Chapter Three

Disclaimer: Forgot to do one of these! Oh well, pretty sure you get that Twilight's not mine yet.

Author's Note: A present for you all at the end! POV requests welcome! Will probably stick with Bella for the story, but our protagonista is sort of too unconscious to tell this part of the tale.

Please Review!!

CPOV

I had no idea how this could be possible. I was Elizabeth's doctor during the Spanish influenza breakout decades earlier. I didn't personally tend to her during her final moments, I was alone for the torturous hours I'd have to spend away from the hospital, away from those who needed me and my gifts to maintain the facade of humanity. It was necessary for me to leave my patients for at least six hours every evening lest someone notice my lack of resting. So many doctors were getting next to no sleep during that time, but similarly so many other were going home so tired and fatigued that it was best to just calm myself and think in my small Chicago house until I could return. It pained me so as I knew how much damage just six hours away could do, how much could change in that time. But this was something completely other.

In the frantic atmosphere shared by so many hospitals in 1918 I remembered how easy it was to lose track of documents and progress of patients and not tend to the needy in time.

Everyone was still looking to Elizabeth in awe and shock; my Esme appeared to have adopted a permanent look of glee and excitement across her features, now getting to meet the biological mother of the son they now shared. Alice had a glassy look in her eyes staring off into the distance, clearly having one of her vision, however Jasper still looked suspicious and on alert.

"Hey guys – don't get up – be down in a bit-lat-um-I gotta-just be-bye!" Emmett's booming voice stuttered even fast for our super-human tongues as the door burst open for the second time tonight. Emmett zipped upstairs after toeing his muddy boots off with a look of excitement, concentration and need clear on his face, a defeated looking Rosalie in his wake. Being a doctor and a father for many decades meant I was, unfortunately, only too aware why Emmett was in such a hurry, and Jasper's dark only confirmed my fears.

Not tonight!!

I honestly don't have regrets changing any of my family, even Rose, but sometimes having a houseful of teenagers was just too much, especially when there was a dangerous and important visitor sitting in the love seat next to Edward's unconscious human girlfriend.

Calm.

Breathe out.

It is not because he's a teenager. It is because he is Emmett Cullen.

Thankfully Rosalie, at least, noticed the drama taking place and headed towards the staircase barking-

"EMMETT! NOT NOW!"

"He can hear perfectly well without you yelling Rosalie Hale!" My darling wife shouted back hotly. She immediately regained composure after she noticed the look of disdain Mrs. Masen was directing at her. Rosalie sat with Alice, a look of true confusion and fear on her face. She knew this woman was no match for four or now six vampires, so for us to be so tense and cautious around her something must be the problem. Her worry appeared to increase as Emmett descended the stairs to sit on couch nearby, frowning at the woman.

"Emmett, Rosalie, I was just introducing Elizabeth Masen." Emmett guffawed and looked towards the Elizabeth with suspicion, whilst Rosalie's eyes darted to the floor.

Not the floor. Elizabeth's shoes. Always with the shoes.

No--

...Calm.

"As in Edward's-" I immediately interrupted Emmett.

"Mrs. Mase- Elizabeth," I corrected myself, "might I introduce my children, Jasper and Alice," my 'middle son' nodded with a stern face as Alice looked undecided, "Rosalie and Emmett," Rosalie smiled coolly now, "and my lovely wife Esme." I indicated to each. I smiled as I came to Esme. She is always so supportive and always so protective of our family. She was so heat-broken last September when our 'coven' was divided and torn in two. Esme knew leaving would never solve anything. I'd have to ask her her thoughts on this, she had that maternal instinct Rosalie seemed to covet, and knew what was best for the family. Her golden eyes looked at mine warmly and my smile grew wider. So caring, my Esme.

"It is ever so nice to meet you," Esme gushed, still cautious, but eager to meet the natural family of her favourite.

"And the same," Elizabeth said in her high soprano tone without moving in as my Esme had welcomingly done. I was unsure how I felt about her calculating tone and her narrowed eyes that held a smile that didn't meet her lips.

Strange.

Vampire memories never fade, and I had a perfect recollection of Elizabeth. She was such a dear, so much like Esme, yet a little more reserved and introverted as Edward is. She was quick and sharp and always made me laugh the brief times I saw her around town. That was before the epidemic. She grew a little harder after her charming husband died, who I never personally met. She was still the same, yet more reserved. Even in sickness she was still charming and astute, always the perfect lady and the epitome of upper-class. Then her only son fell ill. And I got to meet my first companion, confidante, and son.

I'd never tell the others, and I feared Esme held the same bias, but Edward would always be what I'd call my 'favourite.' There were just things I would tell him I could not tell the others. Emmett would not take things seriously, Jasper would see things too clinically, but the truth is I always saw Edward as who my own son would have been. Edward and I have always held the same interests: medicine, science, history, he even enjoyed ballroom dancing as Esme and I did. As I'd introduce him to something I enjoyed, he would either take to it immediately or would modestly divulge his previous experience. I never knew Elizabeth this well, though.

I hope she's the same. The change, her husband's death and possibly the fear of Edward's fate might have hardened her. She does not share our eating habits. I can't tell if she is being so critical and calculating because this is her usual process as I remember, or something more sinister.

I was so used to thinking my thoughts in clear strings with arguments, justifications, opinions and juxtapositions because of Edward. I always sought to make my thoughts clear and decisive for his sake; he admitted to me once that it sometimes hurt him to attempt to decipher thoughts that were jumbled and incomplete, so I always tried to lessen his burden.

"Where is he?" I heard Jasper hiss to Emmett as Elizabeth held dear Esme's unsure gaze.

"He's still hunting," Emmett breathed back, "Rosalie and I just had to... leave early." He finished lamely. No need to attempt subtlety, now.

"He'll be back soon." Alice sang softly. "He's still hunting but he's confused. He can't hear us, but he can tell something off. He thinks we might have a visitor but he's too far to be sure. He is undecided whether to return."

I nodded in thanks and turned to our confused guest, "The final member of our little family." I offered with what I hope was a calming smile. I'm quite sure Jasper then took my lead in that department.

"Elizabeth," I paused. I didn't know how to avoid bluntness. "What..." I emitted an unnecessary sigh, as Esme pulled Bella more securely in her lap."What happened?"

The bronze-haired beauty took a moment to take in Isabella's tiny, fragile form, now nestled comfortably in my wife's cold arms, occasionally sighing or cooing but I was now confidant she was fine and well. Edward, however, will take a lot of convincing.

"I was very sick. The hospital was very crowded and cluttered," my old patient began purring, never taking her blood red eyes off our Isabella. "I was on a stretcher. It was dirty." I laughed internally. "It was night time, and I was barely conscious. The only reason I tried to stay awake was I remembered expressly and explicitly telling you my son and I were not to be separated." Her eyes flashed and her nostrils flared. Rosalie had left the front door open and the smell of the rain and greenery had filled the room. Esme pulled an afghan off the top of the couch and wrapped it around Bella as she began to shiver and make small, soft sounds. Esme hated the look of throw rugs being around the house as it contrasted and ruined the style she was aiming for, but insisted on it as a necessity in case her new daughter give even the slightest shake.

"Then it was dark. Darker than before. It smelled horrible. Everything smelled horrible and suddenly I was in a quiet room. Two men had taken me there and there was another man there waiting. He was so handsome. But his eyes were so strange. They looked off to me, even in the dark." Elizabeth set her jaw and continued with a hard look upon her face. "I knew I was barely alive, but I needed to get back to my son. It gave me strength. I sat up as best I could. There were other people on benches all around me. They were all so still, Carlisle," she seemed to almost entreat to me. "So still and so pale. All in the same gown as I. The men were afraid of the man who was already down there. 'Another!' They shouted before running back from where they came. The man looked at me. He smiled. Then there was pain. And a stinging burn as I'd never known. Like an ember at my throat, like acid I were forced to take, but it was spreading!" She appeared to relax, then, and I nodded approvingly to Jasper. "Then there were footsteps. And yelling. So much yelling. And then I was locked in a room with others. Still others. And then the pain finally stopped, and the first thing I did after I was sated was check the records of my son. He died." She looked meaningfully at me. "I spent years wondering the world. My boys were gone. For whom should I have stayed? I traveled to Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Milan-"

"Fashion week, after fashion week, after fashion week..." Alice sighed with a different type of glassy eyes, a longing expression on her face. Mrs. Masen grinned devilishly.

"I know, right?" Breathed older immortal with nonchalance. "But then when in Rome," at this both Alice and Rosalie giggled conspiratorially, "I was called to visit the Volturi. They have always held an... interest for me and my gifts." Another flash in her eyes. "And whilst there I heard talk and gossip of all the latest happenings. And then I heard of the vegetarian clan in Denali. Who were friends with Aro's good friend, Carlisle Cullen. And then I heard of his clan." She turned to me. "Oh, Carlisle, please, you can't keep it from me any longer! You must tell me if it's true! You know of what I ask!" Suddenly my old Elizabeth appeared on the surface.

"Five." Alice whispered to the floor.

"Elizabeth, perhaps if I just take a closer look at our Isabella, here first and the-"

"Carlisle you must tell me! I've waited ninety years!"

"Four."

"But maybe if we just have you hunt first, you must understand our little human's life is so delicate and precious..."

"I fed on plenty before her!"

"Three."

"What? I-But we would all just feel more comfortable if Bella's open wounds were tended to, the smell -"

"I'm sure we're all plenty distracted from it right now!"

"Two."

"Alice, would you please be quiet if you don't think you can look after Bella!"

"All I need is a yes or no!!"

"One."

"ALI-."

Silence.

Save the growl rumbling for the chest of my wild and uncontrolled son at the sight of small Bella with horrid-looking neck wounds and still looking a little pale in Esme's arms. Even I could smell the sweet, smooth scent of her blood calling to me; Jasper looked to be struggling immensely to abstain and focus on the intruder, and I couldn't image what Edward must have been feeling. His arms shook and his eyes were wide as he snapped his teeth at Bella's broken and helpless figure, curled in a ball being comforted by Esme as she slept. I feared his insurmountable thirst for the blood of la sua canante was responsible for his rage, but the look in his eyes revealed the pain and anguish at seeing his mate so fragile, broken and hurt.

Calm. I thought to him.

Steady breaths. I have checked her. She is fine. She is only sleeping now, and your mother is taking good care of her.

I blanched at my final words as I followed Edward's gaze to Elizabeth. Your mother is taking good care of her. I shivered a second time. This was what I had feared. Edward never needed explanations. A picture said a thousand words. And now he was being thrown all images of the past two hours back at him. He keened in his throat and screwed up his face in pain as he turned to a guilty and apologetic Alice.

"Sorry." She mouthed to me.

Alice had seen Bella's grand entrance. Edward must clearly now know who this woman was. What happened to her. Where she had been, why she was here. What she had nearly done. And probably, I grimaced, did not regret.

"Edward!" Elizabeth cried in joy and exultation, her eyes lighting up and her kind and caring countenance returning.

"Mother." He spat.