The next few days were normal - well, as normal as they could be, given the circumstances. Caralla knew that they would need the time to let their minds let go of the poison of the old bond so it could be replaced by the comfort of the new one without worry. She'd taken the opportunity to study the Cullens as a family. For all that she'd known Carlisle most of his life, and had interacted with the others to varying degrees over the years, the presence of everyone within the family dynamic was something she'd had yet to witness for herself. It was nothing short of amazing. They were enjoying the thunderstorm and playing baseball, as was their habit, and she found herself mesmerized by the connection they all shared.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Bella's soft voice warmed the elder, and she patted the ground beside her in an invitation for the human to sit. Bella did so, slowly lowering herself to the soft dirt, being ever mindful of her healing hip.

"I was just watching your wonderful family. It's an oddity, even for a group of beings that thrive on the lack of ordiinary."

"How so?" She was honestly curious, and Caralla knew that was one of the things she truly did love about the girl.

"Vampires are normally solitary creatures. We don't produce offspring in any normal sense, so the desire to mate is usually completely absent, except as a means to physical pleasure. Most of our kind have a difficult time remaining in close proximity to one another without good reason, and even that is trying. The Volturi manage it because they enjoy their meddling more than they wish to avoid groups. There are a few other groups that have managed this feat to some degree. But I have never seen a gathering of our kind that is as much of a true family as this one."

"I'm not going to be like everyone else and ask you your age, but it's obvious you've been around for a long time." Bella paused. "Do you...do you think I...you know what? Never mind."

"Yes. It's what you were born to be."

"Did you just read my mind?" Caralla laughed at the shock in Bella's voice.

"Not at all. I read your expression, your body language. Far easier, and expends alonst no mental energy."

"So how do you read my mind, when no one else can?"

"Many many centuries of practice. You see, as we get older, our talents develop more strongly. When I was still mortal, I was a...well, what would be known as a seer in this day and age." Her voice took on an almost dreamy quality, and Bella was more than happy to listen as Caralla took a walk down memory lane. "I lived in a small village. Of course, comparatively, they were all small. From a young age - young nowadays, though then I was considered an adult - I was asked to mediate whenever disagreements would arise. I could cut to the heart of the matter with ease. No one's mind was blocked to me. As a result, now that I have lived so long, that ability has become almost unbreakable, in addition to other ones I've developed over the years.

"You see, as far as I know I am the oldest of our kind that yet walks the earth. Few have that kind of strength, that desire for knowledge to drive them. Without some sort of driving force, millennia upon millennia could drive a person mad. I take it as a badge of pride that I have managed to stay sane so long." She laughed. "Though there are some that would question that." This time, Bella laughed with her and they both settled back to watch the game. The storm was winding down, and the players would be finished soon.

"Caralla?"

"Hmm?"

"What do we have to do to fix our bond?"

"Essentially the same thing you had to do to forge it to begin with. Though without the sex this time. And in addition to sharing your blood with Carlisle, you will have to partake of a few drops of his as well. It will keep the connection equal rather than having one side try to fight for dominance."

"Wait - I have to drink Carlisle's blood?" Caralla sat with her eyes closed, but Bella could tell she was reading every reaction.

"Only a taste. Does the idea bother you?" It took Bella a long time to answer, but when she did her voice was firm.

"No, not really. I thought it would, but it doesn't somehow."

"Then everything will be fine." Nothing more needed to be said, so they sat shoulder-to-shoulder and watched as the Cullens played, feeling the togetherness blend with the rain in perfect harmony.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Author's Note: I do apologize wholeheartedly for the lack of updates. I've still been writing, but my quality time with my computer has been cut short thanks to bizarre work schedules and family junk. However, as I have the next two days off, I hope to type and post more chapters. :_

So...Bella has to drink from Carlisle. How weird is that? It definitely wasn't what I expected. (Thanks, EPBs. Once more you give me stuff to work with that I don't have a clue what to do with. LOL)