"Well, when you left, Car, I had just turned nineteen. I had to move in with the Nells, since I was told you had died. You remember Rebecca?"
"Yes, she was always a sweet girl. You're best friend, if I remember correctly."
"That she was. Well, the night of my twentieth birthday, Rebecca and I were walking home from the pub well before midnight. I always remembered what you told me- 'Never be out after the clock strikes midnight, Coraline. Bad things are bound to happen.' I realized I had forgotten my coat, and asked Rebecca to wait for me while I ran back to get it. We had only been two blocks away from the pub, so I didn't think it would be much of a problem. As I walked back out though, I was grabbed from behind, and dragged down the alley. And all I remember of my human life after that was the searing pain on my neck."
"What have you been doing since then?" Bella asked.
"A lot of school. I stayed in Europe until about thirty years ago. I decided I needed a change of scenery and headed to Louisiana. It was nice and quiet out there, I bought a nice piece of land far away from anyone- in Winnsboro, right outside of Monroe- so I could go outside without being bothered. I eventually had another vampire come to me, and he moved in. Michael, his name was. He lived with me for close to twenty years. Relatively short to us, but long enough that we were quite in love with each other. And he got caught by the town. They weren't having that, and Michael refused to hurt innocent people to save himself, even though I begged him not to let them do anything. It was selfish, I know, but I loved him. You can guess what happened.
"I was torn apart for the longest time, and five years later, Patrick came along. He had heard about me from a mutual friend in Ireland, and he had always wanted to come to the states. Again, I let someone in, because- as you know, Carlisle- nothing is worse than not having someone in your life. This time around, I lost him to a werewolf. Not like the ones you have of course. No, this was a real werewolf. For another five years I was completely alone.
"This is when my friend in Ireland decided to go and blab to the Volturi about me. Aro was obviously thrilled to hear your sister was still alive, and was even more thrilled when he learned of my ability. Since Edward wouldn't join, he thought maybe I would. And as you know, Carlisle, I told him no. He pushed me more than should be legal, and eventually I called him an asshole and told him to leave me alone. He locked me up for 'rudeness' I believe he called it, but I knew it was because I refused his offer. Marcus, who had some infatuation with me because I told Aro off the way I did, let me go about a week later. And after three weeks of research, here I am," she finished with a smile.
"That is quite the story," Esme marveled as she lovingly ran her fingers through Emmett's dark curls.
"So, you're a vegetarian as well?" Jasper asked.
"I almost always have been, and always will be."
"Did you ever, you know, mess up?" Emmett asked as looked at her for the first time since he came downstairs.
"Everyone messes up now and again, except for Saint Carlisle of course," she smiled sweetly, "Thankfully it only happened twice. And that was when I was new."
"Wow," Alice said simply, "So you're the new second oldest one in the house then."
"Yes, I guess I am," Coraline laughed.
"Well, we really need to get Renesme to bed," Edward said as he hoisted his sleeping daughter off his lap and into his arms, "It was fantastic to meet you, Coraline."
"You too Edward, Bella. I will see you tomorrow?"
"Of course," Bella smiled.
"Goodnight then."
"Goodnight everyone," they replied.
"'Night," the rest of the Cullens said in unison.
"Carlisle, where can I hunt? It's been a few days," Coraline asked as she stretched out her legs, accidentally kicking Emmett in the shin, "Sorry, Emmett!"
"It's alright, I can take it," he half-smiled again.
"About, three miles east, there's alot of elk. You can follow our scent there," Carlisle told her with a nod.
"Elk? Come on, Dad. That sucks," Emmett grimaced.
"Well, if you have a better idea, please do tell," Carlisle said quickly.
Emmett exhaled extremely loudly and stared at the ceiling for a moment before standing up.
"Come on. Screw elk, I'll get you something tastier," he said with a smirk as he rolled his eyes at his father.
Alice burst out into a stream of giggles as she lay back on the floor.
"Thank you, Emmett. You don't..."
"I know I don't have to, but I should probably go so a certain someone doesn't murder me in my non-sleep," he replied as he shot a glance at Esme, who grinned widely at him.
XXX
"Okay, so we've got grizzly and mountain lion around here. Let me guess, mountain lion?" Emmett said incredulously.
"Where's the fun there?" She smiled as she sniffed the air.
"You're kidding, right?"
"No. I didn't want to say nothin' to Carlisle, because he doesn't like the whole sufferin' thing. I've always hated the 'don't play with your food' line. If you don't, then how in God's name can it be enjoyable?"
He just stared at her wide-eyed.
"What?" She asked as she quirked her eyebrows.
"I have never met a vegetarian female who like hunting game-wise instead of whatever was easier."
"Psh. Bring on the bears."
And with that, Emmett Cullen laughed for the first time in over a year.
"Shh," she hushed as she held her hand up to his face and sniffed the air again, and quietly giggled maniacally.
"What?" Emmett asked with a grin.
"Two males and a female."
"Oh, please tell me it's what I think it is."
"Survival of the fittest, Darlin'."
"Hell yes!" He exclaimed quietly with a gleeful arm pump.
"Hold on," she said as she sat on the branch she had been perched on and unzipped her sweatshirt, "I actually like this hoodie. I'll grab it on our way back."
"Planning on getting clothing destro... oh that sounded wrong, sorry."
"It's alright, Emmett, I don't care. I'm not as innocent as Carlisle thinks," she chuckled with a wink as she dropped to the forest floor, landing on her toes with more grace than any vampire should possess, "Come on, we don't want to miss the fight."
He hopped off the branch and they ran silently to the fight and jumped into the tree closest to the dueling bears.
"Ladies first," Emmett said with a grin.
"Why thank you, Darlin'," she smiled as she dropped to the ground right next to the fight.
She tapped the bear closest to her on the shoulder.
"Rawr," she said with a smirk on her face.
The bear instantly took a swipe at her, almost catching her tank top in the process.
"I would really appreciate keepin' this shirt intact, Mr. Bear, if you don't mind," she grinned as she crouched.
'This is far too amusing,' Emmett thought as he laughed in the tree, catching the attention of the other angry male.
"Bring it on," he grinned evilly as he leapt to the ground.
XXX
Coraline and Emmett came through the back door laughing hysterically, catching the attention of everyone in the house, who in turn rushed into the living room where Emmett had collapsed onto the floor, while Coraline was on the couch holding her sides.
"Emmett! Your clothes!" Esme gasped, "What did I tell you about fighting bears?!"
"Hey, my clothes fared better than hers," he laughed as he pointed to the hysterical girl on the couch.
Carlisle looked at his sister to see her jeans were practically torn into shorts, and her top was missing a strap, with the bottom half of it in shreds. That and she was missing a shoe. And there were more leaves and sticks in her just-past-shoulder-length hair than there were on the big oak in the back.
"Coraline, what did you do?"
"Aw, Carlisle, we just provoked some fighting bears. No biggie," Emmett chortled.
Esme turned around and beamed at her husband, then flitted away to go back to what she had been doing before the happy interruption.
"Coraline, do you need clothes?" Alice asked with a grin.
"Shoot, I didn't think about that!" She shouted as she sat up quickly.
Emmett just laughed harder to the point where he was rolling on the floor.
'See Emmett, I told you lack of laughter builds up in a bad way. Now you can't control it,' Alice thought as she glared at her brother.
"Come on with me, thankfully we're the same size," Alice said as she grabbed Coraline's hand and dragged her upstairs.
Carlisle cleared his throat to get Emmett's attention as Jasper snuck out of the room.
"Being a bad influence on my sister, are we?"
"It was her idea!" Emmett defended.
"I figured as much. I know her better than she thinks," Carlisle said as he sat in the chair nearest his son.
"Honestly, Carlisle, I haven't this much fun in..."
"A long time, I know."
"Just when I was about ready to give up, something came around to make me fell better, if even for a little while."
"That's usually how it goes," Carlisle smiled warmly, "Having her around would be good for all of us, I think. She's always been a happy, bright girl. Always fit in well with people; always the brave one. Her personality hasn't changed a bit."
"Is she going to stay?"
"I sure hope so, Son."