, that'll be explained a bit more in following chapters, but basically she was their mother, more or less like Esme's role, but they actually called her mom. And she was very close with Emmett as I switched up his story just a tad in that his mother died having his younger sister (in canon Twilight she was alive when he "died") and Abigail reminded him of her. Honestly I can't remember if I mentioned that already or not lol but I do know it's in a chapter somewhere. I have a feeling it's already happened, but I couldn't find it so maybe not lol. ANYWAY I hope that helps. :) Thank you for reading and commenting!

AHealingRenaissance: She sort of did already comment on it, but didn't freak out. It's this part in chapter eighteen: She gasped and pulled back some. "Carlie." He nodded. She knew Bella was different and figured out she turned, but she never would've guessed Carlie was her biological daughter. But Abigail sighed sadly and shook her head. "It wouldn't matter anyway, though. I can't get pregnant." It's towards the end when they're talking about why they can't make love. Again, I don't want to say when it'll hit the fan, but this chapter I can say this chapter will be a new beginning and it'll all come to a head very soon. :) Thanks for reading and commenting!

-Abigail-

They stayed locked in that embrace for another few moments before Carlisle pulled away with a shaky breath. He leaned his forehead against hers and they stayed like that for a little while. She could tell he was trying to control himself even then and she loathed that she was the cause of it, so she lifted her hands to card through his hair, murmuring soft words of love and feeling the tension ease from his body. It was still there, but considering what he told her, she had a feeling that it would never ease, unless she was a vampire herself.

The thought almost made her gasp, but she held it back so he didn't alarm him. For a moment she was afraid, afraid of what something like that would mean. But she came up blank because that would mean she got to be with her friends and family—and most importantly, Carlisle—for all eternity. What was there to think about? Where was the bad? But she couldn't say that to Carlisle right then, she had a feeling he wouldn't take it all that great, and she didn't want him pushing away or getting upset with her. But she knew it's what she wanted.

I want to be a vampire.

"Are you okay?" she finally murmured and slowly he nodded, pulling back to look at her. Her fingers were still clutched in his hair and slowly she pulled them down, but his hand caught her wrist.

"Why do you do that?" he murmured. She frowned.

"Do you not like it?"

He shook his head vehemently. "No no, I do. I love it. It makes me so calm." That same flash was in and out of his eyes in a second. "But how did you know?"

She tilted her head to the side and softly shrugged. "I'm not sure," she admitted. "I just felt like that's what you needed. You were distressed and my body told me to try and calm you, make you happy and content, and I was doing it before I realized it." She paused. "Maybe it's the mating bond? Telling me that's what you need." He studied her some more as if seeing her for the first time, face full of wonder.

"I can't believe you feel all that," he murmured. "Humans never do."

"I'm special." She grinned.

He chuckled. "Well of course you are, darling."

"And I might have a slight obsession with your hair. It's so soft and silky." She hummed and ran her fingers through it some more before glancing at him, seeing his eyes closed in such a look of contentment she almost teared up again. "But mostly I want you calm and happy. I love your smile. I want to see it."

He smiled and she grinned happily as his eyes opened. "Perfect," she purred and leaned in to kiss him again.

The first person she spotted as she got downstairs was Emmett and she froze in her spot. She stopped so suddenly that Carlisle growled from behind her and yanked her behind him as if expecting danger, but she put her hand on his arm, the other hand going to his hair, and she nodded.

"It's okay," she murmured, though her hand slid down to his and gingerly she stepped towards the giant vampire. Despite his size, her knew knowledge of his kind, and what happened earlier, she felt safe there. She was just intimidated because clearly he was upset with her and she had no clue why. Carlisle was right behind her so she squeezed his hand for comfort even as Emmett looked at her sheepishly with a deeply apologetic look across his boyish features. He stood and Abigail raised a hand to Carlisle's hair as he let out a small growl.

"It's okay," she repeated.

"I won't hurt her, Carlisle," he said softly. "And I'm sorry about earlier. I found out something about someone I knew a long time ago, and I didn't know how to deal with it. I shouldn't have taken it out on you." He looked so sincere and sorry that she couldn't help allowing her hand to slip from Carlisle's and draw the bigger man into a hug.

"Apology accepted," she said against his shoulder and he softly patted her back. She squeezed him for another moment, but knew better than to take too much longer and quickly went back to Carlisle's side, who had grown agitated when her touch withdrew from him, and her fingers went back to his hair for a moment. Emmett followed the movement, eyes troubled for a second, but finally smiled and sat, gesturing for them to do the same. Carlisle pulled her to a nearby chair and sat her on his lap.

Frankly she wanted to speak with Emmett about it alone and find out what happened, but she knew she couldn't. For starters, it wasn't her business. If he wanted her to know, he would've told her. And for second, there was no way she would be able to get out of Carlisle's grip let alone his sight to do so.

Baby boy, she thought again as she gazed at Emmett, wondering why the urge to call him that was so strong when he was like seventy years older than her, so she refrained, but just barely.

.x.x.x.x.

Most of the day was spent down there curled up in Carlisle's arms, her fingers alternating between his hair and the back of his neck. Nothing had upset up him so the hair stroking was purely because she wanted to, and she didn't miss the satisfied hum she received every time she did it. And she decided she would do it every moment of the day if she managed to get that noise from Carlisle. It was pure perfection and she was addicted to it.

The only time things got louder than just easy conversation was when Jacob came back. She sat up immediately, eyes wide with delight as the boy came into the room. His eyes caught hers in an instant and she saw many emotions flicker over his face: surprise, happiness, weariness, confusion, worry, and suspicion. She nearly wiggled in Carlisle's lap and as soon as he patted her hip in an okay, she was up and launching herself across the room into Jacob's arms.

"Jake!" she squealed and he easily caught her, his body heat a stark contrast to that of Carlisle and the rest and she jumped ever slightly, but quickly got used to it as Jacob picked her up, as usual.

"Bunny, you're awake," he sighed against her and she didn't see him squeeze his eyes shut and then open and send a silent "thank you" over her shoulder to Carlisle, who have a simple smile and nod. She didn't stay in the air for long, but that was fine as her body began to feel the loss of Carlisle's touch and so she instead dragged him closer and pushed him onto the coffee table in front of her before climbing back into Carlisle's lap and sighing in contentment.

"So," Abigail began, eyes narrowing a little as she pointed a stern finger at Jacob. "I understand them keeping vampires from me, but you?" She scoffed. "And here I thought you were a bad liar."

His eyes flew open wide and he glanced to Emmett at the side of them who simply shrugged before Jacob's gaze was back on her. For a moment he looked angry rather than shocked, but finally he cleared it from his gaze. "It wasn't mine to tell."

She huffed. "I know. Don't be sensible. Let me be irritated."

He cracked a smile. "Fine. But if you think it'll do anything, you're sadly mistaken. I mean you're like this big." He held his hand about two feet off the ground. Her eyes narrowed at him as his smile grew playful. "And you're human. What're you gonna do to me?"

"I have my ways, Jacob Black. Don't forget I know your father."

"What's he gonna do, ground me?"

"We'll see," she said mysteriously and turned her head away. He snorted because they both knew she had nothing as any secrets they had they already blackmailed each other with so it was pointless.

Jacob sighed and she looked over as his grin became a simple happy one. "I'm just glad you're okay. You nearly died on me." She felt Carlisle wince and her hand went for his hair. Jacob pointed a stern finger at her again. "Warn me next time so I can stop you before you pull that again."

She held up her free hand in surrender. "Fine, next time I'm about to fall in a coma, I'll call you up and let you know first so you can talk me out of it." Their answering grins were playful again, missing the looks the vampires flashed each other.

"Did you guys have plans today?" Jacob said, clapping his hands on his knees.

"Other than not moving from right here," she said, tapping Carlisle's chest and gazing up at him adoringly, catching his loving look and his lips in return. "Not a thing."

"Don't make me vomit," Jacob warned with a shiver. "But seriously, you won't go anywhere? I wanna show you something."

"Can he come?" she asked, gesturing to her love.

Jacob sighed. "God, I'm never gonna see you without him anymore, am I?"

She grinned. "Not if I can help it."

Jacob rolled his eyes and Carlisle chuckled lightly, face pressing to kiss her neck once.

"Well, it's down at La Push." His voice was uneasy and she felt Carlisle tense. She frowned and glanced between them, noticing her fingers were required in his hair again.

"So?" she prompted when no one said anything.

"Remember the legend," Carlisle said to her softly. Abigail frowned for a moment and it dawned on her, eyes widening.

"Wait, you guys were the 'enemy clan'?"

Carlisle nodded.

"My great grandfather Ephraim devised the treaty. Things might be different now, but we haven't exactly talked about it."

"And we won't violate it if it still stands with the wolves. It would have to be discussed with the whole pack and the council."

"My dad, Sue Clearwater, and Old Quil," Jacob explained at Abigail's questioning glance. She nodded slowly.

"So until then, they can't go to La Push?" Jacob and Carlisle nodded while she let out a breath. Unease grew within her and she knew that while she wouldn't be getting sick around them—none of the Quileute boys ever would go for her that way, even if most of them weren't taken other than Jacob and Seth—she would have to go without Carlisle and that she just didn't know if she could do. The idea of returning to work was bad enough, and he would be in the same hospital. But being away from him outside of Forks...

She clutched at him as if it was already decided she was leaving, and he nuzzled at her neck, which made her heartbeat steady out. It was then she realized that did to her what her fingers in his hair did to him. It calmed her, centered her, made her think more clearly. It was more than just affection, it was Carlisle's instincts taking care of his mate. She snuggled against him deeper.

Finally she gave Jacob an apologetic smile and reached over to squeeze his fingers. "Rain check?" she murmured. "Maybe next week after work." Everything screamed "no!" at her, instincts battling, but she has to do this for Jacob. She couldn't pick one or the other, she needed both. Deep down, she knew if she had to it would be Carlisle. It would always be Carlisle. But she didn't need to, and so she had to figure out ways to get back and forth between the two—assuming the treaty still stood—and not hurt Jacob. That was the last thing she wanted, but the idea of leaving Carlisle felt like a crushing in her chest.

Jacob frowned sadly, but he seemed to understand. He glanced over at the others for a split second before he gave her a melancholic smile. "I get it, Bunny. Don't apologize. Next week is fine. It's not going anywhere."

A smile broke out on her face when he turned his hand around to grip her fingers and once again, she was floored by the difference of Carlisle under her—even though he was warmer to her than the other Cullens now, she figured it was their mating bond—and then Jacob in her palm. She knew it was the difference between wolf and vampire. She giggled.

"What, sweet girl?" Carlisle asked her, voice full of his smile and he pushed her hair off her neck to have more room to nuzzle.

"Oh nothing, just my brother's a werewolf and my boyfriend's a vampire. I sound like I'm in some bad '70s horror movie."

Jacob snorted and rolled his eyes while Carlisle chuckled deeply, a sound that went directly through her body and clutched at her heart making it race.

"At least you're not alone. Before she was turned, I'm sure Bella could've understood you perfectly," Carlisle said.

"It's true," Bella said once she heard her name and stood up with Carlie to come closer. Carlie immediately crawled into Jacob's arms and Abigail's eyes narrowed for a moment, before looking at Bella as she sat next to Jacob. As she did, Carlisle's arms tightened a fraction and Abigail sent him a questioning look, which he just simply smiled at.

"Jake and I have been friends awhile and it felt like I had to choose. Things were much more tense with the packs than they are now, especially after I got pregnant. You're lucky, you don't have to choose." She decided not to say that it felt like it because she couldn't bring Carlisle down to La Push, but she knew that she could go and always come back. But she did feel lucky, mostly because of Carlisle, but everyone else, too. She had loved her parents, but she felt more at home there with them than she ever had before. She felt she belonged and her previous I want to be a vampire thought came back to mind.

Suddenly Edward sighed. "No you don't."

Abigail looked over in confusion to see who he was talking to, and his eyes were on her.

"What?" she wondered.

"You don't want to be a vampire." Carlisle went rigid and Abigail blinked at him, her mouth opening as stunned surprise went through her. Fingers found Carlisle's hair, but most of her attention focused on Bella's husband.

"How did—"

"Carlisle didn't tell you?" he said, surprised. She shook her head and watched him move closer to stand behind Bella. "Some of us have gifts. Bella has a shield that protects her mind from attacks, and she can push it out to protects others." Her surprised eyes turned to her old friend who nodded. "Jasper is an empath. He can not only feel other's emotions, he can influence them as well. Alice can see the future. When you make a decision, she can see the outcome. If you change your mind, the vision changes. And me...I can read minds."

Oh god, she thought as she stared at him in horror and he grinned.

"All of them?" she wondered.

"Yes. Apart from Bella's."

She snorted. "Lucky."

Edward chuckled. "But I still stand by what I said. You don't want to be a vampire."

She frowned. "How do you know?"

"Because I am one and you don't want to be this."

She narrowed her eyes. "It wasn't a firm decision. But really, why wouldn't I? Everyone I care about is here. Do you think I want to be stuck as a human and die in sixty years?" Carlisle hissed and her fingers went back to his hair.

"What about your roommate?"

She shrugged. "I love Beth, she's great—"

"Except when she springs surprise dates on you that make you vomit," Jacob cut in to point out. Growls from Carlisle received more gentle movements of her fingers in his hair.

Abigail glared at him. "You say that like it happens often." She sighed. "My point is that she's great, but we've grown apart since moving here. I don't know, less people and less to do, but she has Rick now and I have you guys. Giving up her friendship—if that's what you're eluding to—is a small price to pay for having forever with the family I love."

It was silent after that and she looked at Carlisle who looked to be brooding over something and then to Edward and Emmett and all the others who seemed to be contemplating something. For a moment she wondered if she said something wrong, but Edward shook his head.

She sighed. "I think that'll get annoying real fast."

At least that broke the tension when Jacob and Emmett roared in laughter and Carlisle chuckled under her. Even Edward and Bella smiled and she just grinned, happy that the heavy stuff was over. Edward explained that he could choose to stay out of a mind, but he was focused on hers because everything was so new and he wanted to make sure she was okay. While she wanted to remain annoyed, that was sweet and so she let it go for the time being.

Soon after was lunch time and she ate quickly from her perch on Carlisle's lap and then she was taken back upstairs into what she knew then to be Carlisle's study. He shut the door and didn't let her down as he pulled her to the couch and sat down with her on his lap.

He tugged her even closer as soon as she was settled and pulled her into a small kiss. She smiled against his lips, turning her body towards him, cupping his cheeks as his hands tightened around her body. It felt so good to kiss him and it felt like it made all her weeks of heartbreak worth it. She would never forget the days leading up that kept her away from him, or the night where everything changed. She would go through that illness all over again if it brought her to him.

"I love you," she murmured as their lips parted, her fingers playing with the ends of his short blond hair and he smiled against her.

"I love you, too, my sweet Abigail," he murmured back, his thumbs stroking the apple of your cheek. "You're so beautiful. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I will spend my life proving to you that I'm worthy of your affection."

She smiled at him lovingly, eyes taking in his bright ochre eyes and the way the light made his golden blond hair shine. "Even if I had any choice in the matter, I would always choose you." He smiled and kissed her nose.

But his attention was diverted the next moment, head turning for the door and he frowned. "Edward needs to speak to me." He sighed. "Alone."

Immediately her heart stuttered and she shook her head, pressing herself to his chest. "Don't leave me," she whimpered.

His sigh was agonized and he pulled her face up to look into her eyes. He smiled lovingly again even though his eyes were pained and he kissed her again. "I will return soon, my darling. I won't be gone long."

She frowned, her hands having to be pried from his shirt as she was sat aside on the couch. His body and then his hands left her, slamming cold down in her body, her stomach twisting and heart stopping as he walked from the room and left her there. She knew it was silly, but everything in her body screamed for her to run after him. But she knew he needed his space and privacy so she forced herself to stay where she was.

Standing up, she started pacing, her eyes flickering over the books as she tried to distract herself. Soon, though, her eyes moved to the paintings and she slowly looked over them. She knew more about books than art, but she could still appreciate the beauty. Slowly she moved across the wall, and stopped right in front of the painting covered in black silk.

She knew she shouldn't look. There was a reason he has the painting covered, and it wasn't her place to look until he decided to show her. But she had to look, she just had to, and she had no idea why. It was calling to her and her feet had moved for it before she could stop them, her hand lifting and she hesitated right at the edge of the black silk. It was foreign to feel so overwhelmed by a painting she's never seen, but she held back tears, and slowly removed the silk veil.

She gasped, stumbling back against the dark wood desk, but she didn't even notice as that one peak was all it took. The silk veil fluttered to the ground as her back hit the desk and she slumped down, her eyes rolling into the back of her head and fluttering shut as she was assaulted with memory after memory, of her nearly two hundred years of life before this. Her first life as a human, then her second life as a vampire.

She was unable to control it, unable to stop it, her mind going blank except for the onslaught. It paralyzed her, made her comatose, and she didn't hear the frantic, devastated voice of Carlisle calling her name.