Chapter 2 of Forever Morning involves Leo filling the Cullens in on her past life. With her statements, a new question is introduced to the vampire world: How could a shape-shifter be turned into a vampire? Rated T just to be safe. Reviews highly appreciated.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of its original characters. (Except my Leo, of course.)

Thoughts are italicized and point of view changes are shown with Name and POV

Chapter 2: Explanation

Esme POV

Watching Leo chug down five glasses of donated blood greedily, all I could think of was "Who could have done this to her?"

Alice described the vision she had to Leo with everyone listening in. The vampire, Alice said, was a sex-crazed, hungry, teenage newborn. He was hunting when he saw a puma, but when he saw Leo, he became a perverted teen freak and wanted to experiment sexually with a human. When she began to turn into a puma again, he panicked and abandoned her, wondering what she was. I was surprised to see how well she handled the story and all the sporadic questions thrown at her.

We sat down in the living room I designed for discussions. The colors were inviting, the furniture comfortable and the flowers fragrant… It was so perfect, but this situation drew attention away from the decorations. I was not particularly interested in comments on the décor, but it was interesting the way the room somehow blended right in with the conversation.

The kids made a circle around Leo, who sat cross-legged in the middle, hugging her knees close to her chest. It reminded me of a pack of wolves surrounding an injured moose. Patiently waiting for her to crack…or perish.

_ _ _ _

Alice: "Let's try this again. What's your name?"

Leo: "Leora. It is pronounced lee-oh-rah. My Troop bestowed the name upon me during my First Change ceremony. I did not have a last name; there was no need."

Emmett: "Did you know who attacked you?"

Edward: "Emmett!"

Leo: "No, it's okay. He actually seemed vaguely familiar, but I don't remember a name, time or place where I met him."

Emmet: "Ha-ha Edward!"

Jasper: "Where did you come from?"

Leo: "My Troop was located in Duluth, but we are nomads. We tend to stay in Minnesota for the feeling of connection to our ancestors."

Emmett: "Who is your Troop?"

Leo: "…My family…my life…my home… We are all…"

Rosalie: "You are what?"

Leo: "We are shape-shifters."

_ _ _ _

No one said anything. Shape-shifters? There are more? Wait…

My husband stepped into the circle, breaking the silence. "What do you shape-shift into?"

Leo: "Pumas. Mountain Lions. Cougars. Whatever you want to call them."

Edward exchanged a glance with Emmett, but everyone else was frozen in silence. We all pondered the same thing. How can this be? Everyone began to look at my Carlisle or Leo.

_ _ _ _

Leo: "No, I don't know how this is possible that I'm a vampire either."

Renesmee: "I thought there was something different about you. You're warm like me!"

"Are we saying that Leo is like—" I began, but was interrupted by my granddaughter.

Renesmee: "My Jacob!"

Leo: "Yes, I was meaning to ask about him."

Bella: "What do you need to know?"

Leo: "Could he become a vampire too? Hypothetically, of course."

Rosalie: "I'd like to try…"

Emmett suppressed a chuckle, but everyone looked at my Carlisle.

Carlisle: "I…I'm not sure. I don't believe he could."

Edward: * sigh * "I'll call him."

Renesmee: "I will, Daddy. He'll come if I ask him."

Leo: "Come? I just wanna talk…"

Renesmee: "It'll only take a few minutes for him to get here from Fargo, and besides, he'll take any excuse to come for a visit."

Leo: "Fargo… That's really far west in Minnesota… Where am I?"

I walked over to Leo. "Our residence is in the northernmost part of Minnesota. We're only twenty miles from the Canadian border." She began to rock back and forth. I knelt down beside her. "Leo, I don't know much about you and you only know so much about me, but I do want to help. We all think it was absolutely horrible what that…monster did to you…

"I always felt terrible when my children were Turned, that they would never reach adulthood. However, they were Turned to save their lives. You… you had your whole life ahead of you.

"I couldn't possibly expect you to call me 'Mom' like everyone else does, but I hope you can at least call me, and everyone else, a friend."

_ _ _ _

Leora POV

I looked into Esme's eyes. She was the kindest, most generous, and caring woman I had ever met.

"Does that mean I can stay?" I asked in a whisper tentatively.

Everyone looked at each other with blank stares. I lowered my forehead onto my knees. I understood what the silence meant. I would find somewhere to live. After all, I had forever.

_ _ _ _

Edward POV

Do we have enough space?

Is she safe enough to have around us?

Are we really going to take her in? Can we do that?

Let me see… Alice looked into the future, in which she had two visions. The first was Alice and Jasper holding hands, walking through a meadow and a familiar black figure, which Alice and I assumed was Leo, clutched onto Jasper's back effortlessly. They were all laughing, even Jazz.

The second was Leo and Renesmee being…teenagers. They were giggling, then hugging, racing around in the woods, then giggling more. They appeared to be the best of friends, but closer, like sisters.

The part about Renesmee stopped me cold. All I wanted was for Ness to have a somewhat normal childhood. With Leo, she might have the chance of having a normal friendship, even when she looks five years older. She might be able to be happy.

I was so focused on Alice's vision that I didn't sense the interaction between Carlisle and Jasper.

"Of course," my father said confidently.

"We would be honored," Jazz finished rather amiably.

"Welcome to the family, Leo," Esme said warmly.

I looked at Carlisle for an explanation. All I heard was Jasper needs her. I'll explain later.

Then I looked at Esme, then Bella. They were as confused and excited as I was. I leaned in and kissed the top of her head, whispering, "Ness will have a new best friend."

I heard her lift her shield off her mind. Alice had a vision?

"Yes." I still marveled at the beautiful sound of her mind's voice.

Bella sighed. Will everyone else be happy?

"Alice and Jasper in particular."

?

"We'll find out with time." I inhaled her smell: a field of strawberries like when she was human, but apples and peaches on the edges. "I love you."

You too, forever.

The shield snapped back into place. Renesmee put her hand on my arm- asking about her mothers and my conversation. I slid her closer to me, and then whispered, "It's a possibility that you and Leo will be very close."

Auntie Alice had a vision?

I nodded, chuckling. My girls were the same.

_ _ _ _

Leora POV

I lifted my eyes, looking at Carlisle. Would I really spend eternity as one of the nomads my Troop so easily used to hunt?

For some reason, Jasper looked pleadingly at Carlisle, as if he was begging with his eyes. Carlisle nodded, pondered for a moment, but finally looked at me and said, "Of course."

"We would be honored," Jasper added.

"Welcome to the family, Leo," Esme said to me, smiling. It was a mother's smile.

Family. Not a coven, a family. Could I finally be happy here? Is this what I would call home forever? Could it ever replace my family and Troop? Yes, looking into Esme's loving face, I believed I could.

"Thanks...Mom. Dad," I muttered, looking into each of their smiling faces.

Yes, I believe I could be happy here.

I hope you liked chapter 2. It is the shortest chapter I have written so far (I am writing the 5th), but it is very important. Just to tell you, I really hate doing the transitions as I did in the last shift from Edward to Leo's POV (repeating the same dialogue but in different POVs) but it was needed. In the next chapter, the story really takes a huge turn, so please keep reading. Also, please review! I promise to respond to your comments as soon as possible. Thank you, readers!