Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
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Prompt: Dreary, leery, theory

Watching the Cullens eat was nothing short of amusing. I was leery of my mother's cooking on a good day, and this wasn't one of her better creations, but they smiled and made the best of it. It didn't escape my notice that most of the food ended up in their napkins, or my mother's notice that they didn't eat very much.

"I'm sorry, I'm a dreadful cook," Renee apologized for the umpteenth time. "Bella is the cook in the family. I'm sure she would have done a better job."

"Edward is a picky eater," Alice assured my mother.

Renee gave her a wink. "I get the feeling he'd like it better if she were on the menu," she teased. I, unfortunately, was getting a drink at that moment and commenced coughing when I swallowed wrong. Then again, it might have been a good thing since it distracted my mother from the look of shock on both of their faces.

The storm hit in earnest just as we were finished eating, and I could see that Edward wasn't looking well. "Are you all right?" I barely whispered to him, knowing he'd hear.

Taking position next to me he reached for the plate I'd just washed and began to dry it. "I need to get rid of the food," he said when the others left the kitchen. "Vampires can't digest human food. Alice is excusing herself now to take a shower, and she'll jump out the window to purge it from her system. As soon as she's finished with her shower I'll take her place."

"That doesn't sound pleasant," I whisper back and hear him laugh quietly beside me.

"The worst part is the eating, actually, but we do it to blend in."

"What are you two whispering about in here?" Renee asked as she walked back into the kitchen.

"Just trying to figure out how to avoid going shopping with my sister on black Friday," Edward told her with a smile. "Please tell me there aren't any good, upscale stores around or I'll be her pack mule for hours."

Renee giggled, taken aback by his smile. "I'm afraid it'll be rather dreary, this storm is supposed to last for days. Will she mind that?"

"I think she'd go shopping during a tornado warning if she thought the store was good enough," he answered, reaching for another plate from me.

"I'll see if we can distract her for you," my mother said, groaning a little as she sat down. "Don't get old, kids. Sometimes it's a real pain."

Giving me a wink, Edward replied, "Is there an alternative?"

"Not that keeps you still alive, as far as I know. If you find one, take it." She relaxed into the chair and watched us do the dishes for a moment. Catching my eye she gave me a wink and a nod, indicating that she approved of the guy standing beside me. I noticed he was staring down at the sink and trying very hard not to smile. "We should probably discuss sleeping arrangements. If Alice doesn't mind she can share with Bella, but I'm afraid you're on the couch, Edward."

He turned to face her after putting the plate away. "That's fine. I can crash anywhere. Show me where the sheets are and I'll make it up as soon as we're finished here."

"No, I'll take care of that," Renee said. "We should also talk about dinner tomorrow…"

"Mom, don't worry about that," I said, hoping to waylay any big plans. "Why don't we just order in some Chinese like always? I've got homework to do, as do Edward and Alice, and we can spend the time making neighbor gifts like we do every year."

"Well…" Renee started, only to be cut off by Edward.

"We never have a big meal on Thanksgiving, Renee. Alice and I would much rather just spend the time getting to know you and not watching you in the kitchen working."

"If you're sure?"

"We're sure," he said, effectively ending the conversation. Renee excused herself to go make up the beds after that, leaving us alone to wipe down the kitchen.

As I was rinsing out the dishcloth I began questioning Edward about what was going to happen in the future. "You have no idea what I say to them?"

"None," he replied, setting the chairs to rights around the table.

"Not even a theory?"

"All we can figure out is that it appeases him to wait. When he comes again you're a vampire." He says the last hesitantly, as if worried by my reaction.

"When?" My voice is flat as I try to squash the fear trying to creep down my spine.

"We don't know. It could be tomorrow or in a few years." His answer leaves me frozen.

A little bit shorter, but at least now I've come up with a rough outline for the story. Now to see if the prompts let me follow it...