Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Italics for thoughts (Edward can hear it if he's present)

Stages of forms

Tiger: first form (actual tiger)

Tigris: second form (were-tiger, like werewolves, larger than actual animal)

Taiga: third form (cat ears, tail, more tiger musculature, fur, full canines, paws)

Tigam: fourth form (half and half, humanoid form, light fur, tail, nearly full canines, paws)

Tegamen: fifth form (mostly humanoid, no fur, stripes marking the skin and claws and longer canines)

Higar: sixth form (human but with cat senses and scent, regeneration and able streak mind)

Human: seventh form (completely human)

Chapter 9

Embracing Change

"Demetri!" I sang and jumped into his arms, which tightened around me. He breathed in my scent and I felt him relax slightly. He held me away from him for a moment his eyes closed and I brushed my fingers gently over his face though it had not changed since I had seen him last. He moved me to his left and slightly behind him and I rolled my eyes, overprotective uncles. Knelling in front of a startled and confused Carlisle he clenched his fist to his unbeating heart.

"I am forever indebted to you. I had thought I had lost my sweet angel." His voice cracked with emotion and my face fell. Again I had been thoughtless and harmed one of the few that I loved. I crumpled to the floor and wrapped my arms around him tears flowing freely.

"You are most welcome though there is no need for that." Carlisle answered still confused by the events unfolding on his door step. Demetri wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the floor. I gasped and curled into him hiding my face in his chest. "Please come in." Carlisle said ushering Demetri into his home.

"Come now." Demetri said as he sat his eyes looking into mine as I stared into his face. His fingers brushed away my tears. "You are truly beautiful in this." He said and I blushed and pushed myself away from him with a playful frown.

"Forgive me?" I asked sitting next to him, he nodded and kissed my palm. I smiled happily and hugged him once more. "I have truly been horrible to those I love lately." I commented as my eyes flickered about the room. Edward smiled and sat down closer to me. Demetri's eyes scrutinized Edward intensely and I smacked his arm as hard as I could manage. Earning a smile from Demetri as he rubbed his arm I rolled my eyes.

"Still spirited I see." Demetri stated laughing I smiled as I shook my head.

"Forgive him he's nothing but an old cat." I said moving slightly closer to Edward. Demetri immediately pulled me back to his side.

"Is this the one you pick Kitten?" he asked using my father's name for me and I blushed nodding. Edward smile at me and I smiled back. "Well now how to being this speech." He said and I looked at him in dread, oh not this! Anything but this. I hid behind my hands as he began to speak. "I'll go for Charles' words. Do you promise on your lives... I guess existence works better... to protect and love my little Kitten for all of time? Treating her with respect and honour while making her smile?" I gazed at Demetri.

"Did he truly say that?" I asked and he nodded, happy tears ran down my face as I thought of my loving father. I leaned my head on Demetri's shoulder as my thoughts strayed to common memories of my father.

"I do. I swear on all that I love." Edward answered and Demetri chuckled.

"My answer exactly." He said the tension beginning to lift from the room. Taking my face in his hands Demetri brought me fully back to where I was sitting. "Only you would chose vampires over the clan and survive it." He said kissing my head.

"How is it possible?" I asked once he released me. "Should I not be in the first form? Or dead, I am not as she is. I don't have her strength!" I said confused and aware of our audience. I looked at them and blushed before looking down at my hands.

"You have far more strength than that banshee." Demetri comment and I giggled. His tone was always as if he were speaking of a low ranked male when he spoke of her.

"Talk like that and if she ever sees you she'll have the clan skin you." I said still highly amused by my uncle.

"I'd love to see her try!" he said enjoying this conversation as much as I was.

"I believe that there is something vital the rest of us are missing." Carlisle stated and both of us became more serious. "How do you know each other?" he asked and we both looked at each other and giggled like morons.

"Forgive us!" I said regaining my faculties before Demetri. "He is my uncle. Well my father's brother. Though no longer clan... though neither am I... He is my uncle." I concluded oddly trying to find the best words. Demetri looked amused but said nothing.

"How is that possible? You are not exactly close in age." Rose stated looking very uncomfortable. I looked at Demetri and he shrugged.

"Thanks for the help." I said rolling my eyes, "It is true I am much newer to this form than he is, but considering that we are not impossibly separated in age. I am much older than I appear." I explained while thinking of a way to say this. "I am only 7 years to this form..."

"And yet she has mastered this form!" Demetri said proud of me and I smiled back at him. It was with his help that I have achieved anything.

"I am not as I appear. I am..." I started looking at my uncle who nodded. "I am Tiger." I finished and it was clear that I had not explained myself at all. "I am what you would consider to be a were-tiger?" I said and there was much more understanding.

"So you're a were-tiger?" Emmet asked clearly amused I nodded and tilted my head wondering why he repeated me. "And your 7 years old?" again I nodded wondering what he was getting at. Edward growled and it was apparent that Emmet was making some kind of lude joke.

"Emmet!" Edward shouted and I smiled at the family dynamic and leaned into Demetri it was clear he was thinking the same thing I was. Clearing his throat Edward turned to us. "I can no longer hear your thoughts Demetri." He stated.

"Of course not!" I said giggling, "Tigers would be gone if you or any other could read us!" I said highly amused, "You notice his eyes are a different colour it is the part of the clan that remains with him though he can no longer shift. Keeping the clan from being known is high law." I said looking down, one that I had kind of wavered on.

"So it is because of what you told me that these events came to play?" Carlisle asked sounding pained I shook my head adamantly.

"No! I over reacted. Renátka would never have exiled me... well not right away. I didn't wish to live alone and so..." I said letting my voice fade as my eyes moved from Demetri and Edward to the others. "It was because of that that she forced my hand but I understood that she had assigned me this task to be rid of me." I said and Demetri wrapped his arms around me.

"I wish that you had phoned me earlier. But your mother has always been a foolish power hungry woman." He stated and everyone seemed appalled.

"She is your mother?" Esme asked anger in her voice as I nodded. Rose looked just as upset about hearing that my mother had done this. "How horrible for you!" Esme cried as Carlisle wrapped his arms around her.

"Renátka has hated Bella since she saw the colour of her fur." Demetri said pride filling his words. I bumped him with my shoulder and he smiled down on me. "You were truly a sight young one." I beamed up at him.

"Yeah but how much trouble has it caused me since, I mean if I had been blue and white instead of blue and black she might have been able to accept me." I said echoing old words, I had made my choice to honour my father I would not regret that now, not ever.

"Blue and black?" Alice asked looking confused.

"I was born as a tiger, the first form of my kind." I answered and her eyes popped open a bit. "I have only been human the final form for 7 years." Everyone seemed to take this in and Edward looked a little relieved, "Wouldn't want me if I were but 7 Edward?" I teased and he smiled at me.

"I have to admit it is a bit of a relief that you are not quite so young." He said his voice light but truthful.

"My Kitten is 481 this year." He said proud of me. I smiled at him. The rest of the Cullens' looked shocked and more than a little confused.

"There are 7 forms, it took me a little longer to make it the human form as my mother didn't screen my fights and I lost many to those desiring to improve their standings in the clan." I said bitter but accepting. I had learned the hard way that dedication and intelligence were needed in all battles. It was through the battles I failed that I learned the most.

"So you were fighting much stronger opponents?" Jasper asked and I nodded.

"It was not fun to die so continually." I said and shrugged again everyone stared at me in confusion. "You know the old saying a cat has nine lives... well I have a few more than that. Thank Bast that I was able to keep my form." I said it would have been impossible to move forward if each time I died I reverted to the first form like most.

"So you can't die?" Emmet asked and I tilted my head and smiled.

"That would be sweet but no I can die but it is more of a choice than anything else. If you were to kill me now I would appear again different but the same. But don't please if I go to a nest Renátka I will not be pleased." I said as a look passed over his features. I blushed then and looked at Edward.

"You never were one to hold a grudge Kitten." Demetri said laughing and everyone else was confused.

"We have met before." I clarified and Edward shook his head.

"I would remember you." He said and I smiled as Demetri laughed.

"I was a tiger in a section of forest in the Amazon are numbers were too large and we were beginning to impact on the wild life near us. It was August 8th 1947 I didn't run from you." I said and Edward's face turned into a mask of horror. I giggle as I closed his mouth with my finger. "It was not an unpleasant death." His eyes flashed to mine and looked as though he didn't believe me. "I saw the most beautiful angel and he took me in his arms." I said smiling. "I don't think I even resisted you." Edward looked happy and upset.

"What a horrible way to meet me." He said looking ashamed.

"It was odd to be attacked by a vampire, when I was told you would only go for people. And then to meet you again and have you have golden eyes and yet you longed again to consume me. Rather confusing but amusing." I said and Demetri chuckled.

"Even for a Tiger you have no instinct for self preservation." He said and I turned and smacked him to which he only laughed louder.

"I just don't see the point in fearing something that is. Or how reverting is the correct action." I shrugged and Edward shook his head.

"Demetri how do you hide yourself amongst the Volturi?" Carlisle asked turning the attention away from me, I smiled gratefully at him.

"I am Tiger, when my eyes show my ancestry my thoughts and actions are hidden. When I had the red eyes of the Volturi my mind is open but that of a loyal servant. When this one called me I realised that no matter the value of having a Tiger in the guard I wish to be with my Kitten. Since she is apart of your family now I ask to join you." Demetri said his eyes moving from me to Carlisle. I was happy to have Demetri with me but I was not sure if he could handle the change of diet and lifestyle it would require.

"I would be honoured to have you join our family. But it would require a great deal of change." Carlisle said both happy to have some one desire to join his family. Demetri nodded.

"I am willing to try my best to adapt to my old food source." He said and Carlisle nodded both smiled. "If my Kitten desires me by her side?" he asked and I rolled my eyes and pounced on him.

"No! Leave now!" I said laughing; I could have a part of my family and not have to choose between him and Edward. I was overjoyed. Everyone joined in and eventually calmed, probably thanks to Jasper.