Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Shadows
Disclaimer: All copyrights, trademarked items, or recognizable characters, plots, etc. mentioned herein belong to their respective owners. No copying or reproduction of this work is permitted without their express written authorization.
Prompt: Insist

"We can't tell you," Carlisle said, looking pointedly at Jasper. In a moment my mother relaxed into her chair, but still shook her head.

"Not working," Edward said quickly. "Let up before you put her to sleep, Jazz."

The effect was immediate. As soon as Jasper's imposed lethargy was lifted Renee sat up quickly, angrier than before. "Let me tell you what I know and saw," she said, fixing each of the Cullens in the room with a steely look. "You move too fast. That guy you fought was alive, but there was no blood, and there was no substitution of a dummy. You're burning what's left of him, and that smoke isn't normal." She pointed outside where a column of thick, opaque, purple smoke wafted in a column that seemed to be fighting the slight breeze.

She pointed a finger at each one in turn as she continued. "Edward seems to be thinking of answers to my questions before I've finished asking them. Alice gets this far-off look, and everyone goes along with whatever she says when she changes plans. Carlisle is too young to be a doctor of his standing and understanding, and Esme is too young to be such a renowned architect. They're both too young to have adopted teenagers, almost every state requires a ten-year age difference. Emmett is too fast for his size and honestly gives me the creeps. Rosalie is too beautiful. And I don't know what the hell Jasper just did to me, but that was so far from normal there's no way you can pass that off as a figment of my imagination.

"Now," she huffed, crossing her arms across her chest, "I know you're not normal people. It's like you're real, live X-Men or something and Carlisle is your leader. Somehow you've gotten my daughter mixed up in all this, and as her mother I insist you tell me what it is." Carlisle started to open his mouth but she pointed a finger at him and declared, "And don't tell me it isn't safe for me to know, because I know Charlie knows. That man is good at keeping secrets but not good at hiding the fact that he has one."

There was shuffling of feet as each of the Cullens turned to Alice and Edward. I could tell they were running through scenarios, probably dizzyingly fast, and checking to see which was best. Renee noticed where the attention was focused, so stared at them as well. "I'm waiting," she said in a sing-song voice that I knew meant she was out of patience.

Alice shrugged, so Edward, after clearing his throat unnecessarily, began. "You've gotten Alice, Jasper and I pegged, Renee. I can read thoughts, Alice sees glimpses of the future, and Jasper can manipulate emotions." He pulled out the chair next to my mother and sat down. "Carlisle is extremely compassionate, Esme is capable of great love, Emmett has immense strength and Rosalie has fierce loyalty." Stopping to glance at me, he took a deep breath and looked Renee right in the eyes. Her squirming showed it made her a little uncomfortable. "There's something special about Bella, but we don't know what it is, only that she's able to block me and someone else we know who has a talent similar to mine."

"You're not going to inject her with some mutant agent are you?" she asked, worry creasing her forehead. "Bella, you aren't planning to do anything crazy are you? Did you know about this before you married Edward?"

I walked over and took her hand after pulling another chair around. "Yes, mom, I knew, and yes, I plan to be, um, injected with something that will change me."

Her eyes narrowed. She looked around at each of the Cullens, and from the relief on Edward's face, her decision was one he liked. "It's not like you've joined bad people, although that killing bothers me. Was he a villain? Are there more of them? Could Bella get hurt?"

To everyone's surprise it was Rosalie who spoke up. "He threatened Bella and Charlie, Renee. Carlisle is going to call his leader and try to smooth things over, but we protect each other and the ones we love."

Renee's lips twitched into a smile. "I guess I can see that loyalty, hmm?" She looked at each of them again. "Explain the lack of blood."

Carlisle took this one. "When we're changed blood no longer flows. Our hearts even stop beating."

"Then how are you alive?"

"Osmosis," he said with a shrug, "at least we think that's it. The nutrients we injest move by osmotic pressure through our bodies…"

Renee was waving a hand at him. "Stop with the science, I don't follow it anyway." She sighed. "Is whatever you're injected what makes the purple smoke?" Carlisle nodded. "Is Bella ever going to have to kill anyone?"

"Only if he attacks, that's something we insist on in our family," Esme said. "We broke off from the main group, wanting to live peaceful lives."

"And if your heart isn't beating, how can you tell when you're dead?" Renee asked.

"We don't die, unless we're burned," Edward said.

This made Renee's eyes bug out. "How old are you?"

Edward smiled. "Carlisle is about four hundred sixty something, he's not sure what year he was born. Jasper is over a hundred fifty, Esme and I are over a hundred. Alice, Rosalie and Emmett are babies in their nineties."

"I'll give you babies. I'm older than you in human years," Emmett said, flexing. "Which is why I've got these beautiful muscles and you're all scrawny."

Renee looked at Edward's well-defined arms. "Only next to you, Emmett." She gave another sigh. "Is Bella going to be young forever too?" Everyone nodded. "And you swear that you're normally peaceful?" That was met with nods as well. "Well, I don't like it, but I do understand. Do me one favor?"

"Anything," Carlisle said.

"When you find out what Bella's special talent is, tell me. I know I can't brag to anyone, but a mom likes to know these things."

I hope you all had a lovely Easter! We had a fantastic time surrounded by family. Watching my two-year-old grandson find hidden eggs was the highlight of the day.

KristineM - you're private messaging option has been turned off so I can't reply to your reviews! It used to work, but now it won't let me talk to you. :'(