A/N: Originally I was planning on updating tomorrow, then I was looking over the chapter that would be posted tomorrow and realized how short it and chapter 10 are and though I can't combine them for flow sense (does that even make sense?) I am going to have chapters 9 and 10 uploaded early for everyone and will post chapter 11 tomorrow. Just keep in mind chapter 11 is extremely long and you will see why by the end of chapter 10. Sorry for the confusion! Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews, they mean a lot to me!

The Vanquish purred as I gunned the engine and shifted gears as we flew up Route 101. I wasn't sure exactly where we were heading, but at the moment I didn't care.

We had a full tank of gas and the open road and a car that could easily bypass 250 miles per hour, nearly hitting the 300 mark, and I wasn't even close to that yet.

(Rosalie and I did a little work on the horsepower when Edward first got the Aston, normally they don't go that fast, 204 is usually the top speed, but where's the fun in that?)

In the passenger seat, Edward stared out the window, we had been driving for just five minutes and not a word had passed between us.

I took a deep breath giving the Vanquish a little more gas as speedometer eased up to 150.

"So…how were Tanya and the others?" I asked, breaking the silence, at first Edward didn't say anything, but then he finally glanced over at me.

"Fine, they send their love. And Tanya would like to know when you are coming to visit. They miss you," I rolled my eyes "and Kate wanted me to tell you that they have seen a number of good size moose wandering near Denali that have your name on them."

Now I laughed and couldn't help licking my lips. True, animals aren't exactly appealing to us, but we each have our favorite prey. Edward seeks out mountain lions, while Emmett ironically enough hunts down grizzly bears.

I prefer moose; don't ask me why, I don't understand it, it's not the best taste in the world, but it's appetizing in its own way at least to me.

It's odd, but usually our favorites are indicative to our hunting style, like Edward hunting resembles a mountain lion. Before you jump to conclusions, no, my enjoyment of moose does not mean I act like a moose when I hunt, actually everyone in our family (even the Denali half of our family) all say that I hunt like a lone wolf, pack-less and with my own way of doing things.

Whether that's true has yet to be determined, wolves are my favorite animal in general. They are the one animal I refuse to hunt and begged my family to do the same, even though my admiration of wolves has made my brothers curious as to how tasty a wolf would be to me. That conversation came up once and I ignored them.

I have no desire to hunt a wolf, and all this was even before I learned about our treaty with the Quileute Indians down on La Push.

From what I've read about their own legends they are supposedly decedents of wolves and can actually shape shift into them a very cool concept and I really wish I could learn more 'bout the legends first hand.

But in accordance to the treaty, we cant step foot on their lands, that's the biggest part of the treaty, so it sucks 'cause I've seen pictures of First Beach and it's amazing, and I'm sure the photos do not do it justice. The other part of the treaty is that we aren't allowed to bite any humans.

Of course, technically that part of the treaty had been broken about four years after it was established. Carlisle had changed me in 1940, the treaty had been made in 1936, of course it had been a total selfless decision on Carlisle's part he had saved my life and I'm sure the treaty with a pack of shape-shifting Indians was the last thing on his mind. But it was better to keep it quiet just in case, though I really didn't foresee the wolf pack inviting us over to the reservation for tea and crumpets in the near-future.

A few more moments of silence passed, I wanted to ask Edward about what had happened, I knew he could read my mind and knew the question that was posed there.

"Edward-"

"Chris, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior the other day, it was irresponsible of me and selfish of me, I shouldn't have left you behind. You're my little brother, I'm responsible for you."

I rolled my eyes, figures he was going to play the 'you're my little brother I'm responsible for you' card.

Ok, enough of this guilt thing…we're done.

"Edward, shut up for a second will you?" he raised an eyebrow; its really rare that I speak like to anyone, especially not someone in our family at least completely seriously. "Read my lips, better yet, read my mind! When you didn't pick me up last week, I wasn't angry with you. I was worried; you've never forgotten me before so the only thing I could think was that something horrible had happened." I paused and gave the Vanquish a bit more gas, "and when Alice explained to me what happened, I still wasn't ashamed of you as apparently you think I should be, I was worried, hell I was scared! I thought I had lost my brother, I thought you'd leave and never come back again. I may not be able to read minds but I read Esme's body language that first night, she was comparing it to when you took off to become a vigilante in the 20s, with her and Carlisle never knowing when or even if you were coming home! I was so scared I'd never see my brother again. Argh…you know what, words can lie, my mind cant, read my mind if you don't believe me."

I didn't say anything else. I let my mind tell Edward everything, even though I wasn't completely correct, a mind could lie, but to prove my point I didn't focus on one particular subject, just everything that had occurred since he took off.

His expression shifted from one of shame, to one of surprise and I shook my head, he should know me better than that. We've been brothers for nearly sixty years.

"Chris," he started to say

"Edward, if you think I'm ashamed 'cause you took off, your wrong on so many levels, you didn't give in, you did what you had to too protect our family," I paused "we're still in Forks, and no ones the wiser."

He knows how much I look up to him, as close as I am to everyone in our family and as close in particular I am to Esme; Carlisle and Edward are the ones in the family who are everything that I want to be.

To have even the slightest bit of control that Carlisle has would be more than enough to truly deserve the right to consider myself his son.

Even though I've never taken human blood, if someone were to cut their arm open in front of me, I would still react to it, blood thirsty and viciously even. And not to mention I have been faced with the desire for human blood, more times than I'd like to count.

So to even be able to ignore someone's blood like my father can would be worthy enough in my mind that I am his son.

My admiration for Edward is the same way, even though he's taken life and has tasted human blood, he has control, he's never gone on an innocent human killing spree, all of his past kills were evil beings with no remorse for their deeds. And even with that, that couldn't be counted as a killing spree and the whole incident with the Swan girl just proves how strong and in control he is.

All these thoughts were running through my mind so I knew that Edward could see them for himself, but I didn't care, he needed to understand that his going to Alaska to stop himself from killing the Swan girl had no effect on how much I look up to him.

A forced grin slid across his face, one which I returned, a second or two passed without a word, before Edward began chuckling.

"So, what's this about no more Dr. Doolittle?"

He was changing the subject, but remembering that I had been dying to tell him about the Emmett in Elizabethan garb thing. I didn't care 'bout him changing the subject as much as I normally would.

"Edward, you bloody missed it, Emmett and Jasper made a bet that when we went hunting I couldn't take down the first deer, if I did they couldn't call me Dr. Doolittle for two months."

"Hey congratulations, Emmett's face must have been priceless."

"Actually that wasn't even the best part!" I let my mind wander back to that night and the image that had popped in my mind when Emmett called me Sir.

Edward saw what I had and began laughing.

"I'm assuming you've kept this to yourself?"

"Uh, yeah, duh" I paused "I was waiting for you to get home to see if it would be safe to tell Emmett."

Edward thought this over

"The others yes, Emmett only if you are prepared for the consequences." He paused "which if I know you, will have no bearing on this." I grinned wide and shrugged. "So, you have to write a memoir for class?"

I made a face. I had been trying to block that assignment from my mind for the sheer purpose that I wasn't looking forward to it.

"Yeah," I replied. "we're reading Angela's Ashes and Mrs. Brown wants each of us to write our own memoir. According to my classmates, mine is going to be the MOST interesting."

"Chris, need I remind you that you have a tremendous imagination? If anyone can make up a memoir its you." He reached over and ruffled my hair "but I'll help you if you want, and I know Carlisle and Esme will as well, everyone will be more than willing to help."

We were on highway 113 at this point, which turns into 112 and runs along the bay, for a split second we were heading toward Port Angles, but at the last second I turned left, heading toward Neah Bay.

After I came to live with the Cullens we stayed in Hoquiam for a couple of years, before moving north to a small fishing village called Neah Bay. I had loved the house because the loft looked out over the bay.

Of all the places we have lived since I joined the family, Neah Bay and Alaska have been my favorites at least for the view.

I pulled the car into a scenic overlook and parked it. I looked out the windshield at the bay below me, leaning contently on the steering wheel, before looking over at Edward who was laughing silently.

"You don't mind do you?"

He shook his head

"No," he replied. "I'm just curious, what is it about this place that appeals to you so much?" I sighed "we didn't live here very long a year at the most." He frowned as he tried to search my mind for the answer, but whatever answer was deep in my mind was confusing my brother either that or he just couldn't find it.

"I liked London Edward 'cause there was always something interesting going on, there was plenty of things to get into and plenty of friends to hang out with. But I hated the busyness of it, the crowdedness." I wrinkled my nose "the smell…there is no smell worse than the Thames, especially in the summer nothing can compare to that god-awful smell. Neah is like a small village in Scotland, very few people, quiet, clean, fresh. Like the one I lived in 'fore my parents and I moved to London. I was only four, but I remember it clearly, like a feeling more than a physical memory."

He nodded though not completely understanding. Edward had grown up in busy Chicago; he had never known the opposite of such a city when he was human. He just knows what I am talking about from seeing my memories, my thoughts and he couldn't understand at least that part of my past.

"That reminds me," he quickly said reaching into his pocket "the girls sent you a gift." I raised an eyebrow. "Irina found it and all of them automatically thought of you."

He handed me a necklace, with a charm attached to it. It was a Celtic symbol, with three wolves chasing each other around it.

"Wooah," I exclaimed "where'd they find this?"

"They didn't say. But they were hinting about you coming up for a visit, I highly recommend taking the offer, Tanya was most insistent. In fact, I would call them when we get home and tell them you will be coming soon."

I rolled my eyes again, the Denali girls are like Rosalie and Alice sometimes and I could only imagine what they'd have planned if I came for a visit. Part of it would be them trying to decide on someone to set me up with, basically they've given up with finding someone for Edward, though Tanya isn't giving in anytime soon since she still fancies Edward. But the girls are nowhere near done trying to find someone for me. But like with my sisters, they just haven't had any success.

But Edward was right, I needed to call them, to thank them for the charm if anything.

"Wanna head home?" I asked.

Edward had declared this road trip, returning home had to be his decision, but there was no harm in asking. He nodded

"Home sounds good."

"There's no place like home right Ed?" I asked with a grin

"Thank you Dorothy." He replied pushing me.