WARNING: THIS CHAPTER IS VERY POORLY BETA-D BY YOURS TRULY. heh.
There is a big storm coming through and I literally skimmed through this whole thing. Don't know the outcome of this storm, they are saying its bad so I wanted to put this chapter up before or if I lose power for who knows how long (please, please, please let it just pass through!) anyways, it's extra long so that should make up for the un-beta ness!
It was a rainy Tuesday during my Sophomore year of High School when my biology class went out into the woods behind our school, writing notes on the plant life. As my friend Jessica and I went out further than we were supposed we found a mother-less white tailed fawn huddle by a tree, protecting itself from the rain. I immediately went and got our teacher, Mr. Banner who came with his coat, wrapping the baby fawn up in his leather jacket.
I followed him all the way back to the High School, even when the bell had rung for the end of the day. The fawn was shaking, his white spotted coat glistening from the rain. He was scared, nervous and every time Mr. Banner touched him he flinched. The fawn made scared little noises that broke my heart as I watched Mr. Banner dry him off.
We then realized that he was actually a she.
"What should we name her?" Mr. Banner asked.
I didn't miss a beat.
"Bambi." I smiled inwardly and Mr. Banner laughed. It wasn't original by any means but it was appropriate.
For the next two weeks I woke up extra early and stayed extra late, caring for Bambi with Mr. Banner at the school. He taught me how to feed her and groom her and once she had grown used to us, she became playful and blissful. She jumped and hopped around the class room and every morning when I came to feed her she made a little noise as if to tell me good morning and that she had missed me.
She was growing fast and before I knew it her head was up to my waist. It was then that school had warned Mr. Banner that even though she has been educational for the students, she was too big for the classroom.
I cried when he informed me we were releasing her into the wild. I didn't think she was ready. She was too young, too inexperienced. She would get hurt out there.
"She will know what to do." He told me, nodding his head. He said that her instincts will kick in. She will find a group and join them and she will be happier out in the wild then stuck in this classroom. That still did not stop the tears.
I went with him to the woods that next day, taking Bambi to the very same place we found her in. Not far was a herd of her kind, feeding on the grass in the meadow beyond the trees. Their ears were perked, some of them shifting away as if we were a threat. Bambi was cautious, sniffing around the area.
She had then, let out a joyful noise and hopped around the woods. She ate the grass on the ground and ran into the meadow, the other deer watching her carefully but allowing her to feed with them.
We watched her for awhile and suddenly I felt the warm tears down my cheeks. And then I realized, I wasn't crying because I was sad. But because I was so filled with happiness that I couldn't contain the tears in.
Three years later, I was crying happy tears for a different reason.
Seeing Alec was like seeing Bambi running in the meadow with her kind, but so much better. I held onto him tight, hoping he wasn't a figment of my imagination that he was really here. He held me back and it seemed as if my heart could burst with so much joy. We talked and talked and talked until the run went down. I told him how much I missed him, how much I miss our home, but how happy I am in Hilo. He smiled and hugged me, telling me he's missed me more than anything in the world. I did not doubt him for a second.
When he left the second night, I thanked Edward again and again, kissing and holding him until he pressed his teeth into the crease of my neck and shoulder. I fell asleep right after, not waking until the sun rose high in the sky.
Edward was next to me, touching my face as my eyes fluttered open.
"Good morning." He whispered.
"Happy Thanksgiving." I smiled, wrapping my arms around his neck. He smirked and kissed my lips gently, brushing my hair behind my neck.
"Happy Thanksgiving, to you too. What are you thankful for this year?" He asked me, a playful eyebrow raising as he skimmed his fingers down my sides.
"You. Everything. Everything about you." I sighed contently, digging myself into his chest as I snuggled my head under his chin. "I'm thankful for how good you are to me. How happy I am with you."
"That's a lot to be thankful for." He said, running his fingers down my spine. He leaned his head down, his lips at the top of my head as he whispered into my hair.
"I'm thankful for you." He said, bringing me closer to him. We laid like that for awhile, holding and kissing until Edward had paused, his body frozen as I looked up to him.
"What is it?" I asked, my heart stopping for just a mere second as if something was wrong. He had then proceeded to smile, looking down at me as he kissed my chin. Just then, the front door had knocked and I sat up slightly, looking down to him.
"I think you should go and answer that." He told me with a sly smile. I squinted my eyes at him as if to tell him what are you up to? He shrugged and pushed me off the bed, watching as I walked out to the living room.
I walked to the front door, opening it just slightly to be face to face with a small girl with jet black hair and big hazel eyes. And if my heart couldn't take anymore happiness, this would be the end of me. Both Alice and I screamed as we knocked into each other, hugging so tightly as tears streamed down my eyes.
We pulled away, both of us speaking at the same time at a million miles per hour. We laughed and hugged again, holding tightly.
"There's my girl!" Emmett hollered as he wrapped his arms around both Alice and I, all three of us in a group hug. I was crying so hard now, so overjoyed and happy that I felt like it was only a dream.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, the three of us letting go.
"Spending Thanksgiving with you, of course!" Alice squealed as Jasper walked up behind her, passing her by to scoop me into a hug.
"It's so good to see you, Bella." He held on tightly, but not too tight. I cried some more, telling him how happy I was to see him. Rosalie was next, kissing my cheeks and wiping away my tears.
"No tears tonight." She told me with a smile.
"I'm just so happy to see you guys." I laughed, feeling her cold fingers over my cheeks again.
"Edward." Rosalie nodded her head behind me and I turned to see Edward who was leaning against the leather couch, watching with a smile on his face. He nodded to her and I broke my stance and ran to him, allowing him to catch me. He pulled me away with a smile, his arms still around my waist.
"You are the absolute best." I told him, planting a huge kiss onto his lips. He pulled away from me, smugly as he shrugged his shoulders. "Thank you." I whispered, the tears still falling. He wiped them away, kissing my forehead.
"Bella!" Alice squealed, running to me as she waiting for Edward to let me go. He gave her my hand, the two exchanging a smile as my heart swelled even more. "Do you realize how long the trip was to here? Nearly ten hours. Ten hours! I was on the plane for nine of that!"
"Alice, I've missed you." I laughed, jumping on her again for a hug.
"Edward!" A woman shouted and I turned to see the last person I was expecting to see. Esme was curled up in a scarf, hugging Edward tightly. He looked to me, smiling as they pulled away, whispering something to each other. She then turned to look at me, a smile on her lips as I ran to her, enveloping myself in her arms.
"Bella… Always the hugger." She laughed, her voice cracking as if she were crying.
"I can't believe you are here!" I told her, pulling away. She wiped more of my tears, ones I didn't even know I was crying again.
"I wouldn't miss this gathering." She smiled just as Carlisle came through the door. The air in my lungs left my chest immediately and he walked up to Esme, his arm around her waist as his hand came out to shake mine. I smirked and grabbing his hand, pushing past and wrapping my arms around his middle. He laughed and held onto me, patting my back as he kissed the top of my head.
"It's good to see you too, Bella." He chuckled as I pulled away, watching as he kissed Esme at the top of her head. I wondered for a moment, turning to see Alice and Emmett smiling at me.
"His mate was taken away from him."
"She was his donor. Carlisle changed her into a vampire. Somehow Aro found out. He sent people here and they took her when he was gone. She was still transforming so she was out cold for a few days. That usually happens when you get changed. So they caught her when she couldn't defend herself."
"She's still alive. That's all I know, though."
Esme was Carlisle's mate?
I looked back to them, Carlisle now greeting Edward as they shook hands. My eyes were widened, my jaw slack as Alice came over to me, her arms going over my shoulders.
"You should see your face." She laughed, shaking her head. I blushed, wondering momentarily how this worked. How Carlisle and Esme pieced together and if Edward were involved between it at all. It was something, I realized, I would have to ask later.
Alec came in last with bags in his hand, handing them to Rosalie. I ran to him, hugging around his waist and thanked him.
"For what ma biche?" He asked me, running his fingers through my hair.
"Everything." I smiled into his shirt, holding onto him tightly.
We all settled in, everyone and their partners getting their own rooms. I helped Alice unpack, rolling my eyes at her for the three bags she brought just for herself. She justified it with the fact that she didn't know what we were going to do out here. She had to bring a outfit for every occasion. I didn't mind though, not even when I pulled out the short hot pink sparkly dress. She smirked and shrugged her shoulders and I hugged her again, the two hundredth time in the same hour. Emmett came in and helped us and for a moment I stopped to look at the three of us, Alice and I on the floor, folding her clothes into her dresser and Emmett on the edge of the bed watching us.
The three humans.
Intentionally donors.
But now something more.
I smiled to myself, listening as Alice spoke of her trip with Jasper to England, though I had already heard all the stories. Emmett and Rosalie went to Africa where Emmett got to ride an elephant and feed a baby tiger by the bottle. They visited the kids in the villages, the ones without mothers and fathers and trying to help save their younger siblings by scavenging for food.
"It was the most… Gut wrenching thing I ever saw, Bella." Emmett said sentimentally. He was always a big guy, always one to keep his emotions at bay because that is what is expected of him. But I could see his walls breaking and for once I saw tears swimming behind his eyes. "Rose and I brought a shit ton of food… And they were so grateful. For a can of green beans. Shit we buy at the store for seventy-nine cents! They acted as if someone had just handed them a million dollars!" He shook his head as Alice sat in the corner, watching him as she bit her thumb. "It put a lot of things in perspective to me."
"Are you going to go back?" I ask him and he nods instantly.
"As soon as we can." He said.
And just like a snap of the fingers, Emmett was back to his normal self. Asking me how Hawaii is and if I surf the waves like I should. I tell him no and he makes a face at me. Alice squeals and asks if I have ever seen a shark and I tell her from the dock I could but I saw none while I was in the water.
After awhile of talking to my friends, Emmett sticks his nose up in the air.
"Do you smell that?" He asks and I take a whiff, freshly baked bread filling my nostrils. We walk out of the room to Esme in the kitchen, the counters covered dirty pans.
"What's this?" I ask as Esme looks up to me.
"Just making the thanksgiving dinner!" She smiles and I returned it, helping her out as much as I could. Alice and Emmett helped as well, but we eventually sent Emmett out for he continued to pick at the food.
Esme gutted and stuffed the large Turkey that was twice to big for only three people. Alice and I watched in horror as she stuck her hand all the way up the slit, gagging slightly as she turned to smile at us.
Everyone else was outside, enjoying the view of the cliffs I presumed. I looked out the window to Carlisle, Jasper, Alec and Edward leaning over the cliffs and down at the water. They laughed and patted each others backs as Emmett and Rosalie walked down the path of the beach, disappearing beyond the cliff.
After awhile dinner was finished and everyone came inside and sat at the large mahogany table. Emmett dug in instantly and Esme scolded him for not saying grace, something all Edward and Carlisle and Jasper rolled their eyes at. Emmett murmured a soft prayer and within seconds was digging in again. Rosalie watched him in disgust, scoffing as she looked away muttering something about his blood tasting extra salty later.
All the Vampires had silver wine glasses and the way their lips stained red from taking a drink, I knew exactly what it was. Maybe it should have disgusted me while I sat and ate my Thanksgiving feast, but it didn't. To me – it was normal.
"Should we play that game? The one where everyone says what they are thankful for?" Alice piped up as Emmett groaned, pieces of mashed potatoes flying out of his mouth.
"Emmett… Manners." Esme scolded him as Rose threw a napkin at his face. After swallowing his food and taking a big gulp of his cider he threw his cup down onto the table.
"I'm thankful for this food. And I'm thankful that we live in a country where starvation isn't as much as a problem. And I'm also thankful for my trip to Africa… And my dick. Yeah… I'm thankful for that too." He nodded his head as everyone laughed as Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Oh, Rose, don't act like you aren't thankful for that as well." He said smugly as I nearly choked on the piece of stuffing.
"I'm thankful I have the power to withstand the stupid comments you make." She smiles and he looks at her as if he couldn't love her anymore.
"I love you too baby." He said.
Everyone went around speaking of what they are grateful for. When it reached to me I felt like I was in a spotlight, everyone staring as I set down my fork.
"I'm thankful…" I trailed off, biting at my lip. "I'm thankful for being alive." I nodded watching as everyone's face softened. "There was a period of my life where I thought my time was being limited. Now I know that's not true." I said softly, looking over to Edward who reached under the table and set his hand onto my thigh.
"Very well said, Bella." Carlisle nodded, Alec smiling next to him.
We finished dinner with smiles and laughs and it did not take long till the sleepiness hit the three of us, Emmett already passed out on the couch. Rosalie dragged him into their room and Jasper cradled Alice in his arms, kissing the side of her head as he took her away. Esme and Carlisle left awhile ago to explore the town and Alec was holding me in his arms, kissing the top of my head.
"Are you leaving?" I asked him and he nodded.
"I'll be back tomorrow." He told me.
"You promise?" I asked and he smiled with a nod.
"Bright and early. Get some rest." He whispered, kissing my forehead. He left moments after that, leaving me with Edward who wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
"Would you like to go lay down?" He asked and I nodded into his shirt, leaning up to kiss his neck. He smiled and walked me to our room. I leaned up and kissed his lips, hearing him groan against me as I hooked my arms behind his neck. The back of my knees hit the mattress and we crawled back onto the sheets, his body on top of mine as he kissed me sweetly, our tongues tangling as my fingers gripped onto his hair.
"I'm thankful for you." I whispered, pulling away just a moment to looking into his eyes. He was smiling and I leaned forward, kissing his lips once again. He pulled away, cradling my face in his hands as he pecked me all over my face, causing me to giggle.
"And I'm thankful for you, Bella. You have brought a light into my life that I thought diminished a long time ago." He whispered, kissing the corner of my lips. I sighed contently, holding him close to me.
"Will you tell me about Carlisle and Esme?" I asked and nodded his head, the back of his fingers on the back of my cheek.
"It was some time ago, Bella. The early nineteen hundreds. Carlisle and I were walking in the town of Kassel, Germany. It was a new time. Aro had just passed the laws for donors not even eight months before. We came across Argil, a man, a vampire. He was cruel and ruthless and he hated the very fact of human donors. He liked to kill casually. But he was under watch."
"By you two?" I asked.
"Yes. Aro sent us to keep an eye on him." He nodded. "His human donor was an eighteen year old girl named Esiesme. She was from Romania and one of the few Aro had chosen from that country. He had her locked up on a picket, chained like an animal. I was unaffected." He sighed, looking down to my neck as he touched my mark. "I didn't care for the idea of human donors either, but I went along… It was a dark time for me, Bella… But Carlisle… he took a liking to her. I stopped him several times when we would watch Argil hit her at the post, knocking her head against the wall. It was a wonder she survived. She stuck it threw. She cried every night. I could see Carlisle's walls breaking, I knew he would do something."
I watched as Edward looked up to me, leaning down to kiss my lips so very softly.
"He did…" He said. "I was gone for only two minutes, checking on another Vampire who was under Aro's surveillance. Two minutes. By the time I returned Argil was dead and both Esiesme and Carlisle had disappeared. They were gone for three years. Off the grid. Nowhere to be found. I hadn't even heard from him…" He stopped for a moment, as if to think before continuing. "I was in Aro's place when they brought in a girl. She was screaming, convulsing… She was transforming. Esiesme or Esme, fully turned into a vampire a day later. Aro informed me it was Carlisle who did it. Aro must know of all changes. He must know of all Vampires. To him, this was Carlisle's death sentence. Carlisle, was a dear friend of mine… I talked Aro out of it. Told him I would watch over Esme. She would live with me in my home…" He stopped, sighing as he brought his head down, kissing my chin.
"What happened?" I asked, trying to move so he could see me.
"Enough stories for tonight, Isabella." He said sternly, leaning up to kiss my lips. "It's time for you to sleep."
"But…" I began but he cut me off with one of his fingers, shushing me silently.
"Sleep." He told me, leaning down and kiss my cheek. I didn't argue with him and instead, turned away. He didn't like it, growling as he grabbed my body and turned me towards him. "Do not shut me out like that." He said, his voice pained. I leaned up and kissed him lips, wrapping my arms around his waist as I curled into him, sleep coming fast and taking me under.