Jasper: C'mon it ain't that hard to say.
Me: But-
Peter: No buts kitten.
Me: Oh fine, I don't own Twilight nor do I own either Target or Dell or Wal-Mart. I don't own any of the Civil War sons in this chapter either. Nor do I own Big and Rich, which would be awesome… The only thing that's mine is the plot. Enjoy and review people! Reviews make my day!
Peter POV
What the hell just happened there? Was my thought as that fucker George scurried off. We headed into my mates room to get her bags and I couldn't help but see the sad look on her face. I was about to ask what was wrong when my annoying 'gift' said, "Don't say anything, fucker, she'll tell ya when she's ready!" I internally scowled at my "gift". I reached for her biggest bag just as she did; I smiled at her and picked it up. Then she smiled back then reached for her other bag.
After that we started walking down the hall, both of us wrapped in our own thoughts. The conversation with her friends was odd and uncomfortable. I had to swallow a lot growls as she palled around with her male buds. Jasper said the only emotion that came from her guy friends were brotherly emotions, the only time he felt anything other than that was when Laurie mentioned some famous actress, when she mentioned her they emitted lust. But that was it really.
But when she was talking to that George fellow, I could see the love, lust, and devotion in his eyes and when he left both my mate and he looked so sad. But why? Something went on between those two, I really wanted to know, but I had to respect my mate's privacy considering she has yet to accept me as her mate and that she is so young. Right now it would be impossible to pursue a romantic relationship with her now. Emmett and the Major would kill me if I even thought about it, not that I wanted to.
I was about to try and make conversation when Laurel's phone rang. It was playing Somebody's Darling. An old American Civil War song, it was really sad.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hey sweetheart! How ya doin'?" a familiar voice said on the other line.
"Gary! I'm good, guess who just adopted me?" Gary?
"Who?" Holy shit! It's Garrett, how did that fucker know her?
"THE Major, THE Emmett and THE Captain!" How'd she know my nickname? My mate is creepy!
"Whoa! So how are those fuckers doin'?"
"Pretty good, I'll reckon. How's Ma doin'?"
"Great! Where those fuckers takin' ya?"
"Whitlock ranch, now I won't have to settle for annoyin' ya in person. So now you can get it in HD and 3D!"
"Darn it! Well, I gotta go, love ya baby girl."
"Love ya too bro!" Then she hung up. She glanced at me and grinned. "You know em don't ya? Charlotte's your sister and Garrett's brother, though not by blood as you are with Char, right?" I nodded weakly. "Charlotte is like a mother to me, and the closest thing I've had since my mother died. Gary is my brother; I'm descendant of him as well."
"Wow." Was my intelligent answer.
"What's on ya mind?" How's the fuck she know?
"Nothin'."
"Nothin' as in I don't wanna talk bout it or nothin' as in I ain't sure if it would be polite to bring it up nothin'? Cause by the look on your face, it ain't nothin'."
"The latter." I half truthed.
"You're wondering what happened between me and George ain't ya? And don't deny it you and I both know you are."
"I am what happened?"
"He and I went out a little, before I learned I was being adopted. When I learned I was, I broke it off because I knew that a long distance relationship wouldn't work out, also because the- Never mind. This past week we've been flirtin' a bit but we, well, we never talked bout what happened between us. We acted as though it never happened. Today was closure, for both of us. He's a good kid, I have no doubt that soon some nice family will take him home with them anyway." She was speaking slowly as if she was picking her words carefully. I noticed that she was about to tell me something but she stopped. My beast was mad that another had most likely given her first kiss. Both the man and the beast were as they say now a days crazy jealous. Though I knew deep down that it was just a crush, but the thought of him kissing her drove me crazy.
"You speak as though he were a child and you an adult." I observed.
Her eyes darkened at this and she said, "After the things I've seen, I'm much older than I appear." I shivered at the way she said those words. I was angry, sad, enraged, and in pain that my mate had obviously been put through a lot of stuff. It took all my strength to reign my beast in. I knew it would scare my mate if I succumbed to it.
"So… What's your favorite era in history?" I asked trying to make conversation and not thinking of anything else to say. She paused, which made me think that I was a complete idiot for thinking that a girl born in her generation would be interested in history. Then she grinned. She fucking grinned at me as if I had said something that had dragged me into a world of trouble.
"The American Revolutionary and Civil war." She answered.
"Confederacy or Union?" Most likely Confederate, considering her linage.
"Both, but her do NOT, I repeat do NOT want to get me started on that topic, I could go in for hours! Oh, and don't tell the Major." Now here's a girl truly after my heart.
"Don't tell me what?" the Major himself said from behind us. I stiffened, but my mate looked completely relaxed. We turned around and the Major looked pissed at the thought of me and her having secrets with her at that age.
"We were talkin' 'bout a crush of mine." She lied flawlessly. I was awed at the way she lied, so easily, it also scared me.
"Who?" the Major asked her, his eyes narrowed.
"Why should I tell you?"
"So I can do a background check on him."
"Who said it was a him?" She said. His eyes almost popped out when she said that, I had to contain my laughter and I could tell she was, too.
"Who is it?" He said agitated looking about ready to strangle her, not even four hours and he's already overprotective. I growled so only he would hear, and he glanced at me and calmed down.
"He would never hurt me! Because, though I am sorry to say this, I am the last of the Whitlock line, as well as the McCarty! You have no idea how much I wish to fall in love, have a family be normal! But no the universe has other plans for me! I can't be normal; you wanna know why, Major? Because of you, because you just had to be the perfect little soldier, you just had to come across Maria! Now because of that, she took my brother from me, killed my whole family, and did you know that every generation, every fuckin' generation, three boys are dragged of to be put in her army. Because we are women, therefore "weak" she doesn't take us, but leaves us to mourn our brothers, cousins, husbands, uncles and fathers! Because I am a General Keeper I have the memories of my sisters and mothers before me! All their pain and sorrow! Including your mother's, lover's and your sisters'!" With that she stormed off to find Emmett. I felt shell shocked. By the way she exploded on Jasper for something so little; it must have been building up for years! What did she mean by "keeper"? How'd she know about Maria or vampires at all? So many questions, but no answers, so sad.
The Major looked as if he had been slapped in the face. He was projecting anger, hurt, sorrow, love, pain, regret, rage, and remorse. It almost made me feel sorry for the fucker, almost. "Dude, reign that shit in." He nodded and looked at me apologetically; while he sucked it back in. "C'mon lets go." I said walking out the front door, he followed silently. When we got to the car we found Laurie standing there just staring at the truck. She seemed to like it a lot. We stood watching her just stare at the truck we had ridden to get here, Emmett and Jasper and me for five minutes before she mumbled something and got in the front seat. If I had two words to describe that truck that would be big and blue. It was Jasper's baby. Emmett and I got in the back while Jasper and Laurie got in the front.
We had just pulled out of the parking lot when we heard Laurie say, "I'm sorry Jasper for explodin' on ya. I didn't realize I had so much bitterness towards ya." It sounded strained, like she wasn't used to giving apologies.
"No, it was my fault. I pushed for you to tell me I didn't need to know, I was being over protective. Please forgive me." His was strained because I knew for a fact that he wasn't used to giving apologies.
"We were both wrong. But I lied, we weren't talkin' bout a crush, were talkin' bout my views on the Northern Aggression."
"Well, what are they?" This might not end well.
"I can go either way if ya know what I mean." He tensed.
"Why?" I could tell he was refraining from calling her a Yankee sympathizer.
"You do NOT; I repeat do NOT want to get me started on the Civil war. I will go on and on and on for hours." Yep they were gonna get along just dandy, they were so much alike. It was scary. He nodded. "So if I ain't mistaken we have an hour till we get home, if ya have any questions now would be the time to ask em."
"How did ya know our names?" Emmett asked.
"I had a vision, it showed me that ya'll were related to me in different ways."
"Dude that's awesome! But you're not related to Pete." Emmett said.
"Not by blood and not by sword." She said cryptically. It really creeped me out.
"What the hell does that mean and how are ya related to him?" Emmett said.
Her eyes darkened. "A little by soul, a little by venom, and a little by heart, thou shalt know by blue moon's time." After that she snapped out of something and smiled, but she had something in her eye I couldn't quite place; it scared me.
"What the hell does that mean?" Emmett asked again irritated and perplexed. Even I didn't know what she meant, so it surprised me when I saw that the Major had a knowing look in his eye.
"Keep the secret, Grandfather. You must keep the secret." She said with a faraway look in her eye. He nodded. "So," she said brightening up, "next question!"
"How do you know bout vampires?"
"That's more of a fireside story and for when I know ya better. Don't ask 'bout what happened to the family either."
"What do you know 'bout me?" Jasper asked.
"Everything your sisters, your lover and your mother knew. I also read your journals, logs and every document with your name on it. Same with Em, it was required of me as the eldest and only daughter of my mother." Wow.
"Why?" I asked.
"That's story for another time."
"How'd you lie to me like that? No one's ever lied to me before and gotten away with it." Jasper asked.
"I used my shield to block emotions of deceit, that and I'm a VERY good liar." Laurel answered.
"Do you know how and why we all became vampires?" I asked.
"Yes, and who, though I wish I didn't. I had visions of what happened. It like I was you, and I could feel everything!" then she shivered and looked like she was in agony. I felt like an ass. Which I guess I was. "It's not your fault Peter! You didn't know, and those visions? It's something every woman in my family that had Whitlock and or McCarty blood runnin' through their veins has had! I don't EVER want feel such emotions comin' from ya again! It ain't yer fault and I have enough shit I gotta deal with I don't need yer emotions on top of mine. YOU ARE DRIVIN' ME CRAZY!" She was shaking at the end and Jasper pulled over. I got out of the car and unbuckled her seat belt. I took her out of her seat took her to mine and sat her in my lap as she cried. We were all shocked at how she had broken down like that. Emmett got in the front seat. We drove the last five miles in that position. Me rocking her and whispering her words of comfort and her crying in my lap.
When we got to the ranch she stopped and pulled away from me. She wiped her eyes and while she slipped out of the truck said, "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to ruin your shirt Peter. It won't happen again." Her tone was emotionless, it scared me. She pulled out a key and started walking around the house, I was confused.
"Where ya goin' poppet?" I asked.
She started laughing, but something was off in it. It was half a laugh. "Darlin' yer in Texas! In the South, only strangers come in the front door, and people ya don't like. Friends and family come in the back. Now that reminds me, none of ya can come out in public. Round we're superstitious folk, and we know what vampires look like even vegetarians. Until I get ya a good story, ya can't be seen. Especially at night." We nodded. "Now come with me, I have much to show Po- Jasper." We all noticed her slip before she did.
"What were ya bout to call me, sweetheart?" Jasper asked, concerned and curious.
"Ya look so much like my Poppa, ya walk, and talk and act like him. Ya look at me and talk to me like he did. I was 'bout to call ya Poppa. Please forgive my slip." She whispered knowing we could hear her.
"No, it's okay. You can call me that." Right then he took a deep breathe. "Laurel, there are two vampires in your house. Don't panic they won't hurt ya, they're-"here he was cut off by her laughing. "What's so funny?"
"That's my Ma and my brother Garrett! Coarse I know they're here." With that she ran to the back door then suddenly came to a halt. "Charlotte is the closest thing to a mother I have now. If they could've they would've adopted me. But they prefer to not exist that and- Never mind." Then she pressed her face against the house and mumbled so low I almost didn't hear, "Oh, how I have missed ye! Benedicite filii hanc domum!"(Bless this house's children!) She turned to us and said, "That was a password to get into the house. I didn't need it as I was not born in this house nor will Poppa need it, but Emmett and Peter will. Now that I have said the password Emmett and Peter may come and go as they please." She then unlocked the door and walked in.
Waiting for us were Charlotte and Garrett, Charlotte was my sister and Garrett was like a brother to me. Charlotte pulled Laurel in a hug. "Mama, I missed ya so much!" she said. Charlotte mumbled a 'me too' and let go to give Garrett his turn.
He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in front of him. "You're already as beautiful as your mother was, and ya have all the strength of your ancestors. I've missed ya so much baby girl!" with that he pulled her into a hug. After that he and Charlotte went to get her bags while Laurie took us on a tour.
"This here is the kitchen, and here is the livin' room." The living room had a huge flat screen T.V., a matching rich brown couch and loveseat with old quilts thrown over them, and a lot of antiques. Next she showed us the library, which took up half of the rest of the floor. The house was huge, in the early twenty's they had added an extra floor and an extra wing.
On the second floor were the bedrooms. There were four rooms two had their own bathrooms and the other two shared one. Garrett and Charlottes room was on this floor and so would Emmett's and Jasper's. She showed us two of the rooms, but didn't show us, obviously, Char's and Garrett's. But she didn't show us the fourth room.
"What's in the fourth room?" she froze when Emmett asked.
"That was my elder brother, Jasper's room. Never go in there without my permission."
Forgetting the rule on not asking about what happened to the family Jasper asked, "What happened to him?"
"He followed in your foots steps, every single god damned one." The last part she mumbled.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Jasper and Emmett both said.
"Ya should be." and then she walked up the stairs to the next floor. On the next floor was two more bedrooms, mine and Laurel's, Laurels office where she managed "Whitlock and McCarty affairs" as she put it. It also had an art room and another smaller library. There was an attic, too. But she said we weren't ready to see that yet. She also owned the McCarty ranch, which was where Emmett's family moved after his death. There were two houses, one in between the McCarty and the Whitlock houses and a log cabin at the very edge of the Whitlock property that she rented out as vacation homes. She had stocks in Target and Dell, which were doing quite well now. (I know nothin bout stocks at all, I don't even know if Target and Dell are doing well!)
"I do quite well for a twelve year old, my father had originally had stocks in Wal-Mart, but when I saw that they were starting to fail I pulled them out. This after he d-died." She smiled and told us to go get our bags and unpack so she could take a bath and check on a few things. She and this house have secrets and I was determined to learn what they were.
Laurel POV
After watching Peter, Emmett, and Jasper, who had just told me I could call him Poppa, leave to get their things I headed up to the attic. It was where we stored family relics, like Jasper and Emmett's belongings and other things that belonged to our ancestors. I was checked on everything making sure that it was in the right place and such, when I got a phone call. It was Christopher, the guy who took my place at business meetings and the guy who found me hotels and such when I traveled. He had worked with my dad, so he knew my tastes and such. My phone played Dixie whenever he called.
"Hello Chris! How are you?" I answered.
"Lovely, Miss Whitlock! And you?"
"Divine, thank you. And what do I owe this pleasure?"
"I wanted to let you know that I'm getting married and I'd like you to attend. You'll be getting an invite in a week or so. Will you attend?"
"Of course I will Chris! I'm so happy you and Paul finally tied the knot! Congrats Chris1" Paul was short for Paula. She and Chris were like elder siblings to me. Dad loved to travel a lot and Chris had a knack for being at the same place coincidentally. It was quite comical when it happened.
"Thanks, Miss Whitlock. I gotta go now, good bye and take care."
"You too, okay bye." And we hung up. I finished up in the attic and went down stairs to my room. I had my own bathroom. I closed the curtains on my window and drew up a nice bubbly bath, the like of which I haven't had in a very long time. I undressed then I slipped in moaning.
I dipped my head under water then rose up and breathed deeply. My bath was mixture several different soaps apple, wildflowers and lemons. I knew that if heaven had a scent it would be this. As I soaked in the tub I thought about the day, I came up with the conclusion that Peter knew I had several deep dark secrets and that he was determined to find them out. He would, but all in good time, all in good time. One other thing was also a guarantee, which was that he would know very soon. Very, very soon.