Thank you to deltagirl74, musica1514, jilly611, aurike, Emma the Kishin, Lindsabelle, Marshmellow, ja4ever and alisonchristina127 for your reviews.
Some people have asked in the past about visuals for the characters in these stories. I have done up a visual for this story for how I see the characters (see the link in my profile).
Emma the Kishin- thanks for the congrats on my VA story. I've been wanting to do an Adrian story for ages so decided why not?
Lindsabelle- The children would all look like young adults (see the visuals). In Bitter Sunrise I said they mature quickly until they reach 21 then stop aging. Their actual ages are- Renesmee 22, Brandon 20 (nearly 21), Angelica 20, Sierra 20, Letty and Lucas (19 but their 20th birthday is only a few days away and will appear in the next couple of chapters).
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As the car crossed over the state lines into Washington Alice glanced in the back seat where Brandon and Sierra were snuggled together sound asleep. They had stopped two hours earlier to get food for the two children and they had been asleep ever since.
"I can't help but remember them as babies when they are like that," Alice whispered in a low voice as she looked over at Jasper.
"They are still our babies sweetheart," Jasper smiled at her.
"But they are fully grown now," Alice sighed. "Brandon will be twenty one this year. He's an adult now."
"He will be your baby when he's a hundred and twenty one," Jasper smirked.
"I know," Alice grinned and her words cut off as her eyes glazed over.
"What do you see?" Jasper asked instantly.
"Carlisle, Esme, Edward and the others have arrived at the house in Forks," Alice smiled excitedly. "Emmett and Rose and their family will arrive there soon. Everyone will be there by the time we arrive."
"We are only about an hour away," Jasper pointed out.
"I can barely wait," Alice giggled and Jasper laughed as he reached over and took her hand in his.
XXX
"It hasn't changed a bit," Bella murmured as she and Esme stood in front of the house in Forks as Edward, Carlisle and Lucas collected their bags from the rental car's trunk.
"No, it hasn't," Esme agreed.
"Do you remember this house?" Bella asked as she turned to where Renesmee was standing a few steps behind them.
"Of course I do Mom," Renesmee grinned and turned and glanced at the line of trees behind them.
"Jacob said he would be here and he will," Bella smiled assuringly. Over the past twenty years Renesmee and Jacob had stayed in contact via phone and the internet and had met in neutral areas for holidays, always chaperoned by Edward, Carlisle or Lucas. However this was the first time Renesmee had visited Forks since she was a little girl and Bella knew how much her daughter was looking forward to seeing Jacob on his home ground.
"We should get inside and prepare the house for the others," Esme smiled and Bella nodded her head in agreement.
The three women entered the house and the men followed with all their luggage. In no time at all Esme, Renesmee and Bella had removed the dust sheets and opened the windows and the house looked like they had never left. When they were finished they walked into the living room where Edward, Carlisle and Lucas were sitting.
"Someone is approaching," Bella murmured. "I can hear the tyres on the gravel."
"It's Emmett and Rose and their family," Edward grinned, easily able to see their thoughts now they were so close. The group got up and moved out the front just as Emmett pulled up outside the house. The front door quickly opened and Rosalie jumped out, a huge grin on her face.
"Esme!" Rosalie gasped and rushed over to hug the woman who had been like a mother to her for so many years. They hugged tightly and by the time Rosalie let Esme go, Emmett, Jackson, Angel and Letty had all climbed out of the car. Emmett and Jackson rushed over to join Rosalie in greeting the others but the two younger girls hung back shyly.
"My gosh, they have grown so much!" Esme gasped as her eyes finally landed on Angel and Letty.
"So have Nessie and Lucas," Rosalie smiled. As Bella, Esme and Rosalie began to chat lightly about their children, Emmett walked to the trunk of the car and opened it and Edward laughed when he saw all the baggage.
"Boy, am I glad I only have one girl," Edward teased.
"He nearly didn't get it all in," Jackson laughed.
"Ha ha, comedians," Emmett growled playfully. "You could help me get it all inside?"
"Nope," Jackson smirked.
"Isn't that your job Emmett?" Edward asked with a serious look on his face.
"Stop teasing your brother," Carlisle laughed. "Of course we will help." Emmett started to pull the bags from the trunk and handed them to Jackson, Carlisle and Edward and they began to carry everything inside.
When Edward walked back out of the house to get another load he stopped for a moment at the scene in front of him. Esme, Bella and Rosalie were still engrossed in their conversation and Renesmee had drifted over to join them. Letty and Angel stood by the car together and Lucas sat on the stairs, his eyes locked on the two girls.
"Lucas, how about giving us a hand?" Edward suggested as he stopped by the boy who was like a baby brother to him.
"Yeah sure," Lucas mumbled and got to his feet and followed Edward to the back of the car but Edward noticed his eyes were still locked on Angel. He could see Lucas's thoughts and the very knowledge filled him with dread.
"Luc, forget it," Edward whispered as he passed a suitcase to him. "Emmett would skin you alive if he knew you were having such thoughts about one of his girls."
"But Edward, I didn't….." Lucas stammered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"I know you don't mean any harm," Edward sighed. "You haven't been around many girls your own age. But pursuing anything with Angel would be suicide little brother."
Lucas nodded his head miserably and Edward felt sorry for the younger boy but he knew it was safer for Lucas to stay right away from Angel. Lucas grabbed another case and turned and walked back to the house and as he passed the girls his eyes connected with Angel's.
"Hi," Angel smiled broadly. "I'm Angel, this is Letty."
"Hi," Lucas mumbled and without stopping he fled into the house.
XXX
Emmett and the other guys had just finished carrying in the last of the bags from his car when the sound of another approaching car filled the air.
"It's Jasper and Alice," Edward told the others and despite his normally reserved personality everyone could see how excited he was at the prospect of seeing Alice again.
The two cars carrying the Whitlock family appeared through the trees and came to a stop in front of the group. With lightening speed the front door opened, Alice jumped out and gave a squeal, and launched herself towards Edward. He caught her easily and they hugged tightly as Edward lifted Alice off the ground and spun her in his arms.
"Oh Edward, I missed you so much!" Alice trilled in her thoughts.
"I missed you too," Edward whispered.
"Can you believe it has been twenty years?" Alice thought, her arms still locked around his neck. "It barely feels like a year."
"I know," Edward nodded and finally set her back on her feet.
"Can you two at least say hello to everyone before you start that annoying communication of yours," Rosalie teased as she stepped up behind them and Alice turned and grinned at her.
"Rose!" she squealed and the two women embraced tightly.
Oliver and Stella got out of the second car and joined Alice as she moved through the family, hugging and greeting each person. As they did, Jasper got out of the car with Sierra and Brandon and the two children moved closer to their father.
"I don't remember half of these people," Sierra whispered.
"Of course you don't," Brandon smirked. "You were only a baby when the family split."
"The woman your mother is hugging is Esme, your grandmother," Jasper explained quietly. "Beside her is Carlisle, your grandfather and the leader of our original coven. The next couple is Edward and Bella and the girl beside them is their daughter Renesmee, Nessie. You know Lucas of course, and Angel and Letty. The guy next to Letty is their uncle, Jackson. And the last couple you know by voice, that's Uncle Emmett and Aunty Rose."
"There are so many of them," Sierra whispered.
"You'll work it out soon enough," a voice said and they turned and noticed Angel had moved closer to them.
"Angel, Letty!" Sierra grinned and walked over and hugged her cousins.
Out of all the families it was the Whitlocks and McCartys that had stayed closest. Emmett and Rosalie had visited Jasper and Alice the first few years apart and in recent years Angel and Letty had visited their cousins often. Angel and Sierra were the best of friends and Letty was like a little sister to Sierra.
"How about we get everyone inside and settled," Esme suggested as all the friendly greetings eased off a little.
"Good idea," Alice nodded. Jasper walked to the car and the other men helped him unload all the luggage and then the family moved into the house to settle in for their month together again.
XXX
Esme busied herself making sure everyone had rooms and all too soon everyone was settled. Carlisle and Esme had their old room, as did Emmett and Rosalie, Jasper and Alice, and Oliver and Stella. Edward and Bella settled into Edward's old room and Renesmee took the spare room next to them, while Jackson took the last spare room at the end of the hall. Esme settled the children in the old attic apartment that had been Jasper and Alice's, with Sierra in her old room, Lucas and Brandon sharing Brandon's old room and Letty and Angel in Jasper and Alice's old room.
Once everyone was settled in their rooms they met back up in the living room and Renesmee told Edward and Bella she had spoken to Jacob and was meeting him at the treaty line. Edward started to protest but Bella stepped in and gave Renesmee permission to go. Before Edward could change Bella's mind Renesmee rushed from the house, eager to catch up with Jacob again.
"I've noticed some of us have some black eyes," Carlisle pointed out. "How about a family hunting trip?"
"That's sounds good," Jackson grinned.
"I'm in," Emmett smirked and turned to look at Jasper. "Come join us? We can make it a little competition."
"You're on," Jasper nodded eagerly.
"They are not even together an hour and already they are at it again," Rosalie groaned playfully.
"I know," Alice laughed.
"Are you coming sweetheart?" Jasper asked as he looked at Alice.
"I'll stay here," Alice smiled at him. "But go have fun with the boys."
It was decided that Carlisle, Edward, Emmett, Jasper, Lucas, Jackson and Oliver would head out together and a second group, made up of Bella, Esme, Stella, Angel and Letty, decided to go hunting too. Once the two groups had left only Rosalie, Alice, Brandon and Sierra remained in the living room.
"I guess we'll leave the two of you to catch up," Brandon said as he looked at his aunt and mother.
"Before you do," Alice said firmly. "Sit down, both of you." Brandon and Sierra glanced at each other nervously, recognising the tone of Alice's voice, but they both sat on the couch opposite her and Rosalie.
"You're angry Mom," Sierra sighed, picking up on Alice's emotions easily.
"Yes, I am," Alice nodded. "I couldn't say anything before we left Denali or your father would have ruined the entire trip with his overprotectiveness. We made it very clear last time that you were not to go to nightclubs again. You may look like adults but you aren't yet."
"I'll be twenty one in six months," Brandon argued.
"And then you can chose to do what you want," Alice sighed. "But until then you will do what we say. And you certainly shouldn't be taking your younger sister to a place like that."
"We don't do anything wrong," Sierra pouted.
"Those clubs are filled with humans, and alcohol," Alice pointed out.
"We always go hunting first," Brandon argued. "And we don't drink."
"We only go to dance Mom," Sierra added.
"That's beside the point," Alice sighed. "Your father and I forbid you to go and you went behind our backs and did it anyway. Did you really think I wouldn't see it?"
"I suppose it was a little stupid," Brandon mumbled.
"Very stupid!" Alice corrected.
"We won't do it again," Sierra promised, her eyes wide and innocent as the looked at Alice.
"That works on your father, not me Sierra Whitlock," Alice scolded. "For the next week you are both confined to the house except for hunting. And that must be done with myself or Oliver."
"But Mom…." Sierra whined.
"Would you like to make it two weeks?" Alice asked darkly.
"No," Sierra pouted.
"Good, now go upstairs so your aunt and I can talk," Alice added and Sierra turned and flounced up the stairs. Brandon started to follow her and then turned back to look at Alice when he got to the foot of the stairs.
"Mom, I'm sorry," he said sincerely.
"Yeah, I know you are," Alice nodded and Brandon gave her a smile before disappearing up the stairs.
"They snuck out to a club?" Rosalie asked in amusement once they were alone.
"Yes and it isn't the first time," Alice sighed. "I don't know where they get their adventurousness from."
"Oh, really?" Rosalie smirked. "Seems to me they are a lot like their mother."
"You're right," Alice laughed. "Did you ever think the day would come when I would sound like I did just then?"
"Never," Rosalie laughed. "I guess we have all changed a lot."
"But that doesn't mean we can't still have fun ourselves," Alice grinned cheekily. "What do you think about planning a shopping trip to Seattle really soon?"
"I like it," Rosalie smirked and they settled back as they began to discuss which shops they would visit and what items they wanted to buy.