Heather POV
It has been four weeks, 6 days, 17 hours and 32 minutes since I accepted the Cullen's offer to adopt me and it was one of the best decisions I had ever made. They were all so loving and complex, a bunch of misfits like me. I hadn't official met them all yet. Straight after I was discharged from the hospital into Carlisle care I found myself being shipped off to Alaska to The Denali coven, Jasper accompanied me and for some reason this surprised everyone. To be honest I didn't get why at all, Carlisle had asked me if I would like company and I chose Jasper because he reminded me of home, he was from Texas like me and from what I knew of him from Carlisle's mind he was a bit of lost soul, tormented by his guilt, again a little bit too much like me. I felt relaxed and at ease with Jasper and not because of his gift.
Maya approved of my choice as well. As the weeks passed with the Denali coven I learned how to yield my, horrifyingly vast, number of gifts and I had heard much less from my inner Jedi. Jasper and I grew close over the weeks, he was the big brother my parents never blessed me with, in any of my lifetimes. Emmet, Rosalie and Alice have visited me once every week I was there. Emmett well he was just like a giant teddy bear, he looked me, a lot. Curly brown hair, big dimples, an addictively cute face, what can I say the boy was blessed with good looks. Rosalie, the definition of a goddess long golden hair, perfect body had taken to me. She has even gone as far as purchasing me a coming home present. Alice, well who knew someone so small and pixie like could have that much energy. I am considering checking her for Duracell batteries next time I see her, she has taken me shopping, decorated my room at home for me, another surprise. She was defiantly quickly becoming my best friend, we texted on the iphone Esme, my elusive adopted mother, had bought me, talked on msn on Jaspers apple Mac. I couldn't wait to finally meet Esme and see Carlisle and Edward again.
Edward. Now he was interesting. I wasn't quite sure of him at all. He was sexy and charming, yet rude and arrogant. He was brave and bold, yet chirvouls and gentlemanly. He perplexed me. Alice had spent most of her time talking him up to me and I already knew why, according to her visions we are going to get together, personally I say otherwise. He isn't my type. Not that I really have a type, I haven't had enough experience with boys to have one, but still I've never been attracted by Edward's type before. I didn't do the gorgeous ass hole.
Feeling a gentle tap on my arm I turned my head upwards to face Jasper. I smiled at him.
"What do you want?" I asked as I rolled my eyes pretending to be annoyed by his presence.
"Well princess, we are half a mile away from the house. Do you want to run?" He barely had the sentence out before I was off at a gentle jog. Tanya, in an attempt to woo Edward, had driven us most of the way home but about six miles away from the house I asked if I could walk, get a sense of the scenery. I was a lot faster than Jasper, my gentle jog was equal to his full pace near enough.
"I thought you were going to stop going easy on me?" Jasper bellowed from behind.
I laughed shrugging my shoulders. My feet began to move faster than before, gliding gentle off the ground. I combined my mind with Jasper's and listen intently to the directions he was giving me. This was one of my gifts, one Jasper and I had become very accustomed to using when hunting or when we wanted private conversation. If we combined it with my shield not even a strong telepath like Edward could hear. Soon I found myself standing in front of a small mansion it was beautiful.
Jasper gripped my hand and lead me up the steps, and in a blurred movement to my room. My jaw dropped and my heart rate soared. It was large room with windows facing the east, facing where the sun would rise. It was painted a simple cream, with a golden carpet floor that was so soft and marshmallow-like. A big four-poster bed with black wood, draped with black and cream silk. Books everywhere, cds everywhere posters dvds.
"Alice and Emmett did some digging and found all your favourite books and movies. Edward picked the music." Jasper answered me before I could ask the question. My lightly tanned arms wrapped around Jaspers neck. The room was so beautiful, it was so me.
"The others are at school. Esme has taken Tanya hunting. "Again he answered my questions before they had properly formed.
"Are you sure you can't read minds?" I joked .
Jasper and I spent the day exploring Forks and the house. Forks was amazing the animals, the people, the scenery. I loved it already. Jasper didn't appreciate the humans much, but had admitted my presence helped his control. I could district his mind from the thirst and take away the pain. I didn't really hunger for blood as much as what is normal, so taking on Jaspers' thirst at first was a torment, I thought I was going to spontaneously combust, but I soon learnt to deal with it and lock it down. Another gift, funnily enough; I had decided to only tap into them to help others and try not and become dependent on them.
Now I was pacing the foyer, waiting to hear the smooth engine of a car creeping uo the driveway, as the rest of the Cullens returned.
"Heather darling, you're going to wear a hole the floor if you keep up that pace. Esme will be very upset if you ruin her house. This one is her favourite."
"Sorry Jazz, I'm just all kinds of nervous. What if they don't like me as much as you do?"
"Heather you're talking to the family empath here. I know you are apprehensive about meeting everyone but you already know Alice, Rose and Emmett and they already love you."
It was true. I had met Alice and them all before, Alice has repeatedly told me she is desperately in love with me and we have a pretty deep friendship going. Emmet regarded me as his little sister and has made it his mission to insure I love him more than jasper by the end of the month. Rose, well she does text me and is nice enough when I am there so I guess she likes me as much as I like her. I mean I loved them all already, I just hoped they did too.
"You'll do fine sweet pea, just don't be yourself all at once." Jasper joked; he already knew my insecurities about my tomboy blunt nature. From anyone else I found have taken offensive but from Jasper it was usual.
We both stilled when we heard the sound of a gentle car engine, probably a Volvo, purring its way up the long drive, Jasper placed his hands on my shoulder in a protective and supportive manner. I waited for then reach the door. When they did, it was swung open widely. I moved to take a step back as my mind screamed at me to run, they were vampires it was instinct. Jasper luckily held me in place. I let out a deep breath as my eyes settled on the caramel hair of Esme. I had seen her so many times in Jasper's mind it was hard not to have grown attached to her already.
"Heather, this is our mother, Esme, and you remember everyone else." I didn't miss Jaspers emphasise on our, he nudged me forward a little towards Esme. I tucked a lose strand of hair quickly behind my ear, I was suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
Esme stepped towards me with her hand outstretched and a wide smile. I shot Jasper an inquisitive look and he nodded once curtly, letting me know it was ok to shake Esme's hand.
"Welcome to our family Heather, my children have told me so much about you, Carlisle too. I'm so glad I get to finally see you for myself," Esme said warmly.
"I'm delighted to meet you as well, Mrs. Cullen, Esme, Mom." I laughed awkwardly at my brain malfunction. "I'm sorry I'm just not sure what to call you." Here eyes were glistening I could feel how happy she was I wanted to call her mom already.
"Mom is fine by me," her voice wavered a little as she spoke.
"Your home is incredible and I just love my room. Everything is so beautiful," I spoke softly.
Esme chuckled. "Sweet girl, you are as well mannered as Jasper made you out to be. And thank you, I do architecture and interior design, and I put a lot of work into this place. I'm glad you like it."
Jasper what now?
Before I sent my telepathic cry for help I insured my shield was in place, once our minds were combined I was able to eavesdrop on Jaspers thoughts and opinions of the whole situation. I could literally view it from his perspective.
He had been watching me carefully the whole time already aware of my aversion to vampires due to the nightmares. He had assessed everyone in the room's facial expressions and moods, then he had gone onto make an exit strategy if anything went wrong and he found Alice or I was endanger. Mainly Alice though. Also in the background of all these thoughts was Alice, she was a constant running stream of thoughts in the back of his head.
Emmett and Alice were equally excited by my presence, Rosalie apprehensive about my gift and Esme was a little overwhelmed with emotions. Eurgh! Jasper had blocked me, I couldn't deduct the final family member's mood, and Jasper was blocking Edward from me. He was using my own shield against me.
Heather, I'm not going to stop blocking it so give up. Everyone is happy and you're not in danger.
I turned on my heel, and poke jasper in the chest and murmured a few threats in the most silent whisper. The whole time Jasper laughed, mocking my distress, I finished scowling at him and turned back to the room of people I had forgotten about.
I hadn't even turned around fully before I was engulfed in a bear hug. I felt myself being spun around gentle in the air, the person's arms were bulging with muscles and their throaty laugh filled my ears.
"Emmett put her down!" Rosalie's voice was stern and guarded, I was pretty sure she growled towards the end.
My feet were place back on the ground, the whole time Emmett had handled me like the most delicate flower I was never in any danger, it was just Rosalie knew my views on my own personal space. No touchy.
"It's okay Rose." I smiled up at her my dimples imprinting my face. "Nice to see you to Emmett." I punched his arm playfully. I noticed Alice's eye flitting between Jasper and me, she was desperate to hug me but knew I didn't like being hugged. So she was torn between doing it anyway and respecting my space. I watched as she silently begged Jasper for permission to approach me. I spread my arms out into the universal gesture for a hug.
"Come on Alice, Rose. Before I change my mind." Alice was next to me in a flash, whilst Rosalie walked to me at human pace. My arms folded around the small delicate body of Alice, then I was ushered onto Rosalie. She stiffened a little and two deep, warning growls were heard throughout the room. One I was quick to identify as Jasper, the other a mystery.
Chill Jasper, I'm fine.
Step away from Rosalie.
I rolled my eyes, and moved back to asses Rosalie for myself. She was fine, I took her hand in mine and beamed up at her taking her by surprise.
"Hey, so where's my present at?" She laughed loudly, I watched Edward's jaw drop along with Jasper's, Alice's face tickled with recognition and Emmett just joined in on our laugh.
"I'll show you." She squeezed my hand and let me out of the front door then around to the garage.
My eyes scanned over the empty space, the Volvo, the M3, the Jeep, a motorcycle, a Vanquish and then in the corner was a car hidden beneath a cloth. I grinned at the car as it waited patiently to be revelled from beneath the cloth. Rosalie stopped in front of the cloth and whipped it off in one swift, gracefully movement.
I screamed loudly, I actually squealed like a girl. My car, my baby, was here. A few years ago Ash and I bought a '77 Chevy Camaro in black. It was run down and completely beaten up. Me, being the master mechanic I was fixed it up no problem and soon we found over selves cruising down the local streets. However about a year ago, ash got paralytic, for lack of a better word, and in the heat of an argument took the car and drove it straight in a car. The ass hole survived, thank god, nut much like our friendship the car went up in flames. She was beyond repair she wasn't even recognisable, I remember watching on as her lifeless corpse lay burning in the flames.
"Its not the original car you fixed up, but it's the same kind." Rosalie stated this attempting to fake indifference to my sheer joy at the present.
I just nodded as I ran my hands up and down the cars smooth curves, softly caressing her cool skin. she was beautiful a sleek, shiny black that reflect everything in the room like a mirror.
Edward POV.
I watched on in amusement as she stroked the car with her long pale fingers. She was delicate. I couldn't believe I ever thought her not beautiful. I now understood how Alice envisioned us together. For weeks I had been forced to watch her grow and change through the memories of others. I hadn't once got to see her myself; it wasn't time Alice kept saying. Several times I had considered disobeying Alice and running up to the Denali household, and meeting her for myself. I never gave in though, you never bet against Alice.
The fist time we meet her she lay inert on a hospital bed, her breathing slow, and her heart rate way too fast. Her skin was grey and decorated with purple and yellow bruises. Her eyes lifeless even when she eventually a woke. Her hair greasy and dirty. She didn't look hideous just human. There was nothing special about her in the moment. She still had the purple scar marks, puncture wounds where bones had shot through her fragile skin. She look so meek and breakable. She looked like prey, she looked human.
Now, well that was a different story. She was taller, stronger built, her skin slightly more tanned than the last time we had met. Her hair fell down in natural curls and waves, perfectly formed ringlets. They were bronze, chocolate, black and honey. All the different shades blended together in a colour that was completely unique completely her. Her eyes glistened a deep sapphire blue with sliver and gold weaving in and out of her eyes, they were beautiful. No, she was beautiful. Every single inch of her filled with beauty. I watched as her hips swayed to some imaginary beat, every little movement she made caused odd feelings to stir. I watched jasper shift uncomfortably. I couldn't read my emotions well, they were so new and I didn't want to hear them defined by Jasper. I wanted her to define them for me.
I sat quietly in the corner next to Esme. Tanya had come to me earlier and flirted shamelessly. When she was rejected once more, she stormed out in huff for a hunt. She hasn't returned as of yet. For hours I sat quietly happily just watching they way she interacted with my family. She tinkered with her car, talked clothes with Alice, music with jasper and god only knows what she didn't discuss with Emmett. Esme had removed herself to the house an hour or so in. she wanted to tidy up and make herself presentable for Carlisle, something that had become routine ever since she was brought into this dawn less forever.
I heard the grandfather clock in the house chime eleven as heather yawned in sync. Jasper in one quick movement had scooped her up and was announcing the fact she needed to sleep.
Once everyone went off to 'occupy' their partners, I went quietly to sit and watch as she tossed and turned in her dreamless sleep.