Author's Note; A lot of people are reading, but no one is reviewing…please review so I know I'm not writing this just for myself…thanks.

Sarah's POV

"Won't you come into my parlor?" Said the spider to the fly. I sat us down on the couch. Stuffy old Ed said I couldn't feed his brother liquor, what a shame.

"I'm sorry to intrude, Miss..?"

What a sweetheart.

"Davenport Honey." I didn't want to blink, I might miss something.

"Miss Davenport, I'm here at my father's request. We'd like to offer you a place in our modest group." I could feel his sincerity and gentleness wash over me. I'd never felt this way before, could it be love?

"If your family is as kind as your brother and yourself how could I refuse?" He was visibly no blood kin to Ed. More of a clan connection I supposed.

"Thank you ma'am, I'm glad you feel that way. We shouldn't have to suffer alone on this Earth. After all, we're here for such a very long time."

You got that right tiger.

"You are a true gentleman, sir." I was enjoying playing southern belle to his confederate soldier, and I think he was too.

"Our family group has constructed quite a simple means of obtaining endless funds on which to survive. We would like to extend that to include you." What a sweet little dimple.

"Were it possible, I'd be crying for sheer joy. I declare, Mr. Whitlock, I haven't felt this way since I last wore petticoats and a hoopskirt." I did my best to look self-conscious of my mention of unmentionables. It wasn't easy.

"I'll have Edward see to it that you receive a debit American Express card for your employ." He looked about my bare dwelling. "Get yourself a few electronic indulgements. Television, DVD player, Xbox, Stereo…we find it helps pass the time. Well, now that's settled, why don't you tell me something about yourself. You're from Atlanta I believe. He prompted.

"Yes." He was muscular but lean and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. "My change came about in the 1860's at the tender age of 20." I batted my eyelashes at him. It used to prove very effective back then.

"Mine as well, oh, so sorry to interrupt," he apologized.

"Not at all Sugar. I was an only child and grew up in poverty. There really isn't much to say that's not depressing about that before time. And you sir, served for the South?"

"Please, call me Jasper, and yes I joined the Confederate State Army in 1861 and advanced quickly through the ranks. But that's all water under the bridge. We try to live in the present. Our family group consists of seven vampires, eight once my brother Edward ever gets around to changing his true love. We're scattered at the moment, but in a few years we'll merge again somewhere ideal. There are also a few we consider members of our extended family located in Alaska."

I nodded my understanding. "Jasper, do you think I would benefit from vampire companionship?" Like yourself for instance. "You see I've always befriended humans, being uncomfortable with my own kind."

"I'm sure you'd be a natural Miss Davenport."

"Sarah." I pictured him with a regimental sword in his hand.

"Sarah it is then." Brilliant smile again. "As for myself, I still am horribly lacking in self control around humans, perhaps you could assist me."

"I'd be honored. Tell mama all about it Sugar." And rest your pretty head in my lap while you do.

"Another time perhaps. I'm afraid I must be going." We stood and started for the back door from which he'd entered. "It was a rare treat Sarah. True ladies are few and far in between." We were outside now on the back porch. He took my hand in his and brushed his lips so lightly across the back of it I could barely feel it. I melted into a puddle of goo.

"Ya'll come back now." And he was gone. When would I see my darling soldier again?

Edward's POV

I'd fixed Bella breakfast wanting to see to it that she'd eaten a hot meal instead of toasted cardboard tarts. She wasn't happy with me and I swore I would explain everything in full upon her return from classes at the end of the day including my awkward eye color from the other night. I was going to confess in full from meeting Sarah to our asinine plans. She ran upstairs to fetch a forgotten requirement for class and I went for a run.

Bella's POV

I realized just before I had to leave for school I needed my TI calculator today. We'd stowed a few unopened boxes in our tiny attic on that first day and while digging through one I heard voices. I peered out the tiny dirty window to take a look. This sure needed cleaning. I could see all the backyards on our street from this height. Hey, that looks like Jasper.

It couldn't be. I pulled my sweater over the palm of my hand and rubbed on the glass. It was Jasper and he was kissing my next door neighbor's hand. That was bizarre enough, but then he took off running at vampire speed. Why would he do that in front of her? Why was he even here?

The way she nonchalantly waved after him proved she knew what he was. Late for class now I ran down the stairs luckily not breaking my neck and hurried to school. Would I have some news for Edward when I got home!

Edward's POV

Sarah was at her kitchen table ignoring a juice box in her hand. I'd let myself in when my tapping brought no response. She had a glazed over look in her eyes.

"Sarah, are you feeling alright?" I asked. She closed her eyes and a huge grin spread across her face.

"I'm wonderful…I'm perfect…I'm in LOVE!"

"That's sudden." I laughed. "When did this happen?"

"Just now. I'm a new woman. I've found my soul mate." She looked thoughtful, "I wonder what would've happened had we met during the war?"

"What war?" Then it dawned on me. Oh no, I wasn't laughing anymore. "Sarah, was Jasper just here?" She let out a lingering sign. Yep, he'd been here already and he wasn't wearing his damned ring again.

"Sarah." I knelt in front of her. The top of the table was in my line of sight. Her juice box was marked with a sharpie "Spotted Skunk". I cringed. I'd only known her a few days, but it seemed like years. I mean that in a good way.

"There's no easy way to break this, but my brother, Jasper…he's married." Aw, crap. She looked like someone had just run over her puppy.

"But…I don't understand. Married?" She whispered timidly.

"Yes." I said gently. "He's been happily married to a charming girl called Alice for many years now."

"Another vampire?" She asked almost inaudibly.

"That's right." At least she was coherent.

"But that's crazy!" She erupted. "Our kind doesn't marry. No one could stay married to the same person for all of eternity!" Her juice box slid violently across the table of its own accord and smashed into the wall. Okay, that was a little strange, thankfully it was empty.

"Our faction…my family…we take marriage seriously. My adoptive mother and father are married, Jasper and Alice, and my other brother, Emmett has married his wife Rosalie countless numbers of times." I paused staring at the empty container lying next to the wall just in case it took flight again. "And I fully plan to marry Bella." I added, though she still won't even wear my ring.

She started wailing. No tears, we're not capable, but lots of noise. I hope the SPCA isn't nearby.

"Please, please don't cry Sarah." If all else fails, beg. "You don't even know him, he's a real jerk." If all else fails, make up a stupid lie about your dim-witted brother who can't remember to wear his wedding ring.

She quieted down. I guess the worst was over.

"That's a good girl." I took her by the hand and we went to the couch and sat more companionably. "Feel better now?" I was dying to inquire about what had just occurred in the kitchen. She nodded weakly.

"Did you happen to notice the drink container fly across the room earlier?" That sounded idiotic coming out of my mouth.

"Yeah." She said uninterested.

"Does that…happen very often?" I asked trying to sound composed.

She heaved a sigh, "Sometimes."

This was like pulling teeth. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not especially." She said reluctantly.

"Bella would say you've got a really neat super power." I tried to play it up. It worked. "Have you always been into telekinesis?"

"Tele-what, honey?" She sounded herself again.

"Moving objects with your mind. That was amazing, Sarah." She really didn't realize her own ability. "Have you always been able to do that?"

She resigned to talk about it. "As a child I always felt that if I stared at something long enough it might move. I never did it, but it scared me to death. Then when I was changed things actually moved. I try not to. I'm sorry, I was just upset." She hung her head as if ashamed.

"It's all right. In fact it almost seems the norm. Many of us can do special things." I may as well tell her. "Hold onto your hat…I can read minds." I smiled at her to show her it wasn't so awful.

"You lie!" She squealed and hit me on the shoulder. I wish she'd stop doing that.

"No really, think of something…anything…and I'll tell you what it is." I encouraged her. She squinted her eyes as if concentrating. I waited. "No, something else, I'm sick of Jasper right this minute."

Her eyes popped open wide. "No, wait, you could've guessed that one. Okay, what am I thinking about?" She smashed her hands flat on each side of her face.

"Aaaa…purple umbrella?"

"Yes!" She bounced in her seat. "Well, except that it was a lavender parasol. I saw one once in a shop window in New Orleans. The most beautiful thing you've ever laid eyes on." She smiled in remembrance. "So, I'm not a freak after all? I've got to tell you sugar, that is a relief." We both laughed.

"Alice can predict the future." I informed her. I didn't go into Jasper's gift; I didn't want to bring him up again. "She's really quite accurate."

"Do you think she sees me stealing her husband and running off to Savannah?" She said sarcastically.

"She would've phoned me by now." I took my phone out of my pocket and waved it in the air. We both laughed. It was good to have her back to normal. Now on to more pending items. "Do you think you could come over tonight? I want to introduce you to Bella. I should've done it days ago." I said shaking my head.

"Sure honey. If that's what you want." She said, seemingly engrossed in what I had to say.

"It is. When I knew Jasper was coming by today I actually asked him not to allow Bella see him here. Now I feel like a heel. She gets home around 4: oo PM if you could stopover."

Bella's POV

I was starving when I got home having skipped lunch. I kissed Edward (on the cheek) and started cooking dinner. Macaroni and cheese was one of my childhood favorites and very fast to prepare. I was being patient. He'll tell me about the red eyes any minute now. He looked kind of nervous, like he was working up to it. I stirred the butter, milk and orange powder trying to pass itself off as cheese into the freshly boiled macaroni. The butter was taking forever to melt. Someone knocked on the door. Our very first visitor!

I turned my dinner down to low and came to see who it was, the wooden spoon still in my hand. It was the girl from next door. She had on a pretty little sundress in a tiny yellow gingham print. It reminded me of Mary Anne from Gilligan's Island. She and Edward were whispering, well, arguing whispering….vampire whispering, and when they saw me they both put matching phony smiles on their faces.