Disclaimer: All characters found in the Twilight Saga are the sole property of Stephenie Meyer.

AN: this marking in the story from here on will indicate Lenai blocking her thoughts from Edward

"Italicized quotations are thoughts that Edward is listening to."

Getting Acquainted

A heavy rain falls on the darkened windows of the hotel. My eyes trace the swirling tracks made by the downpour for hours. Gran and I each have our own bedroom in the hotel suite since none of the Cullens ever feel the urge to sleep. Tonight I know how that feels. I close my eyes when exhaustion demands it but open them again within minutes as my dad's face flashes before my eyes. Dread consumes me each time. My Dad has always been loving, never once in my life have I had reason to fear him, but the flatness of his eyes and the pallor of his face in my vision reminds me that he is lost to me forever. Knowing that sleep will continue to evade me tonight I roll out of bed and walk over to the desk pulling out a piece of hotel stationary and a pen. I begin to write down the dark music that has been my constant company since I saw my dad dependant on life sustaining machinery.

As the morning sun attempts to brighten the cloud cover I hear voices coming from the common room. Setting down my pen I walk toward the door. I've been alone with my thoughts long enough, being near my new friends might help distract me.

"I need to get back to Forks." Granny says as I walk through the door. "Oh, good Lenai, your up."

"Good morning everyone." Four pairs of black eyes turn in my direction. Alice walks over to put an arm around my shoulder and hug me tight placing a light kiss on my cheek.

"Did you sleep well, Lenai?" Esme asks sweetly.

"Yes, I did. Thank you." I lie, trying to smile, the action seems foreign to me now. Edward raises an eyebrow at me curiously. Turning to Gran he casually shakes his head no. Worry creases Gran's brow.

"As I was saying, I received another call from Mr. Cruz who has been filling in for me at the high school. There have been some disturbances with preparation for the students' finals. It seems an enterprising student has made over half of the finals files disappear from our computer system. I need to get back there and get it figured out." Gran states looking at Esme and Carlisle.

"I need to get back to the hospital as well. I am due for surgery in the morning. Esme and I were planning to take the first flight this evening. Unfortunately the cloud cover will not hold for much longer." Carslile responds. "We will be happy to make the arrangements for you to travel with us."

"I would like that very much. Thank You" Gran replies.

"Gran, I was hoping to have a couple of days before I leave." I ask as tears well up in my eyes. I have not been ready to go home yet. I am afraid of facing the memories that linger in our house. As hard as it will be I know I can not leave Chicago without saying goodbye.

"I'll stay with her. Alice and I can help her pack up her things and get them sent to Forks. I will contact the estate lawyer and make sure everything is taken care of." Edward offers, sending a reassuring look to Gran and turning to me with understanding and kindness shining in his beautiful eyes.

Beautiful eyes, oh my God, what am I thinking! I need to make myself sleep tonight, I'm loosing it. How can I jump from nearly crying in front of everyone to ogling Gran's ex boyfriend! OH crap, he's the one who reads minds isn't he. AHHH Lenai just die now.

"Uh, thanks." I say feeling the heat of embarrassment flush my cheeks. Edward gives me a look of utter amusement confirming my worst fears; he had just heard my little mental monolog, I'm going to have to talk to Alice about how to block him, this is really annoying knowing my own mind is no longer a sanctuary. Did he just hide a laugh, AHHH he's doing it again. I need to quit talking to myself!

"I'm going to go take a shower!" I huff as I stomp angrily out of the room.

I shower and dress for the day as slowly as possible not wanting to face the embarrassment of my own thoughts being put on display for Edward's entertainment again. I have no more reasons to hide in my room as I finish brushing dry my hair. Looking around my room I search for anything that needs to be tidied, unfortunately my room is spotless. Grabbing the door handle I pause for a slight moment breathing deeply. Well here we go again.

Gran, Esme, and Carlisle are sitting in the common room talking about how the high school's computer system may have been hacked into, and what programs she may be able to use to restore the lost data and find out who perpetrated the sabotage.

"If you have any problems you can always ask Jasper for his help. He manages our system and takes care of destroying any evidence we leave behind whenever we move. He knows all the tricks that can be used to cover up any subterfuge. I am sure he can find out who did this." Esme offers helpfully.

I walk over to the couch collapsing beside Gran. Instinctually I curl up against her placing my head in her lap as I have since I was old enough to walk. Gran absent-mindedly runs her fingers through my hair massaging my scalp as she continues her conversation. My recent lack of sleep paired with Granny's comforting touch lulls me to sleep.

Esme and Carslisle are sitting in the arm chairs across from me reading. "How long was I out?" I ask groggily.

"You've been asleep for a little under three hours." Carlisle answers.

"Where's Granny Bell?" I never felt her move out from under me.

"Bella is in her room packing. We need to leave for the airport at seven and she is hoping to have dinner alone with you before we go." Esme replies.

"Oh, I'd like that. Where are Alice and Edward?"

"They went to do a little shopping. Alice says there are some essentials she must pick up." Esme responds with a smile.

Laughing I picture poor Edward being drug around to every store in the mall. Bags hanging from both arms and a pile of clothing slung over his outstretched hands while Alice flits around pulling random items off of racks.

Gran peeks her head around the corner of her room smiling. "What's all the laughing about?"

"Nothing really Granny, I was just picturing Alice dragging Edward around the mall like a pack mule." Gran's smile widens as she obviously pictures the same scene. "How'd she talk him into going anyway? I can't imagine he enjoys it." I ask.

"He was trying to give you some privacy dear. I guess he overheard something he didn't think you wanted to share earlier today" Gran answers with a knowing smile.

"Uh yah," I smirk, "I wanted to ask you a question about that." Esme and Carlisle give me their full attention as does Gran coming to sit by my side once again. "How do I keep him from reading my thoughts? I mean you guys have been around him long enough surely you have figured out a few tricks by now."

"Firstly Lenai you need to know that Edward will never intentionally invade your thoughts. He does not do it for his own entertainment nor does he do it maliciously. He explained it to me once as being similar to standing in the middle of the field at Yankee Stadium with a full house. Each person has a megaphone and is screaming at him at the same time. You can imagine that most of the time he tries to tune it all out. Don't misunderstand me he does know how to single out individual voices, but you can imagine how most of the time he would simply choose to ignore it all." Carslile explains.

"Then why did he find it so amusing to delve into my mind this morning?" I ask a little bitterly.

"I think I can answer that one for you Lenai." Gran says. "You see he never could hear my thoughts. I was and am for some reason closed to him. I guess he wondered if you would be too."

"But why would I be!" I answer a little perturbed. "It's not exactly like I could have inherited that helpful trait from you."

"He does not know your father was adopted yet Lenai." Esme answers. "We thought it would be best if he hears the family history from either you or Bella. He has made a lot of assumptions that are not necessarily correct, and it will be hard for him to hear the whole story."

"Lenai," Gran says looking directly into my eyes, "Do you mind telling him? He need to know soon before he assumes any more. You will be spending the next few days with him and he might not understand some of your thoughts unless he knows."

"Sure Granny, it will give us something to talk about while we pack at least." I reply. "You still have not answered my question though. How do I keep him from knowing my thoughts."

Carslile answers, "I think of medical procedures, or if I'm frustrated with him I think of my lovely wife." He winks hinting at what sort of thoughts he thinks.

"HAHAHAHA, I bet he loves that!"

"Well, it keeps him out of my head." he smirks "The point being think of something either disinteresting to him while at the same time being complex enough to hold your attention, or something he really does not want to see. He receives very clear visuals."

"I think I get it, Thanks." I stand stretching my sore muscles. "Gran can we go get something to eat, I'm starved."

Gran and I enjoy our dinner alone spending the rest of the afternoon and early evening walking around the area of Chicago I grew up in sharing all our favorite memories of Dad and Mom. Going back to my house does not seem so daunting now, somehow by sharing my happy memories with Gran and listening to hers has helped me see that Dad is not totally gone. Nothing can take my memories, Dad will still be real as long as we are here to remember him.

Watching the sun set we walk back to the hotel. Church bells ring out seven times as the hotel comes into view. Carlisle and Esme stand beside the rental car waiting.

Gran gives me one last hug before opening the rear door of the sedan. "I'll see you soon. Alice and Edward will take good care of you. I love you."

"I love you too Granny." I whisper hugging her tightly. A single tear slides down my cheek as I step back beside Alice. Her cold hand reaching out take mine. Edward steps to my side gently laying his hand on my shoulder as we watch the car drive away. We stand there in silence for a few minutes.

"I'll go get us checked out of the hotel." Edward says quietly, "It's time for you to go home."

A tear slides down my cheek as I think about walking through the door of my childhood home and finding it void of life. Alice wraps one arm around my shoulders wiping my tear away with her other hand. "It'll be okay Lenai, we'll stay right beside you as long as you need us to. You're not alone in this."

Moments later Edward rounds the corner driving a very sporty Mercedes sedan. Parking in front of where Alice and I stand he races around to open the doors for us. "Lenai, do you mind sitting up front to give me directions, it's been a while since I've been in Chicago." He asks with a breathtaking smile.

My head spins slightly as I struggle to remember what he just asked. I try to pull my gaze away from his smile but find myself unable to preform such a small task. "UH?" I ask unintelligibly. Edward and Alice's laughter snap me out of my daze. "Oh yah, of course." I blink several times to finish clearing my mind of the sudden fog. What was that about?

I climb in the car quickly thankful for the escape offered by simply changing location. At least I do not have to worry about looking into his eyes again in the car. I situate myself and begin messing with the radio tuner trying to find a good classical station. I really am not in the mood for loud, meaning less modern music today.

A light tap on my shoulder draws my attention. I turn my head to see Edward leaning down to my level. "Don't forget your seat-belt."

"UH?" My vision tunnels down toward Edward's face. His eyes glow with amusement as a smile lifts one cheek just slightly. "Oh yah, of course." Edward backs away as I click the safety belt, shutting the door gently. God, I have got to get myself under control! He must think I am a complete idiot. I mean how many times can a person say exactly the same stupid sentence in two minutes. Uh he must think I have the intellect of a five year old.

Edward climbs in his seat laughing openly. "Actually Lenai, I find you quite intriguing. You should not be so hard on yourself." he says, obviously responding to my thoughts.

I immediately begin mentally playing Bach's Partita number 4 while trying to figure out an accompanying violin movement. I need to be more careful; I completely forget about his freaky mind reading thing when I am around him. It does not help that I can't seem to keep my thoughts flowing coherently while looking at him. Maybe this blocking thing will help with that as well, I am never more focused than when I'm playing. Although I do tend to get lost in my own world, hmm. I just hope this works.

"Wait, Bach's Partita 4 three part sinfonia number 9. But what are you doing with it?" Edward asks.

Ha, it works, YES! Thank goodness. "Wow, I'm impressed. The mind reader knows his music." I reply sarcastically.

"The mind reader is it?" Edward responds jokingly. " I see someone's been filling you in on our secrets."

"She knows everything Edward. Bella told her everything as soon as she found out we were back in Forks. Lenai and I met a couple weeks ago. She basically had us figured out within two days. There was no way to not tell her." Alice tells him.

"Two days? That's impossible." Edward states incredulously.

"Turn right, or you'll be stuck in gridlock for the next two miles. And no it is not impossible. In fact it was quite obvious. Anyone who gets close to you could figure it out." I reply. How can he be so arrogant. It's not like it was difficult to realize something was not quite normal about them. All you had to do was touch them to know something was not right. I've also noticed how frequently Alice and Edward will hold their breath around me and Gran. No human could go for ten minutes without breathing. Hello, that's just a little bit obvious don't ya think.

"Not many humans would risk that. In fact you are only the second human to ever willingly put themselves close enough for it to be an issue." Edward responds.

EPOV

Lenai climbs in the rental car and immediately begins messing with the radio station. "Don't forget your seat-belt." I remind her. It never fails to amaze me how little these fragile humans think about their safety. I take a second to look closely at Lenai's face. No, I'm sure of it now, there is no resemblance to Bella. One would think there would be something there. Lenai's features are so much more defined than Bella's were. Her skin is more of a milky complexion, smooth. She is so petite her facial features so perfect she reminds me of a porcelain doll. In fact she is more like Alice than Bella. Strange.

"UH?" she replies completely dazed. Her thoughts entertain me, she is obviously experiencing what Bella would call being dazzled. Interesting, I have never seen another person be effected quite like this by myself or any of my siblings. Not even Rosalie gets this type of response. "Oh yah, of course."

Laughing I listen to her berating herself for being so easily dazed, and drawn to me. It's flattering really, she is an interesting person. Her thoughts this morning were intriguing, I have never felt someone love so deeply as this young girl loves her family. I hope they knew what a precious gift she gave them. The hardest lesson I have learned in my very long life has been that if someone trusts you enough to freely give you their heart you should cherish it. I know Bella cherishes Lenai, I hope her parents did as well.

"Actually Lenai, I find you quite intriguing. You should not be so hard on yourself." I assure her.

Turning her head to look out the window a complex piano piece begins to play in her mind. Listening to her mind is fascinating. The music is beautifully played, but what draws me the most is the visual. I can see her fingers as they fly against the keys creating the sound. A violin joins in, the music pouring forth from it is not original to the piece but flows flawlessly. Her fingers move silently over the strings as she focuses on her bow, but her concentration is never removed from the piano either. Essentially she is playing both at the same time. Amazing.

"Wait, Bach's Partita 4 three part sinfonia number 9. But what are you doing with it?" I would love to know how she is doing this, I have never met a human who could focus their mind so clearly on something as complex as the piano piece, let alone to be focussing equally as intensely on another completely different thought.

"Wow, I'm impressed. The mind reader knows his music." she responds bitingly.

Sounds like she has been informed of at least some of our family secrets. We are very careful who we let know of our skills, most vampires apart from the Volteri do not know of our gifts, it is a dangerous thing to have others knowing. I wonder exactly how many of my families' secrets have been shared with her. It's obvious that Esme and Alice care deeply for the girl. Yes, she is Bella's granddaughter, but how wise is it to share our secrets with her like this. It could place her in danger.

"She knows everything Edward. Bella told her as soon as she found out we were back in Forks. Lenai and I met a couple weeks ago. She basically had us figured out within two days. There was no way to not tell her." Alice informs me.

"Two days? That's impossible." I respond shocked.

"She is much more observant than Bella was Edward. She was noticing oddities about me almost immediately, although she never seemed to be alarmed or put off by them. She seems to have no natural fear of us. She never even questioned us after finding out what we were. It was like we had told her we were irish." Alice thinks.

"Turn right, or you'll be stuck in gridlock for the next two miles. And no it is not impossible. In fact it was quite obvious. Anyone who gets close to you could figure it out." Lenai replies a little harshly.

Her mental concert never falters as she speaks. She could not be more wrong though. In the almost one hundred and fifty years I have been a vampire only one person has figured out what we are, and she was helped by hearing old Quiluete legends about our family.

"Not many humans would risk that. In fact you are only the second human to ever willingly put themselves close enough for it to be an issue." I respond, she may not look much like Bella, but the similarities in other areas are astounding. Neither of them have any self preservation instinct.

Other than a few directions given to me by Lenai the ride is completed in silence. Alice's thoughts dance between missing Jasper, worrying about Bella's situation at work which apparently Alice can see nothing of causing her great stress, and very pleasant thoughts of Lenai.

Lenai turned to look out the window. Slowly the music she plays in her mind transitions from known composers to a darker melody played solely on the violin before dwindling completely. Memories of times spent here with her father and mother fill the void left after the music stopped. Watching her memories causes an atmosphere of melancholy to settle on me. I try to tune out her thoughts to give her privacy with her memories, but I can not. None of the methods I have used for years to tune out unwanted 'voices' work with her. I do not mind hearing her thoughts, in truth I greatly enjoy listening to her. Her mind works in such a unique way, but I worry about upsetting her. Surely it is uncomfortable knowing another person can see your most intimate thoughts. For the first time I feel guilty for using my gift.