Thank you to aurike, Cashman626, Marshmellow, twilightstATu and music16 for your reviews.
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Alice walked into the living room and smiled when she saw her family all sitting together. Jasper was on one couch with Sierra resting with her head on his lap, sound asleep, and Oliver and Stella sat on another couch snuggled together. Brandon sat near Jasper's feet, and was discussing something with his brother as their mother entered the room.
"Hey sweetheart," Jasper murmured softly as soon as he saw her.
"Hey, you can still get her to sleep," Alice grinned as she walked over and sat down carefully beside them and nodded her head towards their daughter.
"I never understood what all the fuss was about," Jasper smirked. "She was always out in two minutes."
"Not all of us have your gift Jazz," Oliver laughed.
"Still it isn't that hard," Jasper shrugged.
"Not when she's daddy's girl anyway," Alice smiled softly. "She has been from the moment she was born."
"Actually, on that topic," Oliver murmured. "Mum, you told me once about the stuff Carlisle did so you could all have children. What did he do exactly?"
"I had to have a small procedure so I could conceive them," Alice told him. "Then I had to have it reversed after Jasper and I decided we didn't want more children after Sierra was born. Why do you ask?"
"Thinking of making your mother a grandmother?" Jasper teased.
"Maybe," Oliver murmured and glanced at Stella. Alice's eyes went wide but Stella turned and frowned at Oliver.
"We haven't talked about that," Stella whispered.
"I know," Oliver nodded. "I was just wondering how it all happened before we did."
"You're seriously thinking about this?" Alice asked excitedly.
"I'm seriously thinking Stell and I need to talk about it," Oliver nodded.
"There's no need," Stella said firmly. "It isn't happening."
"What?" Oliver frowned as he turned to look at her and Jasper could feel his disappointment. "You don't want kids?"
"Nope," Stella answered instantly.
"Ever?" Oliver asked.
"Ever," Stella nodded.
"It isn't a decision you need to make right away," Alice interrupted. "You've only been married a short time. Jazz and I had been married for over sixty years before we had Brandon."
"Six years, sixty years, I won't change my mind," Stella said firmly.
"Even if it's what I want?" Oliver asked angrily.
"I said no, never!" Stella growled furiously and jumped to her feet and a wave of lust suddenly spread through the room.
"Stell, calm down," Oliver groaned as soon as he felt it and he jumped up and grabbed her arms. "You're losing it babe."
"I know," Stella gasped and rested her forehead on his chest as she struggled to pull her projection back under control.
"Look, if it upsets you that much we won't talk about it again," Oliver sighed.
"I'm sorry Oliver, I just can't," Stella whispered her head still buried on him.
"Okay," Oliver murmured, knowing she felt strongly about something when she lost control like she just had.
"Stella, I know it's really none of our business," Jasper sighed. "But I'm getting fear from you right now. What are you afraid of?"
"Not me?" Oliver frowned as he looked down at her.
"I'd never be afraid of you," Stella smiled up at him.
"Then what is it?" Oliver whispered.
"You inherited your mother's gift," Stella whispered. "And Brandon and See inherited their father's gift."
"So?" Oliver frowned and then suddenly both his and Alice's eyes glazed over quickly.
"Oh," they both gasped as they saw what the problem was.
"Isn't that annoying," Jasper smirked at Stella and she smiled despite the situation. "Do you want to share with me, since I have no idea what is going on?"
"Stella is worried if she has a baby it will inherit her gift," Alice explained quickly.
"And I won't let anyone else live with something like this," Stella added quietly. "Especially my own child."
"There is no guarantee it would Stell," Oliver sighed. "It could inherit mine or none at all."
"But there is a chance," Stella whispered. "You didn't know me back then but I was a complete bitch until I learnt how to harness it properly."
"You weren't a bitch Stella," Alice argued.
"Really?" Stella smirked. "I tried to steal your husband and you almost got raped because of me."
"No, that was Vincent's fault," Alice said firmly. "Stella, sweetheart. If this is your only reason for not wanting a child it isn't a good enough one. It may not even be an issue and if it is all of us will help it control its projections."
"It took me over a hundred years," Stella sighed.
"But you didn't have a loving and nurturing environment to do it in like your child would," Alice argued. "As soon as you got into such an environment what did it take you? Ten years?"
"About," Stella shrugged.
"I'd be able to help Stella," Jasper offered. "And Brandon and See could too. We can counteract the effects."
"We would make it work Stell," Oliver added.
"Do I even get a say in it?" Stella whispered. "What are you going to do, hold me down and get Carlisle to do it even if I don't agree? I said no, and I meant it. I don't care if we could help it. I won't bring someone into the world that has the risk of living like this, I can't!"
"Stell…" Oliver argued.
"I said no!" Stella yelled and jumped to her feet and raced from the room.
XXX
Jackson had taken Angel, Letty and Lucas hunting and once they were all sated the group began to make its way back towards the house. They were following the river bed that ran near the house and Lucas and Angel began to have a competition, jumping from rock to rock through the water. They were laughing and having fun and Jackson was pleased to see his niece enjoying herself. He glanced at Letty by his side and noticed the wistful look on her face as she watched her sister and Lucas frolicking.
"Why don't you join them?" Jackson suggested. "You don't need to hang back with the old one."
"You aren't that old Uncle," Letty smiled.
"Still, you can go play," Jackson assured her.
"No, that's okay," Letty murmured as she glanced at the other two in front of them. "I'd rather walk with you."
"Are you okay Lett?" Jackson asked softly.
"Angel is pretty isn't she?" Letty responded.
"She is," Jackson agreed, his eyes now locked on his youngest niece. "And so are you. The two of you are very beautiful girls."
"But people like her more," Letty murmured.
"What people?" Jackson frowned. "I love you both the same."
"You don't count Uncle," Letty laughed softly.
"I don't?" Jackson echoed and glanced at the two young people in front of them and suddenly Letty's questions clicked in his mind. "Oh Letty. Do you like Lucas?"
"It doesn't matter," Letty mumbled as her cheeks flushed.
"Lett, they are only friends," Jackson smiled at her.
"I don't want to talk about it," Letty whispered.
"Okay sweetheart," Jackson said, backing off instantly. "But if you ever do you can always come to me."
"I know," Letty nodded and slipped back into silence as she watched her sister and Lucas play. Jackson watched her carefully for the rest of the trip home, not sure how he felt about the baby of their family having a romantic interest in a boy. By the time they reached the house he decided to keep Letty's revelations to himself for the time being, knowing the last thing she needed was Rosalie's interfering or Emmett's protectiveness.
XXX
"Stella, wait!" Oliver yelled as he dashed through the trees, struggling to keep up with his wife. "Stell, can we talk, please?"
"There isn't anything left to say," Stella sighed but stopped and turned to face him.
"There is a lot to say," Oliver replied as he caught up to her. "I'm sorry I brought that up in front of my family. I didn't realise you would be so strongly against it."
"I had no idea you were having those kinds of thoughts," Stella whispered.
"I know," Oliver nodded. "I should have spoken to you alone before raising the topic with my family."
"It's okay," Stella sighed.
"Did you really mean it Stell?" Oliver whispered. "That you never want children?"
"I told you why Oliver," Stella murmured.
"Yeah I know," Oliver nodded. "And I get it. But like Jasper said, we could help them. And they may not even inherit your gift."
"I can't run the risk," Stella argued. "You know what a struggle it is for me Oliver, you know what it is like. I don't want our child to live this way."
"Okay," Oliver sighed, noticing how upset Stella was getting. "I'll drop it."
"I'm sorry Oliver," Stella whispered.
"It doesn't matter Stell," Oliver murmured as he pulled her into his arms but both of them knew that it did and the topic was far from over.
XXX
After they returned to the house Lucas and Angel settled in the kids' living area and invited Letty to join them but she just mumbled something about needing to find Sierra and raced off. Lucas grabbed a pack of cards and they settled on the floor at the coffee table and began a game of poker. The game soon became boring though, and they just sat back chatting lightly and laughing about the fun they had on their hunting trip earlier.
As Angel laughed, a stray strand of hair fell into her eyes and before she could push it aside Lucas reached over and gently smoothed it away.
"Thank you," Angel murmured, suddenly shy.
"You're welcome," Lucas smiled at her. Angel looked up at him and their eyes locked and then Lucas leaned towards her. Angel felt her breath hitch a little as she leaned closer to him and their lips met softly. They tasted each other for a moment and then deepened the kiss as Lucas moved his arms around her. A sudden wave of hurt and anger flooded the room, breaking the spell between them and they parted quickly.
"Brandon!" Angel gasped as her eyes locked on their friend, stood frozen in the living room doorway.
"Hey bro," Lucas smiled at him.
"Sorry," Brandon mumbled and turned on his heels and raced from the room.
"He has great timing," Lucas teased.
"Yeah he does," Angel sighed but she knew the sight of her kissing Lucas had hurt Brandon a lot.
XXX
When he reached the bottom of the stairs Brandon was thankful the rest of the family were nowhere to be seen. He could sense the kitchen was empty and he raced through it and straight out the back door. All he wanted to do was get as far away from Lucas and Angel as he could yet as he ran into the forest all he could see in his head was his best friend's lips locked with the lips of the girl he loved.
He ran and ran, wanting to put as much distance as he could between himself and the house and he was miles away from the house before he slowed his steps a little. He had run all the way to a small clearing near a still lake and, although he didn't know it, this very spot had been his parents' getaway spot many years before.
He let out a frustrated growl as he walked to the water's edge and he glanced up at the hot sun before sinking down to sit on a stone by the water. His mind was that engrossed with the image of Lucas and Angel kissing that he didn't sense the approach of another vampire until she spoke.
"Well, hello there," the husky voice murmured from behind him.
"Umm, hi," Brandon mumbled as he turned, his eyes taking in the stranger. She was the first vampire he had met outside the family and he remembered Jasper and Alice's warnings that not all of their kind was good.
"Relax," the woman whispered. "I mean you no harm. I sensed your presence and wanted to introduce myself. I am Candice."
"I'm Brandon," Brandon replied, still wary of the stranger.
"It's nice to meet you," Candice smiled and walked closer towards him. "It has been so long since I have met any of our kind."
"You travel alone?" Brandon asked.
"I do," Candice nodded. "And you?"
"I have a large family," Brandon explained. "Normally there are six of us but right now our extended coven is gathered."
"And how many are in that?" Candice asked with interest.
"Seventeen," Brandon smirked.
"Wow, that is a huge coven," Candice giggled. "There is something different about you though. Something I have never sensed in one of our kind." She tilted her head to the side for a moment as her deep red eyes gazed at him and then suddenly her eyes went wide.
"You have a heartbeat!" she gasped.
"I do," Brandon whispered.
"But your scent tells me you are a vampire," Candice murmured.
"I am," Brandon nodded. "Well, kind of. I am a half breed. There are a few of us in my coven."
"How interesting," Candice smiled. "How does that happen?" Brandon began to explain it and as he did Candice moved closer to him until she was sitting right beside him. She was listening to him intently and he could hardly believe his luck that the gorgeous woman at his side was intrigued by him.