Just As Important

AN: I want to start this last chapter by saying a big thank you to everyone to read it! Your time, and your reviews were greatly appreciated! I loved getting your feedback and hearing how much you enjoyed this story. I'm sorry to cut it short, but I would rather give you a finished product that I'm proud of, than an incomplete one that I'm not. So please enjoy this final chapter in my tale of Bree and Fred.

The End and the Beginning

Our new house had been in Ontario, Canada so it took us two days to get back the west coast, and enter Washington State. Mostly because we had to stay away from the main roads, during the day light, I think we could have gotten there much faster if it hadn't been for that.

We didn't know where else to go but back to the open field from my memory, and hope there was a clue to lead us where we needed to go.

We stopped when we sensed the other vampires waiting for us in the clearing. There were eight of them, and on instinct I wanted to turn and run at the number. I looked up at Fred, and he had a thoughtful expression, when he looked down at me, he whispered in my ear, "there isn't any danger if we go forward, but if you want to leave we can, I can make it so they won't want to come after us."

I nodded at the choices; he wouldn't take us anywhere dangerous and my curiosity about what was waiting up ahead of us was growing. I stepped forward and his grip on my hand tightened as we both continued forward.

When we came into the clearing, my eyes immediately went to Carlisle and Esme. I couldn't help but smile when I saw her smiling in our general direction. I let me eyes drifted to the others standing with them. There were three other couples, my eyes landed on a blonde male, and immediately I tensed at all of the bite marks on his skin.

I looked up at Fred, and saw he noticed him too, but he didn't look scared so I took that as reassurance. I wasn't sure what to say, but I looked back at Esme, and the word, "Hi" tumbled out of my mouth.

She let go of Carlisle then, and started to walk forward her eyes looking around the area where we stood, before she stopped suddenly, looking sick. I glanced at the other group and saw none of them were looking straight at us, except for a brunette, who stood beside a red haired man.

I knew it was Fred, and I yanked his arm, "That's Esme," I said and seconds later, her eye's registered on us as he pulled the effects of his gift off her. I stepped away from him towards her, and his eyes locked with mine unsure though he sensed no danger. I smiled and kept walking toward her.

We met in the middle, and just stood there in front of each other. I was happy to see her again, and could tell she was happy to see me. Then she wrapped me up in a hug, I was shocked at first, before I returned it. We stood there for a minute, before pulling apart. I turned toward Fred, and motioned for him to come closer. She did the same to Carlisle and the four of us stood there together.

"I must say, we were shocked to learn you were coming back," Carlisle said as he stood beside Esme.

I looked at them, curious at the way he had said it, as though they had known we were coming before we got close.

"Explain to her about me and Alice," one of the others said, I glanced over at him, before looking back at Carlisle.

"Alice," I saw the small dark haired girl wave her hand over their shoulders, "She can see the future, when you decided to come, she saw it," I nodded my head, not surprised by this, "And Edward, he can read minds," Carlisle said continuing.

I looked at Edward then, and remembered being told there was a mind reader. It was still a concept that was hard to grasp, was he hearing me now. I got my answer when he smirked and nodded his head. His eyes weren't focusing on me, but I knew that was because he couldn't.

"Bella, would you mind covering the rest of us," Edward said to the female beside her. Suddenly all of their eyes focused on us, and I felt Fred tense up beside me. "Bella is a shield." Edward said answering Fred's silent question.

My hand grabbed his again, as I looked up at him, "No danger, remember." I said smiling, and the tension in his body left again, as he realized I was right.

After all the introductions had been made, they invited us back to their home. We were now sitting in their living room, and I smiled thinking about our home and how glad I was that it wasn't that strange to be settled in one location.

"So where to begin," Carlisle said, getting the conversation going. "I'm sure you have many questions, as we do also."

I nodded my head agreeing, I figured it was best to start at the beginning. I told them how we were created, how life had been with Riley. I spat out his name, realizing I hadn't said it out loud since that day when Fred and I discussed everything. I tried not to smile remembering what came after that, and then I remembered I didn't have the freedom of my thoughts here.

Edward had laughed, "Don't worry, I've heard much worse, trust me." It was kind of embarrassing but I let it go.

"Anyway," I said as I finished telling the story of what had led everyone to the clearing, including hearing her and him speaking, and the cloaked figures showing up. "That's what happened."

"Well you should know that I, with the help of a friend killed Riley and Victoria, I hope that it is a relief knowing they aren't wandering free." Edward said, giving me a comforting smile.

I smiled, he had no idea how much this meant to me, well on second thought he probably did, but I voiced it anyway, "thank you, that is freeing."

"Could someone explain the golden eyes," Fred asked, and I smiled at him. If he was talking to them, it was because he felt comfortable enough around them to do so. I realized this might have actually been a very good idea, coming here.

"Ah yes, of course," Carlisle began smiling, "Well I think this one is on me, as I started it all. You see, when I was created, I immediately knew what I had become. I grew up in a time where the knowledge of vampires wasn't covered up with myths and urban legends. They were very real and very dangerous. When I was turned, I knew and I didn't wish to be what I knew myself to now be."

He paused, seeming lost in thoughts of the past, "I tried to... dispose of myself, for lack of a better phrase, but found it wasn't easy. When I thought maybe I could starve myself to death, I found myself unsuccessful in that feat as well. When the hunger became too much to bare I was hidden away in the forest and deer was the first thing to come near me. I fed, and found that the hunger, the thirst was sated. I realized then that I could live on the blood of animals, and never kill anyone if I didn't choose too. So that's where the eye color comes from, the blood."

My eyes were wide as he finished his story. I looked up at Fred, and he looked down at me. This would be exactly what we needed, the perfect way, not to have to kill anymore.

"We've been trying not to kill as often, going longer without feeding, drinking less when we do." I paused, working it out in my head that this was the right path for us to take. "Will you help us to be like you?"

"Of course, we're glad to have you here, and more than happy to teach you." Esme said, but there were nods of agreement from everyone in the room. I realized we'd come to fill our curiosity, but we would leave with so much more than we could have ever asked.

End

AN: and so I close the story here.

I wasn't writing with an outline, or any planned plot. This wasn't supposed to grow beyond three chapters, and I ended up with five. I'd say those are some pretty good odds. I want to give a big thank you once again to all the reviewers, and favoriters and alerters and everyone to read this story as I was posting it, and all those who are reading it now that it's complete.

I love the story of Fred and Bree, and I hope you can imagine for yourself where Fred and Bree's story would have gone from here. I personally like to imagine that they finished fixing up their little house and stayed there for a while longer before deciding they were ready to integrate themselves back into a world with humans.

I don't know if they would moved to be near the Cullen's when they did this, or if they would try it on their own. I like to think that Fred occasional posed as a high school art teacher, and occasionally Bree moonlighted as a librarian. They still have awesome exhaustless sex, and they live in a huge mansion covered in Fred's artwork of Bree, his favorite subject.

In reference to the spin-off/tie-in I mentions previously, I am still considering the idea, but it's on the back burner for now. I'm working on wrapping the stories I already have... but I'm thinking it'll probably be a terribly long oneshot set some years in the future. :]]

Please Review.