Chapter 4 - Meeting

For the next few days Edward did his best to keep his distance from Mari and Mari kept her distance from Edward. It made for a tension-filled atmosphere within the house.

Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie conversed about it one afternoon as they sat in the living room. With the TV turned down low, Rosalie leaned forward in her recliner, ready to gossip about the newest member in the household. "Well? What do we think about Mari?"

"She seems okay to me?" Alice shrugged, flipping through a magazine.

"Yeah, I thought so, too. She made a terrible newborn. But I think the new nectar will suit her." Rosalie replied.

"She's hot! I think she will fit in here nicely!" Emmett motioned to his private parts, receiving a thump on the arm from Rosalie. "Owww!"

"You deserved that!" Alice smirked. "Jasper would never say that, would you?"

"Nooooooo!" he dutifully replied, shaking his head vigorously. Then as Alice looked away, he secretly mouthed "Hot!" to Emmett, who found this highly amusing.

"Do you think they will ever get along? I mean, Edward and Mari?" Rosalie asked, ignoring the childish behaviour from the two brothers.

"Oh, yeah," Alice winked. "They will get on just great."

"I think it will be great to see Edward happy again. It's been too long, you know?" Rosalie smiled to herself.

"Sooner the better ... I like it cold in here, but its been freezing recently!" Emmett referred to the heavy, dull feeling that they all felt. It was as if Edward had a way of chilling the room with his anger and leaving them all to suffer with him.

"I've seen a big change happening for Edward. Mari will be good for him." Alice grinned. For her, sometimes knowing things ahead of time worked for the positive too.

"So Alice ... Spill! We want all the filthy details!" Emmett winked, nudging her with his elbow.

"Emmett?" Rosalie scowled at her mate and shook her head. "No."

It was none of their business and even though she wanted to know the future as much as Emmett did, sometimes watching miracles unfold made them that much sweeter.

Carlisle and Esme thought a party would lighten the mood and give everyone a chance to rejoice Bella's killer's demise and to officially welcome Mari to the family. It happened to be her first newborn birthday that next weekend, so the day was set for then.

Her eyes were already beginning to change. Now they had more of a shallow reddish-orange glow. Much like the fake flame from the fire they lit at night, for ambiance.

One afternoon mid-week, a few days before the party, Edward came home after he'd finished work to find Mari reading in the lounge.

He'd still not spoken a word to her since they'd met. They were doing a great job of avoiding one another, much to the dismay of the rest of the family. He still found it odd having her around their home; it had been just the family for so long now. Having a stranger live there was just that. Strange.

Looking up from the book she was reading, she caught his glance as he passed through to enter the kitchen. He chose not to greet her, despite knowing he should really be trying to make an effort by now. Stubbornness was just one of his strengths.

Stopping at the fridge, he retrieved a chilled bottle of nectar and pulled a glass from the cupboard above him. He sensed her enter the room shortly after. Her odour gave her away and though it wasn't sickening or unpleasant as at first, it was still unfamiliar.

"Hi," she said, reading his thoughts which made her smile. Turns out it was not lost, after all.

"Hi," Edward replied in a flat tone. Not bothering to turn to face her, he lifted another clean glass from the cupboard and held it aloft. "Drink?"

"Please." Mari shyly stuffed her hands into the pockets of her blue skin-tight worn jeans, as her gaze dropped slightly to rest on his toned behind which sat comfortably within his trousers. Then realizing she was staring, she shook her head slightly and desperately tried to clear her mind.

Edward would never let on that he saw her thoughts. He liked it. It had been a while since he'd seen any thoughts like that – well, directed to him anyway.

He cleared the smug smile from his face before he turned and held out the glass to her, which made her walk towards him to receive it.

"Thanks." She smiled taking a sip, flitting her gaze from his beautiful golden eyes to random areas around the kitchen, so it didn't look like she was transfixed on them.

It was only then that Edward really paid attention to her eyes aside from the changing colour. For that split second, he was lost in her gaze. Every time she looked away, he yearned to see them closer. They were beautiful.

As was she.

Mari sensed he was warming to her, but she didn't want to push it. This seemed like a good start, and at least they had spoken to each other now and broken the ice.

Suddenly, Edward was angry at himself for letting his thoughts wander in unchartered territory. It was too soon. How dare he even think about her in that way. Setting his own glass down on the counter, he barked at her in a tone that startled her. "Just remember to wash it after you're done!"

Her heart sank along with her smile with his sudden change of feeling as he stormed from the room. Had she pushed it too fast? Too far?

Feeling his uneasiness swirl around her as his scent breezed past after him, Mari remembered what Carlisle and Esme had told her: all the things about his mate Bella, the beautiful one she had seen before, and their half-immortal daughter Renesmee. She had never known animal feeders existed. To Mari, it went against her very being and morals. Or the ones she'd been told of anyway.

She remembered that night, the evening she had been turned by a vampire named Michael. After the pain had subsided, he had presented her with her first meal. He'd told her it was the best thing ever, feeding on humans. The warm red nectar, the rich full bodied sap that made them strong … she was now more resilient than any living thing. But there was something that bothered her regardless. It just seemed ... wrong ... to her somehow. That very thought had been confirmed when he killed that beautiful immortal with the strange eyes, very different from their own. She now knew that was Bella, Edward's Bella.

When she had asked Michael why they were different, he'd told her about a small group of immortals who fed on animal blood instead of human. But he'd been quick to tell her this made them weak, especially against human feeders like themselves. He proved his reasoning by reiterating that there was only one clan who lived that way. 'Human feeders outnumber them tenfold,' he'd said. Of course she'd taken his word, but uneasy thoughts still lingered in her mind.

But when the group of 'yellows' returned that night in the forest as she stayed hidden, seeing their strength against the 'reds' confirmed her suspicions: everything Michael had told her was a lie. The 'yellows' were very strong indeed and as she hid in the cove, she prayed they wouldn't find her - she wasn't ready to die yet. When Carlisle had reached out his hand, she felt immediate calm in taking it, knowing immediately where her path would lead. She then knew she wanted to be a 'yellow'.

Animal blood had tasted strange at first, not unpleasant, just ... different. She was positive this was the way she wanted to live her life. Her urge for human blood soon faded and now the stronger, more pungent animal type warmed her stomach. She knew straight away Renesmee would be safe in her presence. She never wanted to kill a human being again and she already thought of her as a sister. She understood the reason everyone had yet to allow Renesmee into the house since that first night. Although she wished Renesmee could keep her company as she spent much time alone, she was willing to wait and make sure everyone trusted her.

Or almost everyone.

Edward's uncertainty was wearing off as each day passed, and she wished the reason for his hesitance was due to her eye colour. Hopefully then he could finally let his guard down. All he needed was time.

And time was something they all had in abundance.

.

Finally, the evening of the party arrived and the family spent the afternoon decorating the house. Tiny lights outlined the doorways and Alice had made a birthday banner for Mari, which hung above the mantle. Balloons finished off the corners of the rooms and garlands bound the banisters on the stairs. Small posies of red and white flowers were dotted around, permeating their floral fragrance into the air. Soft flickers radiated from the church candles that lined the walls.

It was a sight to behold.

Edward stayed with Renesmee the entire time after her arrival, and although he was warming to Mari, he had to remain protective. Jacob was there, of course, and had come with news that Sam's recent injuries were not healing too well. In his mind, he wasn't able to be as strong as a leader should be. He had decided it was finally time he stood down from being Alfa. The rest of the Pack had voted and decided Jacob would lead now. He had all the makings of a strong and loyal Alfa. It was yet another reason to celebrate.

"Ahhhh, well done! I see you've found a shirt?" Edward teased Jacob.

"Yeah," he said, looking down and running a hand over at his neatly pressed, cream-coloured shirt. "I do get dressed sometimes at home when I'm not pinned to the bed!" He teased Edward back with a grin. He loved winding him up about being his daughter's mate. Edward may have won Bella's heart, but Jacob relished in the fact he'd won Renesmee's body.

Damn you, Jacob! Edward recoiled at the thought and shook his head.

There were just some things a father should never know.

"Jake, stop teasing him!" Renesmee chuckled.

"He started it!" Jacob smirked childishly.

"And now … I'm ending it!" Edward pounced on him playfully. Well, as playful as a werewolf and vampire could be anyway.

"You two ... Honestly! Stop! You're gonna break something! Grandma will get mad!" Renesmee laughed, feeling happy that her mate and father were actually getting along for once.

The mood took a sudden turn as Mari entered the room. Both Jacob and Edward froze in mid-huddle as Edward had Jacob in a headlock. Edward's protective instinct took priority again and he was quick to be by his daughter's side.

"Dad! It's fine." Renesmee held up a hand to reassure him.

Jacob sneered but remained across the room.

"Um … I ... just wanted to formally introduce myself to the both of you," Mari said quietly, looking from Renesmee to Jacob. She first walked to Jacob, showing him she had no intentions of harming his mate. She held out her hand and smiled. "I'm Mari."

Jacob shook it politely and muttered "Jacob," as his nose instantly smelled her unique scent. It wasn't as unpleasant as he remembered from before; it was slightly sweeter.

"I won't harm her," she said softly, knowing he was inhaling her scent. Next she turned and walked carefully towards Renesmee and Edward. From a good distance, she held out her hand and smiled at the beautiful young woman in front of her who definitely resembled both her parents. "Hi."

It was exceedingly difficult for to Edward to step aside as Renesmee walked towards Mari. But he did it because he'd read her mind.

Renesmee stopped in front of her and within a split second she threw her arms around Mari's neck. Jacob took one leap to be by her side. Edward was not even a half-second behind him.

To all of their relief, it went well. Mari smiled at Edward as he bore his dark, cautious eyes into hers. She curled her arms gently around Renesmee's waist and mouthed to him, "It's okay...I promise. Read me."

Carlisle entered the room and watched the tender moment. He remembered the first time he'd held Mari's quivering hand in Trymed Forest. She was an innocent newborn who could be changed with the right amount of support. Just as he'd predicted, that moment had finally arrived. He smiled and pointed towards the other room. "Drinks are now being served in the kitchen!"

Mari pulled away and retreated backwards a few steps before turning to exit the room as a sign of submission.

Jacob blew out a long-held breath and raised his eyebrows in relief and Edward's eyes returned to yellow. Renesmee grinned at them both. "See? I told you guys she's fine."

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A/N: Welcome Back! I'm sure you all welcomed Mari to the Cullen Family. And what better way to do it then with a party?

Much Love to all those still with me. I appreciate the Reviews I have received so far. Keep them coming!

Ongoing Love and Cupcakes to ThisIsReallyHappening. My wonderful Beta, who sees the 'dead people' in my jumbled words.

Who's up for Chapter 5? Lead on McDuff...

DeathToBeReborn