Throughout this story the events going on in Seattle is my AU adaptation of The Second Short Life of Bree Tanner by SM. This is explicitly referenced in this chapter.
Beta: The incredible and amazing kiwihipp
(Updated 6 Apr 18)
Chapter 20: Young Ones
"My name is Carlisle Cullen. This is Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, and Alice. We have been defending ourselves against the actions of a vampire hunting in Seattle that seeks to harm our family," Carlisle stated to the two newborns in the tone intended to give information while also soothing the other party. "Her name is Victoria. Her most marked characteristic is her flaming red hair."
None of us Cullens moved a muscle. In all our discussed strategies, I could not recall one that included introducing ourselves to newborns.
In contrast to their intent, his words seemed to cause them both to cower. They moved closer to each other almost reflectively. Jasper's assessment that they might be mated appeared to have validity.
"She and her companion, James," Carlisle continued in the same tone, "hunted one of our own last year and we were forced to defend ourselves. We ended James, and let Victoria go, believing that she meant us no harm. Instead, she came back to the area, and has been making others like yourself in order to defeat us."
The two of him looked at him like he had explained that the world was flat. It wasn't a great buy-in, for sure, since he was asking them to believe us over what they had been told thus far into their second life.
He must have chosen a different tact, because then he said, "We've come to speak to you because us vampires have a ruling coven called the Volturi. When they learn of what Victoria is doing, then they will come to Seattle and destroy all of her creations, her, and possibly our family. We hoped that you would be willing to assist in preventing such an event from happening."
They both looked at us like we had lost our minds.
The girl spoke argumentatively, "Riley says that this territory is yours and that you want to take it from us."
There was no pause in speech like in our family or even with the Denalis. Emmett's story once more flashed before me. It had been a while since I had been around newborns.
"We are afraid that the number of missing persons, deaths, and carelessness of some of your coven members will attract the interest of the media, which in turn will result in the appearance of the Volturi. Our kind has rules. They are the rule enforcers," Carlisle reiterated.
With those words, their body language changed and they appeared slightly curious.
"What are the rules?" the boy asked.
"Mostly they could be summarized as: keep our existence hidden from the humans," Carlisle told them, his tone unchanged.
"Riley said something about that, but nothing about any Volturi," the girl muttered.
"You're certain they exist? They're not just some story made up to keep us in line?" the boy questioned unimpressed.
"I am certain they exist. I lived with them for a couple of decades," Carlisle explained patiently.
"Do animals taste better?" the girl asked curiously.
"No, they don't, although some animals are more flavourful than others," Carlisle said in his doctor tone.
"Then why feed off of them?" she asked confused.
"We wish to live amongst humans. I am a doctor. My children go to school. Our diet and the eye colour it creates help us resist consuming the humans we live among. Thus, we have the freedom to own a home, read, and pursue hobbies. My wife paints and redesigns homes. My daughter works on cars. My son plays the piano and composes. My other daughter designs clothes and other fashion items. We believe it to be a small price to pay for the lifestyle it affords us."
"You got money?" the boy asked challengingly.
"Yes," Carlisle replied easily. "It helps to have a job and live a long time."
The boy nodded appearing to contemplate Carlisle's words.
The girl scrunched her face as if she was being thoughtful. "Your way sounds more peaceful," she noted almost to herself.
"We try to live in peace. We would like to reason with Victoria," Carlisle explained.
"You can't reason with her. Riley's all right, but that red-head is crazy," the boy informed us nonplussed.
"I see," Carlisle replied.
It was curious to see him flustered by their manner of speech and almost non-reaction.
"Were you the ones making the others disappear?" the girl asked hesitancy.
"Yes," Carlisle answered sadly.
"But not us?" she asked in disbelief.
"My son, who is very experienced with our kind, says that you two could be trusted to keep the secret. We truly did not desire to end them, but before we could explain the rules to them, they attacked. We were forced to cover up their behaviours. We are truly only attempting to protect our family."
"So, as long as we don't attack you and follow the rules, you won't harm us?" the boy asked in confirmation.
"Yes, that's right," Carlisle agreed.
The young man appeared disbelieving.
"Thank you," the girl said looking at Carlisle. "The house has been safer since you started in with the disappearances," she explained probably in response to his confusion.
"You're welcome," Carlisle replied, but his voice was slightly uncertain and sad.
I didn't think he knew how to take a young girl thanking him for us killing their coven members.
"Now what?" the boy asked.
After a brief pause and to my surprise, Carlisle told them, "We would like to offer for you to come with us back to our home where you can clean up and get new clothes. You would need to hunt animals with us, as no one is permitted to hunt humans in our territory."
"What's your territory?" the boy asked defensively.
"The Olympic National Forest west all the way to the coast and up north of the park till the water," Carlisle explained patiently.
"Not Seattle?" he asked dubiously.
"No, as we do not hunt humans, we would have no need to claim Seattle," Carlisle elucidated.
Both of them seemed to be less on edge, which was progress of a sort.
The girl looked up to the boy. "I'd like to go," she told him.
"We don't know them," he argued back giving her his full attention.
"I didn't know you," she claimed back at him. "Please."
"I don't know if I can do the animal thing," he admitted to her.
"If you can't and it's too much, then we can run you to the edge of our territory," Carlisle offered. "You would be free to leave anytime. We simply want to give you the chance to try a different way than how you've been taught thus far."
"I see," the boy said gruffly.
"May I enquire upon your names?" Carlisle asked kindly.
The young man looked at Carlisle like the question was better suited to a movie or the ancient past before answering, "Diego."
"I'm Bree Tanner," the girl offered.
"It's nice to meet you Diego and Bree," Carlisle said warmly.
They exchanged another look, hers of longing and pleading. Then his body language changed to defeat, and he turned back to us. "We'll try it. We'll be free to leave anytime?" he questioned in a challenging manner.
"Yes, anytime," Carlisle replied soothingly. Without moving his body in any way, Carlisle uttered, "Jasper?"
"As much as it grieves me, head back," he determined speaking in a crisp tone. "Splitting up is a bad idea and travelling with two newborns is too risky," he added completing his assessment.
"Objections?" Carlisle asked us all keeping his eyes on Bree and Diego.
None of us said anything.
"All right," Carlisle stated, "Esme is with me in front. Emmett on the left, Rosalie on the right, Jasper and Alice are in the back."
We all nodded moving to where we had been directed. Was travelling with newborns what had caused Jasper's reaction to Carlisle calling his name? Whatever was happening, it made me nervous. Then, I felt Jasper send me a cocktail of tranquillity, serenity, familial love, and a mix of things I could not name but felt like a hug. With his assurance, I let go of my doubt and focused on the task at hand.
"Diego, Bree, we're going to head home now," Carlisle explained in his soothing tone. "We'll swim across the water and then run to our house. There are wolves that can destroy vampires that live in our area, so we're going to put you in the midst of us to protect you. If you see a wolf, climb a tree. Any questions?"
"Why you putting Jasper behind us?" Diego asked unable to hide the nervousness in his tone.
"He's the most experienced fighter and we are weakest from something coming from behind," Carlisle answered smoothly and calmly.
Diego simply nodded, but he didn't appear convinced.
"Ready?" Carlisle asked.
Diego jumped down from the ledge. Together they walked over to us. Carlisle went in front and I went with him. We walked down the alley, across the street, down the next alley, and so on at a calm human pace until we neared the waterfront. Carlisle looked around and, as if we were meandering, walked towards the water.
As we all sat by the water waiting for what we were going to do next, Diego sat down on the rocks far enough away that he'd need a strong leap to get to me. Carlisle was standing close to me in a way that allowed him to defend me if he needed to, but his attention was with Alice and getting us all home safely. I wasn't sure how I felt about him bringing home two newborns. Certainly, I agreed that these young ones, both in human years and in their second life, were lost and clearly needed some mothering, not to mention I supported Carlisle's decision. My support of him was not in question. The problem was that already I could feel myself growing attached to them. They were in desperate need of love and care.
The issue I was having was that all of these reactions, which were perfectly normal for me, were in direct conflict with the very fragile young woman that I consider a daughter back in Forks, not to mention that for them she was food. It would be wise to not grow attached to them. Yet, my open heart that loved all strays and children could not help to feel affection and a desire to mother them. These reactions were at war with my need to protect Bella. The struggle was tremendous and I didn't see a way to balance things out.
Diego turned towards me, as if we had been talking all along rather them sitting defensively waiting for an attack, and blurted out, "You sure do act human."
"Doing so helps us blend in you see," I explained as Carlisle stiffened ever so slightly. "The more human you look the less you stand out. And if we look like we are not in a rush, we are less likely to call attention to ourselves. We also don't know where all the street cameras or other recording devices might be. If anyone were to get proof that vampires are real, it can cause a lot of trouble."
"And the rule enforcers come," Diego guessed.
"Precisely," I agreed appreciative of how quickly he was adapting and impressed with how coherent he was, given his age and diet, particularly in light of Jasper's stories of human drinking newborn behaviours.
My answers seemed to calm them some.
Emmett and Rosalie were on Bree and Diego's other side, on guard, but giving them a wide berth, as to not spook them. Alice and Jasper were on the next set of rocks, after Rosalie and Emmett, the furthest from Carlisle and I, while closest to the water's edge. Looking at us all, I so wished that Jasper were nearer to aid calming my nerves, but Alice needed him to help her find the best way for us to safely travel. All these times I had talked to Carlisle about faith, while my anxiousness was demonstrating a lack of it in myself. Certainly, I should trust in our family to keep us safe till we got home, and in Carlisle's decision to bring these two newborns back with us. Even though Jasper had clearly disagreed, I should have faith that it would all turn out well in the end. As we waited, I attempted to increase my faith, calm myself, and store my questions for Jasper until later, as it was not the moment to be asking them.
"Alice is going to tell us when it's best to go," Carlisle warned Diego and Bree. "When she says 'go,' dive as silently as possible into the water and sink midway. Stay near at least one of us so you don't get lost. All right?"
"Yeah, okay," Diego agreed.
"Yeah," Bree copied.
There were still some humans out walking or coming out of bars, so we had to wait a little while more before Alice murmured, "Go."
Together we dove into the water. I stayed near Carlisle and he led us up and around the peninsula. When we got out we walked for a few miles in the formation Carlisle had previously named until Alice said, "Clear."
Then we ran through the forest to Forks. When we were over five miles from our house the stench of wolf was strong.
"Stay here with my children, please," he addressed Diego and Bree.
Jasper looked at Carlisle wearily and with warning, but said nothing.
"We will call if we're in trouble, but I expect none," Carlisle stated probably to assure Jasper and then walked off holding my hand declaring that I was to go with him.
When we arrived there were two wolves lying on our driveway in front of the house with Sam emerging from the forest.
"Was anyone injured?" Carlisle asked.
"Everyone recovered without permanent damage," Sam let him know with ire in his tone.
Carlisle's shoulders relaxed some as he told Sam, "I'm glad to her that." He paused for a few beats before he continued. "We lost her in the river. She dug a tunnel under a boulder and escaped. We traced her to Seattle. Given the hour, we were forced to spend the day there."
"She did not return," Sam reported. "Bella and Charlie are safe. Two wolves are keeping watch outside their home."
"Thank you," Carlisle stated sincerely. He paused for half a minute before he asked, "Could I be so bold as to ask you to keep watch over them for at least the next couple of days, perhaps even a week?"
"You're going back to Seattle?" Sam questioned.
"Not during the week. We have brought back two of the young ones of our kind that Victoria had turned. They were willing to learn to respect our ways," Carlisle explained.
The wolves growled clearly in disagreement of this plan.
"You are responsible for them," Sam pointed out gruffly his anger and disapproval clear.
"Yes, thus we would appreciate it if you would guard Bella and Charlie," Carlisle reiterated. "In this way, we will be able to keep a close eye on them."
Sam looked unhappy but resigned as he asked, "How many are left?"
"Three young ones and Riley, the one helping Victoria."
Some of the tension that Carlisle's news had manifested in Sam's body left with this number count.
Despite no other verbal exchanges, Sam's body shifted as if in acceptance.
Moving on without anything else being said, Carlisle asked Sam, "Shall we meet on Friday or shall I call Billy Black in a week's time?"
"I'll meet you at the regular spot on the border on Friday an hour after dusk," Sam demanded, clearly letting the issue of two human drinking newborns nearby go, but communicating in his tone his intense disapproval and dislike of the situation.
"It is agreed. Thank you for your protection of Bella and Charlie," Carlisle told Sam genuinely. "We greatly appreciate it."
Even though I expected Sam to argue about them protecting humans on neutral territory, as the tribe had in the past, he simply mused, "I really thought you got her a few times."
"As did we," Carlisle replied clearly disappointed.
Sam nodded to us and then walked off. The wolves followed.
"Come on, love," Carlisle urged once they couldn't be seen anymore.
We turned and went back to our children.
"Follow me," Carlisle ordered our two new additions.
We continued our procession. When we came upon the house, they both gasped.
"Please leave your dirty things in the mud room," I requested gently. "The kids can show you were it is. There are large shirts there in which to cover yourself so that you can then use the bathroom to shower. You'll need to take turns," I told them and then added hoping to resolve their confusion, "We try to keep muddy and wet clothes out of the house."
Carlisle squeezed my hand in support.
They both looked at me like the idea of getting clean and having fresh clothes was foreign. My heart broke for them. Whatever their lives had been like before Victoria wasn't looking anything like the lives Edward or Rosalie had, or even Emmett and Jasper. To be so young and not take for granted being clean seemed cruel and inhuman in a way that I couldn't articulate.
Jasper looked over at me with a look of sympathy and warning. A second later, his calmness, with a tinge of motherly love, which I vaguely remembered from my own childhood, wrapped itself around me.
I smiled back at him kindly, and each of my kids, even Rosalie, relaxed, soaking in what he was sending, allowing it, as I did, to soothe some of the tension that the last hours had brought.
Diego and Bree, even though they physically relaxed some, looked at each other with trepidation once Jasper began to pull it back.
"Some vampires have extra gift," Jasper said gruffly. "What you felt was something I can send out. It was a gentle form of tranquillity that comes from years of meditation with a sprinkling of the maternal love that Esme feels for us four."
Their eyes grew large and looked between Carlisle and I and Alice and Jasper.
"Are there other gifts?" Diego managed to ask his trepidation coming through in his voice.
"Many different kinds," Carlisle answered calmly. "That is a conversation for later. For right now, let us get cleaned up. We will all reconvene in the living room." He gave Emmett a long stare. "Please don't be long. We need everyone."
"Sure Pops," Emmett replied sincerely.
Whether he could follow through with that in the moment was another issue, but at least he hadn't objected. He was a good kid and would follow Carlisle anywhere without question. His loyalty and trust was one of his great qualities. I often guessed that he had a great father that he had been close to as a human.
The kids stayed on the back porch, so that Carlisle and I could go first; Bree and Diego staying with them. Once Carlisle and I were upstairs cleaning ourselves off in our on-suite, I heard Alice show them where things went. Diego let Bree shower first, which was sweet of him. No matter their background, it pleased me to see him taking care of her in these small ways. My mind recalled how he had looked out for her in the alley and wondered if he was aware yet of what she meant to him. It sounded like he stayed on the porch. Alice had showed Bree the give-away pile and let Bree pick a few things.
"I'm sure Esme won't mind if we get you some new under garments while you're staying with us," Alice let Bree know. "You just tell her your size and she'll go get them for you tomorrow."
"Is Esme with Carlisle," Bree asked in a tone that suggested she was afraid of being offensive.
"Yes," Alice answered. "They're married."
"The house smells good," Bree said suddenly with longing and desire.
"Oh," Alice answered then firmly added, "You can't drink that here." Her tone softened as she told Bree, "I'll ask Esme to air out the house. We weren't expecting visitors. I apologise if it makes it harder on you."
Next I heard Alice leave the bathroom and the water coming on downstairs.
Carlisle and I had not yet spoken. He had gingerly and carefully examined every inch of me and I of him. We were both clean, but enjoying the warmth of the water. After a few more minutes, I turned the water off and wrapped myself around him laying my head on his chest.
"Are you sure about this Carlisle?" I asked my voice quiet enough that the others wouldn't hear. "I trust you with my life, don't get me wrong, but we have Bella now and …" I trailed off unsure of how to explain my concerns.
His continence shifted into something that was new for him and so I couldn't quite name. "It's a risk, but there's six of us. I didn't like it, but I couldn't disagree with ending the other ones. These on the other hand … The longer they drink human blood the harder it will be on them to stop. If we could give them a better life and put a stop to the thousands of humans they would end up killing … Not to mention that they never attacked us. They seem like good kids and willing to learn.
"Originally I meant to only speak to them and reason with them. I didn't expect them to be so young and … It just seemed like the wrong thing to do to leave them there, especially when they thanked us for killing others in their coven. In Voturra I heard stories of how newborns were treated, passed around as it were, treated like prizes or worse, but I thought those times were gone. To imagine Bree or even Diego ... This is my entire fault, Esme. I underestimated Victoria and her ties with James. Because of me and my choices all these young teenagers were forced to become ruthless serial murderers who we then are being forced to end. I just thought, I just thought," he stuttered.
He gripped onto me firmly pulling me close and taking my scent deeply into his lungs. "I had to do something, Esme, and asking children to … I just couldn't. I'm sorry if I failed you, my love. You're always so gracious and welcoming, and I figured as long as we kept an eye on them, Bella would be safe. Do you think I erred again? Did I make the wrong choice?"
"I don't think following your heart is the wrong choice," I consoled him. "I just am concerned. Based on your explanation, your choice was primarily a result of your guilt and your need to redeem your actions in some way, rather than what was right for them or for us. Doesn't the Bible teach that only Christ can redeem sins?" I asked pausing to allow my words to penetrate. After a moment I continued, "I'm just worried for your own sake, Carlisle. The family will be fine. I love you just the same and trust your judgement. Not to mention that your choice came from a place of kindness and compassion wishing to offer these young ones a different lifestyle than they learned.
"But, Carlisle, you are not God. By your own beliefs, you cannot redeem yourself and making a choice, no matter how noble, for the wrong reasons could lead to unseen consequences. I know my story altered you, and you are just beginning to adjust to this new way of seeing the world. You are bound to make mistakes. Trust us, trust me, trust Jasper, trust Alice, even trust Rosalie and Emmett to keep you in the straight and narrow. You can rely on us some; we don't always have to only rely on you."
"What kind of leader would I be, Esme, if I had them leading me?" he huffed irritated in a way that was unusual for him.
"I am suggesting no such thing, Dr. Cullen," I said harshly. "I am suggesting you listen to us all and then make a decision like you usually do. Today you acted unilaterally inviting these two to come home without anyone else's input, presuming that we were all on the same page. That," I emphasised, "is what worries me."
His shoulders dropped and he sighed heavily. "You're right, my love, and I'm sorry."
"What is done is done. No use crying over spilled milk, although you might owe the kids an apology. Whether we agree or not, we will help them out and hope the good you wished for them will come to pass. We are Cullens. Just, please, for all our sakes, keep this in mind for the future. We are on a razor's edge."
"I will try," he promised me while wrapping me in his arm and then putting shampoo into my hair.
When Bree turned the water off, I muttered into his chest, "Bella will be worried."
"Call her in the morning; it's too late," Carlisle said in hushed soothing tones.
"I need to air out the house," I told him worried that Bella's scent would drive them to desire her. She often created the strangest reactions in our kind.
"One minute more," he nearly begged. "Perhaps Rosalie will do it," he hedged.
We listened. No, neither Emmett nor Rosalie would be doing that at the moment.
"Teenagers," he grumbled lightly and with a teasing tone into my hair.
"Well, that's what you get, love, when you turn them so young," I chuckled.
"There is that," he agreed. "I don't want to let you go, Miss Platt."
"Neither do I, but it would be rude to leave Jasper and Alice alone with them."
"Yes, I suppose it would," he agreed grudgingly.
With great reluctance I left his arms, got dressed, opened up the windows in the second floor hallway, made sure Bella's room was secured, went downstairs and opened all the windows downstairs. Wolf odour entered our home covering up anything else that might have been there.
Coming downstairs, I found Bree stood in the furthest corner from the front door with her back against a wall.
"Alice?" I asked.
Diego went into the mudroom with Jasper.
"Yes?" Alice answered clearly hiding her gift from our visitors, since she would have already known my decision.
"Would you take that armchair upstairs, please?" I asked while I handed her the key to Bella's room.
"Certainly. After Jasper's done I'm going to my room to shower," she let me know.
"All right dear. Thank you."
She took the key. "No problem."
Shortly after she took the chair with her upstairs, I could hear her unlocking Bella's door, and then securing it once more.
"Please, come, make yourself comfortable," I offered Bree as I settled into the couch furthest from her.
Reluctantly keeping a close eye on me, as if I was about to attack her, she chose the position in the sofa closest to the corner.
Diego could be heard leaving the mudroom and entering the bathroom.
Jasper went upstairs to join Alice.
Carlisle came downstairs and sat next to me.
"Alice said you were married," Bree blurted out.
"Yes, that's right," I confirmed.
"Are Rosalie and Emmett a couple?" she asked while her eyes roamed towards the ceiling.
"Yes," I confirmed reassuringly. "They are also married."
"Alice and Jasper?" she pressed.
"Yes," I confirmed sweetly. "Are you and Diego a couple?" I asked gently.
"We're friends. He was the only friend I had in that place," Bree explained, but looked as if she wasn't sure of her own words.
"Jasper has a good friend who made a friend from their coven and they are together now. That pair left their original coven and then Jasper joined ours. Who knows what the future holds," I told her.
She seemed to think seriously about that. Her eyes roamed the room.
"Are you in need of anything?" I asked genuinely hoping to ease her tension and help her feel more comfortable in our home.
"Alice mentioned underwear," she stammered. Then, she looked at Carlisle nervously.
"Certainly." I got up retrieving a pencil and a piece of paper knowing that her writing it down would make that information private, while also giving her an activity that only humans needed to do to convey information to one another for memory purposes, and an opportunity to practice controlling her strength. "Write down your sizes and I'll collect a few items for you tomorrow," I instructed her softly handing her the instruments.
She looked up at me with a combined expression of disbelief and fear. As soon as she tried to write the pencil broke. I took it from here and handed her another.
"It's hard to adjust to the strength. Try it with less force," I encouraged her. This time she wrote a couple of strokes before she broke that one.
"Here, try again," I encouraged her once more handing her a new pencil.
She wrote even longer this time before it broke.
"You're getting the hang of it," I praised her with a smile on my face thinking back to when Emmett was in his first year and everything he broke. He would have never mastered a pencil so quickly. "Try once more," I gently persuaded her while handing her the new pencil.
"You sure are like a mom," Bree stated forthright with the irritated fed-up tone the young have for their parents.
Her tone and statement endeared me a bit more to her. She sounded in such desperate need of mothering. The reality that she said that I sounded like 'a mom' rather than 'my mom' was not lost at me. She looked no older than fourteen, way too young to not make comparisons with her own mother. Despite my conjectures, I said nothing about them, stating instead, "Yes, I've been told that a time or two," hoping to make her more at ease.
Carlisle chuckled his eyes watching me carefully.
She finished her writing triumphantly and handed both her barely cracked pencil and the paper back to me.
Discretely I read what she had wrote, tore off the page, and put the remaining pencils I had grabbed away.
"Are you thirsty, dear?" I asked when I came back.
"No, I had just finished drinking when you arrived. Thank you."
At least it could be said that she had been taught good manners. Smiling at her, I thought about how this small thing had come through her burning.
"Your welcome. Let us know when you begin to become uncomfortable," I instructed her. "My children enjoy the hunt, so it might not be as quick as you are accustomed."
"Okay," she replied clearly nervous. Then, she went back to looking around the room.
Settling down next to Carlisle, I allowed his presence to comfort me and tried to watch her serendipitously, as to not make her uncomfortable.
After a few minutes had passed and the silence seemed to be making things worse for her, Carlisle spoke. "Tell us something about yourself Bree."
"There's not much to tell. It's hard to remember before the burning," she admitted. "When I woke up Riley told me I had become a vampire and if I disobeyed the rules, Victoria would destroy me. There were a few others in the group. Diego obviously, and Fred has been good to me, but the others were cruel, so I stayed away from them. Every once in a while they would hurt one another, which made me more afraid." She stopped abruptly closing her eyes and looking like she was trying to make herself smaller.
When she opened her eyes once more, Carlisle told her in his calming tone, "Not keeping your human memories is common, but if you work on remembering them it can get easier, and then what you remember will stay a part of you. If you want it to, of course."
She appeared to take his words very seriously. "I'm not sure I want to remember," she mused. "I think I might have been living on the streets before. The few things I do remember are not pleasant. I think I'd rather forget."
It was terrible to have my suspicions confirmed. To be so young and looking out for herself was a travesty. My mind began to imagine the possibility of making her a Cullen, how long it would take before she could attend school, how her even younger appearance than Edward would force us to move more often, and on and on. Before this imaginary future could take hold of my heart, Bella came to mind. The longer they were here the more complicated things with Bella would become. My head told me that Bella had to be my priority, but a part of me wanted to find a way to make it work.
"We understand. Perhaps a sister or a brother?" Carlisle asked her encouragingly drawing me out of my thoughts.
She scrunched up her nose in an adoring fashion. "A younger sister maybe." She smiled.
"If you want," Carlisle commented non-committedly, but her features said that she was already trying to see if she could remember something about her human family.
"How about your name dear?" I asked softly hoping to find an easier topic.
She turned her face towards me almost in surprise that I had spoken. "Oh, I had my wallet when I woke up. First time I could think straight I checked my pockets. I tore the pockets and wallet, but still, I found a driver's licence that said Bree Tanner with my picture." She frowned as if recalling an unpleasant memory.
I smiled encouragingly hoping that she would speak about whatever had grabbed her attention. This girl's life was beyond my capacity to conjure. As soon as I had woken up, I had remembered my name. I knew who I was, at least in a basic manner. To wake up without any knowledge of self must be horrific. It certainly explained Jasper's description of newborns' erratic behaviour. Next year I wanted to find or start some charity for homeless youth. Bree's reality as a human just seemed inhumane.
Right then Diego came out of the bathroom looking at us as if we had caused Bree pain. For a second his lips spread and he showed his teeth in warning, but then he calmed himself once more.
They smiled at each other.
Diego passed us on alert, but did not attack, and sat on the armrest.
I thought about saying something. How many sofas had my children ruined by sitting there? But he seemed nervous. I could always replace the sofa.
"Can you tell us anything about yourself, Diego?" Carlisle prompted.
He looked at us, and then Bree, and then back up to us as if gauging our words before he answered, "I was living on the street before the red-head found me. I think I come from a big family, older brothers and sisters, as well as younger."
Carlisle and I smiled at him. Personally, I was pleased for him that he remembered so much.
"Was there anything you needed, Diego?" I asked softly hoping to calm him.
"Nah," he answered. "Your pile had everything I needed."
"Glad to hear that," I let him know.
We sat in an awkward silence for a few moments allowing Diego to get his bearings, as he kept looking around in awe, as if his eyes could not absorb what he was seeing.
Carlisle kept his left hand on my back.
I suspected that he still needed assurance that I was unharmed.
"Did you have any questions about us?" Carlisle asked probably sensing their growing discomfort.
"Yeah," Diego answered looking uncomfortable.
"Well, perhaps I should start by telling you my story?" Carlisle offered.
"Yeah, man, that sounds good," Diego agreed sounding relieved.
Carlisle and I smiled. I loved listening to him tell his story to visiting vampires and watching their reactions.
By the time that Carlisle finished his telling, everyone had assembled in the living room. All six of us gave our visitors a lot of room in hopes of helping them feel safer.
After Carlisle stopped speaking, they didn't say anything. They didn't ask questions. They didn't seem upset or surprised. They didn't whistle in disbelief like Peter had, or shaken their heads as if it was a fantastical story rather than Carlisle's life like Charlotte had. They hadn't even replied with, "Well, that's interesting," like Mary had. It was like they simply accepted the world they were being told without objection or curiosity. Perhaps it was due to their younger age of being turned, but I suspected that there was more to it that that. I didn't understand them at all, and if Carlisle's look was anything to go by, their lack of response puzzled him as well.
Rosalie looked the same as she did whenever Carlisle told the story: haughty and irritated. Alice had her eyes closed, since she and Jasper had settled onto the ground near where the piano used to be. Jasper was watching them carefully. Emmett looked bored.
We attempted pleasantries, but that didn't really work well either. One of the strangest things they admitted was that neither of them really knew how long they had been vampires.
"Wow, that sucks," Emmett commented frowning.
Rosalie looked particularly upset, although I doubted they could see anything from her appearance apart from her irritation.
Clearly, Alice hadn't known exactly when she had been changed and such, but that was due to her memory loss.
"If I had to guess, it is probably about six months since Diego was changed and about three months since Bree's burning," Jasper said.
These words seemed to relieve the tension in the room, as both Diego and Bree nodded in agreement.
What kind of life did most newborns wake up to? I had always supposed that it was something like Carlisle's or Jasper's experiences. But, in my ignorance, I had imagined them at least knowing how many days they had been on the earth and how long they had been vampires. There was so much that I took for granted as a Cullen; so much that Carlisle gave us that I never really considered. Their story made me particularly grateful for the lifestyle Carlisle had built for us.
Usually, through the years, Carlisle and I have been able to calm visiting vampires and allow them to feel comfortable and safe. The fact that Diego and Bree did not feel that way burdened and disappointed me.
After much too long of an awkward silence Emmett said jokingly, "As great as that was Pops, are you done now, because I'm sure they'd like to do something other than listen to you drone on?"
"No sports, Emmett," Carlisle chastised him.
He put his hands up defensively. "Of course not, who do you think I am?" he asked incredulously.
Carlisle just looked at him sternly.
"I was thinking video games," Emmett retorted with a huge grin on his face. "Naturally. What a way to trust a guy."
Carlisle shook his head.
"How about it?" Emmett asked turning to Diego and Bree.
"What games to do you have?" Diego asked the slowest I had ever heard him speak.
"Pretty much anything," Emmett answered.
"Sure why not," Diego agreed. Before he got up, he looked back at Bree, as if making sure that she'd be okay with him going the ten feet.
"I'm going to take you down," Emmett threatened in a teasing manner his voice boisterous.
Diego looked at him clearly intimidated trying to decide if he should change his mind.
They didn't even start the game before the controller was broken. By the third one Diego told Emmett, "thank anyway," and went back to sit on the armrest of where Bree had placed herself.
As the sun rose and Rosalie and Alice attempted to engage Bree in conversation, I believed that calling Bella and informing her about the change of plans would be the most challenging part of my day.
"Hello," Charlie greeted me.
"Good morning, Chief Swan. This is Esme Cullen. Is Bella there?" I asked him.
"Good morning, Esme, nice to hear from you. Everything all right over there?" he asked cordially.
"As well as can be expected in my house. We had some distant relatives that died and their adolescent children are staying with us. Given everything, I'm not sure if Alice is going to be able to make it to school, and the girls had plans, so I wanted to let Bella know," I told him adding after a brief pause, "You know how she worries."
"Yes, she does," he agreed easily. "She's finishing up her shower. Can I have her call you when she's done?" he asked.
"Yes, please," I requested.
About fifteen minutes later, the phone rang.
"Is everything okay Esme?" she asked immediately.
"Oh yes, dear. We're all home a bit disappointed, as our weekend did not go to plan. I let you dad know that our distant relatives deaths have resulted in us having young visitors here," I warned her. "Consequently, I'm afraid Alice won't be able to make it to school. I wanted to let you know so that you didn't worry."
"How long will she be out?" she asked shakily.
"We're not sure yet. As soon as we know more, I'll be sure to let you know," I promised. Thinking about how Bella seemed to be struggling with not feeling useful in our family in ways she was accustomed, I thoughtfully worded my request, hoping to ease concerns that this news might bring up within her. "Bella, I have something I need you to do for me this week."
My words seemed to help, as she was calmer when she replied, "Sure, Esme, what is it?"
"I know this might be a struggle, but I'm asking for you to focus on your well-being this week. Pay attention to your surroundings, be extra safe, and call if you see anything note worthy, please," I requested choosing my words carefully as our guests would be able to hear our exchange. "You doing that would ease my mind considerably and allow me to focus on helping our visitors."
Her tone was slightly disappointed, yet strong as she promised, "I will." After a minute's pause she added, "Send Alice to school if you can. I will miss her."
"Of course, dear," I confirmed. "Be strong and brave. You can manage a week without Alice. I'm sure of it."
"It just won't be the same," she told me sadly. "That's all."
"Yes, I know," I agreed. "But it is what it is."
"Okay," she relented disappointed. "I understand."
"Have a great week. Talk to you on Friday," I promised.
"Okay, Friday. Thanks for letting me know, Esme."
"You're welcome."
Getting off the phone, I realized how much better Bella had sounded as a result of giving her a way to help the family, even if it had been simply to take care of herself. Maybe I had committed a disservice to her by taking care of her without giving her a way to contribute. I had wanted to lighten her burden. Nevertheless, it appeared that she was the kind of person that needed to help in order to feel wanted. Her need was in contradiction to how I parented my other kids, and so it seemed inappropriate. However, her response showed me that my theory that giving her a job would help her had been correct. In the end, that's what mattered the most, not my level of comfort. Certainly, these conclusions explained some of her previous behaviours that I had found odd. I would have to keep that in mind for the future.
As Alice had promised Bree, after I called Bella, I set out to Port Angeles and purchased some new under garments for Bree. On the way back, I also picked up from Newton's two heavy duty backpacks. Then, just as I had done when Rosalie and Emmett were newborns, I changed my clothes before returning home dumping what I had purchased into the washer as soon as I walked in the door.
When a private moment arose later that evening with Jasper, I asked him how Diego's and Bree's stories could be true.
"Kept in the dark, only left out at night, plus bloodlust and a sire who doesn't care about you," he told me bluntly.
His truthfulness caused me to feel even more motherly towards them.
He raised an eyebrow at me as if challenging my feelings, but said nothing.
As difficult it had been to hear Bella's disappointment and fear along with my unease of risking my theory on her, it paled in comparison to watching Bree deteriorate. For most of the next few hours, Bree sat still with her back near a wall cowering while Diego sat near her vigilant. As one day passed into night and the next day approached, it seemed like Bree was slipping further from us. Eventually, she came to hiss at the littlest thing, yet she insisted she didn't need to hunt. Without Carlisle's guiding hand, as he had needed to go to work, since we had all been confident that the five of us could handle them, and without Edward's mindreading to aid us, I didn't know how to help her. Even once Carlisle got back from work, none of us had a solution. Diego just sat there getting more a more tense being protective of Bree to an even greater degree.
Eventually it was Jasper that broke the rising tension stating firmly, yet compassionately. "Look. You're scared to leave the house. You're afraid you'll mess up and we'll destroy you. You're concerned that you won't like animal blood. And you are terrified to disappoint us. All of us have been there. We get it. We'll keep you safe and teach you."
He started out the door and probably used his gift on them both, because shortly after his speech Bree calmed some and seemed slightly more confident. Diego went after Bree, following right behind her. Jasper and Alice took the lead running away from the house, while Rosalie, Emmett, Carlisle, and I fanned around the back and sides of them.
Carlisle looked contemplative and, if I was not mistaken, upset with himself.
"First we'll try something easy to catch and is plentiful," Jasper told them while we ran. "I'll warn you, though, it doesn't taste very good."
Even I could smell the deer.
Jasper looked at us Cullens clearly taking the lead on this. "We'll make a circle around the field and let you feed without disturbing you. Take as much as you need. If you can, try not to take the young or does that are pregnant, but that's not very important. Got it?"
They nodded, but said nothing.
"Follow their scents and the sound of the beating hearts," Carlisle encouraged them showing his support of Jasper.
Diego looked at Jasper then Carlisle and quickly after ran off with Bree close behind.
Jasper and Alice ran to cover the field the furthest from our position. Rosalie took my left, Emmett my right, and Carlisle and I were at the part of the field closest to where we had all been.
They were wild savages. They would pounce and bite often ripping the animal to pieces while they sucked, getting very little, it appeared, into their bodies. Then they would repeat. The amount of blood splattered in the small clearing caused my throat to burn. I wanted some, but held myself rigidly in check. We had promised it all to them, for many good reasons. However, my thirst was a war with those reasons, including my desire to mother them. Looking over at Rosalie and Emmett, both their eyes were a shade darker and standing rigidly. I couldn't help but imagine that the carcases in front of us could have been humans.
I didn't want to picture what Jasper might have witnessed from newborns if these were the tame ones. When the whole herd was dead and there was no blood left to be had, they both seemed to awaken from their frenzy. They both crouched defensively, but then after a few seconds straightened themselves up.
Jasper gave Carlisle a look and Carlisle took a step forward. "Better?"
"It still burns," Bree complained.
"Animal blood doesn't end the burn, only lessens it to a manageable level," he explained.
"Oh, well, that sucks," she muttered under her breath.
Diego was looking around a bit confused.
"We waited too long," Jasper told them for our benefit as much as theirs. This was new to us all. "You both should have hunted earlier. It helps."
Diego just nodded.
Neither of them seemed upset at the scene or very remorseful of their behaviour or waste. It was almost as if the scene was blasé to them. I contained a shudder at the thought of what our kind was truly capable of. Thank goodness for the Volturi was all that I could think to calm my horror.
"Now, we bury the remains," Carlisle told them without any indication of chastisement in his tone, while also leaving no room for argument or even questions.
Carlisle stepped into the field along with Emmett and Jasper. They quickly made a hole and began disposing of what was left. Eventually Bree and Diego got the idea and started helping.
When the field had no evidence left but the bloodied grass, I spoke up. "I need to hunt before we return."
Carlisle nodded in acknowledgement.
"We'll go together and each hunt individually," he decided and looked over to Jasper probably checking that he believed this would work for Diego and Bree as well.
Us Cullens all nodded our heads in agreement with Carlisle's suggestion. It was the safest way in case there was the odd hiker.
A/N: Can't wait to hear your thoughts.
