Tuebor Chapter 4
I will protect

Eric stopped and grabbed Raven's arm, "What are you going to do- interrogate us. We've been through that before and we fought back. We don't deceive each other- she's my sister and my twin Dr. Cullen." He explained and Carlisle turned to them, "Please tell me what is going on."

Carlisle sighed, "When was the last time you ate?"

Raven sighed, "That's what this is all about. My goodness- Eric I told you we should have waited. We don't eat; first off, by definition we probably don't even qualify for vampire insurance." Esme giggled, "Dr. Cullen- Mrs. Cullen nice to meet you." She said quickly as Esme appeared, "Dr. Cullen- I was killed when I was already dead… er, wait that doesn't make sense… hold on." She said and looked at Eric for help on how to word it.

He sighed, "She was bitten after she was dead but she was able to still come back."

"I bled out too quickly… I left that part out before," she turned to Edward. "The vampire came after I was already dead, but apparently I had just enough life or something in me to return abnormal." Raven explained; she looked around as the rest of the Cullens came into the living room. "I turned my brother to save his life… wouldn't you have done the same thing?"

Carlisle sighed, "I think I would have, yes." Carlisle admitted and Esme nodded.

Eric nodded, "Did you bring us here to question us, yell at Rai, or kill us."

"Or make us try to eat something?" Raven added.

Carlisle shook his head, "I guess not. I'm sorry I wasted your time, but, er, the tumour you had… how bad was it?"

Eric looked down at his sister and she looked away from him, she had tears in her eyes. "I should have died the day she saved my life; I couldn't breathe on my own, I had feeding tubes down my throat. The bed was uncomfortable and along with me missing a month of school- Raven did too." He put his hand on her shoulder, "Raven gave her life to save mine Dr. Cullen. Our mother died because she believed that we could be protectors instead of murderers."

Esme put her hand over her mouth and Carlisle glanced at her, "Your mother died because you were vampires." Esme whispered

Raven ran her hand over her eyes, "Yes." She whispered A friend at her work figured it out because his father had been a hunter and he knew some things of his own; he argued with her one night and stabbed her saying she was protecting murderers. Eric and I aren't killers Dr. Cullen- mom died protecting our secret and we can't let her death be vained because we lost control!" She looked up at Eric and grabbed his arm, "Eric-." He shook his head and she fell silent.

Eric put his arm around her back, "Dr. Cullen we found our father on our own… with slight help from our mother's parents and best friends. He got us to Arizona and we met or step-mother and Bea… it didn't take long for us to get used to it, but we work very hard to hide our feelings Dr. Cullen. We active vampires because we have infinite energy now- we pretend to be slow and weak when we see fit. We fight each other physically to get rid of anger so we don't take it on humans and today we did just that; we take time off from being human and do what we can to protect humans."

Carlisle nodded finally, "I understand Eric, Raven- thank you for coming down to speak with me." Raven stood up, Eric grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Carlisle watched them wearily, "I understand if you're nervous here Raven."

"I hope so- I saved his life Dr. Cullen-."

Carlisle took her hand, "I understand that, I promise I do." He smiled and she only nodded, "I know that you're not a killer Raven… I turned Edward, Esme, Rosalie, and Emmett because they were already dying or alone; Edward was both and Rosalie begged me to turn Emmett because she felt she'd kill him if she did it herself. Esme became a vampire and I fell in love with her; Alice and Jasper, Rose and Emmett are married couples."

Eric glanced at Edward, "Your turn pretty soon I guess." Edward grunted and looked away from him, "Can't live forever and be alone. It's be very boring and lonely."

"What about you."

Raven looked at Eric, "He thinks he can be with a human and be happy." She whispered, "He can kill her with he doesn't watch himself."

"Raven we're physically weak- we couldn't hurt someone if we tried."

"I doubt that," Carlisle countered.

Eric smiled, "I wish we could be stronger than we are. It won't take a lot to kill us… Raven let go of my hand."

"Why? I want to go home, I miss Bea- and I think we're needed now." She said and he shook his head, "Why?"

Eric sighed, "Because Carlisle wants to see us hunt." He whispered.

Raven got up and tried to get away but Aubrey chased her and she tried to get away from him as well but he grabbed her around the waist. Eric objected but Aubrey didn't listen to him and dragged her into the living room again and dropped her; she landed on her back and Eric went to help her but she kicked Aubrey's legs out from under him and tripped him onto his back and she got up but Aubrey tackled her again to the ground. He held her wrists tightly.

"Get off me-."

"You're going to hurt her!" Eric yelled but Alice shook her head, "How do you know that- Aubrey!" he growled.

Alice took his arm, "I promise he won't." she whispered.

"Eric," Raven cried.

Arubey gripped her tighter, "Come on Raven. Be a vampire for once in your life," he said. "Fight me- fight back."

"I can't," she yelled.

"I'm really sorry Aubrey," Eric said and kicked him hard in the face and he flipped off Raven; she jumped up and went behind her brother. "It looked like it hurt," he mumbled when Edward asked why he did that.

"I wasn't going to hurt her- I was going to prove a point." He glanced at Edward, "It was his idea so be angry with him."

"Hey!" Edward yelled and Eric turned to Edward, "Alright fine. It was my idea but he's right- it was to prove that you're not weak."

"I'd be weak then get hurt," Raven snapped. "Come Eric- we need to get home. Charlie doesn't need to tell dad we got kidnapped or something." She mumbled and Eric frowned.

"Kidnapped? We're not in New York anymore Rai- besides I got away." He sighed, "Slow down Raven. Bye Dr. Cullen."

"Eric," he hurried after him. "I'm sorry Aubrey and Edward conspired against you, but in a few days a couple of them are going north to hunt; consider going with them. Maybe you do need to feed- it can boast your strength more possibly."

"It's a possibility," Eric agreed. "But it's not for certain and it's what Raven wants: certainty that that will happen. She's older by vampire age, but I'm physically older," he muttered. "Our hearing and sight are the same as a humans; we knew they'd hear us our first day- it's why we whispered and we guessed by your reactions on what to say next." He sighed, "Raven feel guilty enough for my death and our mother's- I let her be my superior while she's compatible enough to be such leader." He looked at Aubrey, "She hates being tackled. Should have seen her in gym… football was the worst. She was fast as a human so the boys thought it'd be alright to tackle. She kicked a guy in the ribs. Cracked three," he chuckled. "Mom and I were actually very proud because she naturally gentle." He assured them and Aubrey chuckled.

Edward saved Bella from the van and that night Edward went to her house unsure what he was going to find, but he was honestly surprised and shocked to find that Eric and Raven actually dreamed even though they were vampires. Bella tossed and turned in her sleep as Edward watched and lay beside her- his arm resting under her head like a pillow. He hoped she wouldn't wake but if she did… he wondered how it's work out next for them. She said his name twice that night while she dreamed of him; Edward heard movement downstairs and since he felt compelled to be the watcher over Bella he went downstairs.

He frowned, "What the hell are you doing here?" Aubrey turned.

"Nice place, too bad I like the bigger scenes." He chuckled, "What the fuck you doin' here Ed?" He asked.

Edward didn't answer his question, "Just go- wait." He turned to Aubrey again, "You came here to see Raven?" He paused when Aubrey gave him a look, he laughed silently. "I thought you hated her."

"Why would I hate her- she's nice. Cute too," he added. "I guess your Swan is pretty good too," he said and Edward smiled- almost embarrassed. There was an awkward silence for a few minutes; they heard movement downstairs and Aubrey grumbled, "I never thought of the basement." He whispered and they moved as the door opened.

"Eric you can't go and leave me alone," Raven was saying.

He turned to her, "She called me crying Rai- what would you do?"

Raven folded her arms, she wore shorts and a crème tank top, "Have a friend check up on the idiot. She probably stubbed her toe or got a paper cut!" she snapped frantically.

Eric was dressed in nicer clothes than Edward and Aubrey had ever seen him in, "I can't just stay here and hope that she's alright Raven." He paused, "We had plans before the cancer and I promised we'd continue them afterwards."

"We're vampires now-," she reminded him. "We can't do anything like the humans can. I made my promises but I know I can't keep them. Our senior year… next year will be in Ari and sooner or later Shepard will have to realize I can't do a lot of the things we used to do because it might give me away." She whispered, "You can't dump this on me Eric- I can't protect Charlie and Bea alone."

"You have help," he said and pulled on his jacket and ran his fingers through his hair a few times. "You're forgetting that there's other of our kind watching our steps and keeping track of us."

"I'm going with you-."

"You promised Renee you'd protect her kid," he snapped. "Keep at least that promise," he growled and she crossed her arms. "Protect and guard- guard and protect… whichever scenario you like best but she's waiting for me."

"She's a ditz and you deserve better- what about Anthony and you're other friends. Didn't she go with him while we were away for a few days?"

"She thought I left her, that's different." He snapped, "You left Shepard," he said and she glared at him.

"Because I hate him and I have other reasons to leave him as well… he never thought of no one besides himself-," she put her hand to her face and lowered it slowly. "I'm not discussing this with you- we talk sure, but not about this kind of detail of our lives… Eric," she whined. "I can't protect them alone." She repeated, "Please stay and let her handle this on her own. Please Eric!" She begged and grabbed her brother's arm and held it tightly.

He put his hand on the knob of the door, "I'll be back in four days." He whispered and reached out and pulled her to him and kissed her forehead, he put their heads together. "We're twins remember?" he whispered and smiled, "I'll know if something's happened to you and you'll if something bad has happened to me. It's only Arizona and bring Bea along if you think it's best," he told her. "I love you little sister. I'll tell Kyle you say hello," he added.

"Don't you dare." She glared.

"He still loves you," he said.

"I don't," she snapped and turned to leave but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back and hugged her tightly. "I know you never did- mom raised us too well I think."

She pushed him away, "You love this human and you go to her." She said, he sighed. "I understand why you're going Eric, I swear I do, but I don't know why you care so much- get a chance to see our friends- friends we were so close too we called them family." She tried to smile but it seemed to hurt too much, "Anthony, Kyle, Shepard, my girlfriends… tell them I said hello for me." She looked down at the floor, "If Kyle asks: I've forgotten." Eric stared at her.

"Forgotten what?"

"Our promises or protect and love forever," she said. "He's human and I can't endanger him Eric- eventually we might get enemies; Kyle deserves a good significant other. Tell him please if he asks… I've forgotten." She repeated and stepped back as if to let him go.

Eric watched her for a moment, "Sometimes Raven… I just don't know…" he smiled and she looked away from him. "I know you never loved him and Shepard was kind of crude… don't worry Rai." She shrugged.

"I've prepared myself for this," she told him and smiled. "Go and take care of the whimp- I'll protect Charlie the Chief and the girl." He turned to leave and opened the door, but she ran to him. "I love you too Eric, please don't do something stupid." He smiled and hugged her back tightly.

"Just tell Charlie that Phil called me and said there was an emergency- if it gets out of hand… I'll take the fall." He whispered and she nodded as he pushed her back two steps and disappeared out the door. She leaned against the door frame for about five minutes before she sighed and closed the door and walked back to the kitchen and down into the basement.