Naia
They stopped at Jake's to get the beach-girl warm and clothed. Not one to enjoy unnecessary attention, Bella was reluctant to drive through Forks with a naked nymph in the back seat of the car. Jake had been surprisingly sanguine about the girl's nudity, but it occurred to Bella later that if anyone was accustomed to random awkward nakedness, it would have to be a werewolf.
Wearing one of Jake's flannel shirts like a dress, she had wandered around the house, looking at things; doorknobs, light switches, the fridge, and touching them as if she had never seen them before. She was calm, her heart rate back below normal, but she had yet to speak. Bella had tried asking her name while she helped her dress, rolling thick socks up her rounded calves, but while her mouth had worked, no words had come out.
In the car she had pushed and clawed at the window until Bella had reached across her and rolled it down. After inspecting the handle she had stretched her arm out into the air, and allowed her cupped hand to float on the currents, eyes closed and a smile playing on her lips. Bella watched her and for some reason was suddenly tempted to ask Jacob if he ever had to fight the urge to hang his head out the window when he was driving. She snorted, but suppressed her inner Emmett, and shook her head with a smile when she saw Jake's raised eyebrows in the mirror.
'Are we doing the right thing, Jake? What are the Cullens going to do with her?'
'Should be fine, Bella, as long as you brought the vat of Tartar sauce.' He chuckled to himself as she shook her head. When they pulled up to the house, Jake opened the door for her, and mindful of the gravel, held out his arms to carry her to the door. She shrank back into the seat, trembling a little so he knelt down and whispered to her for a minute. Bella watched as she slowly inched forward, and actually put her arms up to be lifted out of the car. It was hard not to remember how Jake had ... what? Calmed her, soothed her, lead her back to herself. She laid her hand on his broad back as they walked to the front door, quietly awed.
Inside, all the Cullens assembled, curiosity filling the room. Visitors were rare.
'Whatcha got there, Jakey?' Emmett's voice boomed out. 'Catch a rabbit out hunting?'
Jake grinned. 'I'm not sure what we caught,' he answered. 'We thought we'd see if anyone here knew.'
Carlisle and Edward came into the room, back from hunting together. Edward moved to stand with Bella, slipping an arm around her, and questioning her with his eyes.
'This is different.'
Bella began to explain what had happened.
'I don't know what she understands,' she finished, 'she looks like she wants to talk but doesn't know how. She's nervous, but sort of happy, too. 'She figured she didn't need to mention Jake's assessment of the girl's smell again – she didn't want to hurt her feelings, on the off-chance she understood. Nor did she want to give Emmett any extra ammunition; it was a bit early for fish jokes. If Jake could smell something different about her, they would too.
Esme and Alice descended on the girl, Alice already having whizzed to her room for an outfit for her. Deftly, she stripped off Jake's shirt and held it out to him between two fingers, a look of genteel disgust wrinkling her nose and mouth. Before Emmett's eyes could bug any wider, she had the girl slipped into dark blue silk that rippled and glided over her curves. The skirt of the dress fell past her knees, and she stroked the material happily.
Alice whipped out a hairbrush, and demonstrated brushing Esme's hair a few times, before moving gently behind the girl and stroking the soft brush through her tangled tresses.
'I can't see anything,' she complained, 'there's nothing, it's all blank.' She frowned in frustration and rubbed her forehead, shrugging. 'Nope. Nothing.'
'Edward, can you read anything?' Carlisle asked.
Edward went to the sofa, keeping hold of Bella's hand and sat down in front of their visitor.
'I'm Edward,' he said, smiling, and putting his hand on his chest as he spoke his name. 'Can you tell me your name?' His hand reached towards her. The girl opened her mouth as she had done with Bella, her throat working a little. She stared at him, her hand on her chest.
'Naia!' Edward exclaimed. He looked around. 'She told me. That was weird.' He looked at her again.
In response, the girl closed her eyes, smiling, a sleepy happiness spreading over her face. Edward's eyes widened in wonder.
'What's she thinking?' Jasper asked. 'She's feeling incredibly happy.' His face mirrored the relaxed satisfaction of the girl's expression.
Edward frowned. 'She's showing me pictures. Sunlight in the water, it looks like it's alive. Waves rolling. Rainbows meeting the sea. Flying. It's beautiful.'
Naia nodded excitedly and bounced a little in her seat.
'How did you get here, Naia?' Esme asked softly.
Naia looked at her blankly.
'She's thinking about waking up with Jake and Bella,' Edward said. He smiled. 'Bella, you're soft and pretty, and Jake,' he stifled a laugh, 'Jake is very large and hot.'
Jake's husky laugh burst out.
'You said it, Edward, not me.' Edward's smile faded a little at that.
Satisfied that Naia was comfortable, Carlisle stepped forward.
'Naia, I'm Carlisle. I'm doctor. I want to make sure you're ok?'
Naia looked at him with faint apprehension, but didn't shrink away. Carlisle looked her over, made notes on her pulse and eyes, and took her temperature. He smiled at her and sat back into his chair.
Everyone looked at him.
'Well, you know, I'd need to do scans. Full checks. There's so much I can't tell from here, and I don't want to pressure her. I don't know. I think Jake is right. Her pulse is slower, her temperature is lower. Her skin, it's... it feels different. She doesn't quite smell human, no. And her pupils aren't the right shape. You found her on First Beach?'
Jake and Bella nodded. Bella spoke up.
'Do you think someone dumped her there? Or did the storm wash her up? And if it was the storm...?'
Emmett laughed again.
'Ha, Jake, you caught yourself a mermaid!'
There was a distinct pause. Alice laughed happily and Rosalie snorted.
Bella hesitated, then asked, smiling,
'Okay, I'm sorry, I have to ask...' she turned to Carlisle, her eyes wide in apologetic appeal. 'Carlisle, are there mermaids?' Everyone joined in the laughter, though Edward looked speculative, thinking of the images of light and water Naia had shown him.
'I've never heard of them, Bella. But I can see why you'd ask. Vampires, werewolves... why not leprechauns and mermaids?'
Alice smiled.
'Mmm, mermen,' she said, sighing happily, then burst into giggles as Jasper tickled her.
'Mermen, is it? All that tail? Babe, I think you'd be disappointed by the Fish Sticks. You've got what you need right here.
Everyone laughed, while Esme shook her head. Bella smiled. She clearly wasn't the only one channelling Emmett today.
'What Jasper? You're saying the things Rosalie won't allow Emmett get out now? This could get better before it gets worse.' Jasper grinned playfully back at her, and grabbed Alice, whisking her out of the room.
'Sheesh,' Emmett said. 'Someone's playful today. So Carlisle. If she's not a mermaid, what's going on?
Carlisle stared at her speculatively, and looked at Jake.
'Jake,' he said, 'I think you might want to go ask Billy about this. It could be that he can tell you more than I can.'
