Catching up with the Cullens
"While you were working things out with Leah, we discussed things with Sam, deciding how much of the events to reveal. I was concerned about having your scent all over me, and Sam actually hugged me to mask it. He said to tell the others it was a hug of gratitude for saving Emily's life," Jasper informs you, wrinkling his nose. "It was a brilliant strategy, worked like a charm. Alice wouldn't get within ten feet of me until I'd gotten a shower and burned my clothes. The only down side was having to run all the way home soaked in shifter stench."
"You should've seen the look on his face every time he got a whiff of himself," Emmett laughs uproariously, causing everyone else to chuckle, even Leah. "We made sure to stay upwind. Sam offered Rosie a hug too, but she politely declined."
"Since when was 'Oh, HELL, no, if you touch me you'll be missing body parts!' considered polite?" Jasper drawls.
Rose flutters her lashes, attempting to appear innocent. "Well, I didn't describe in detail which body parts . . ."
Leah laughs and nods her head in approval, causing Rose to wink at her.
Edward lets himself in the door and joins the rest of you in the living room, adding, "Trust me, compared to her thoughts on the matter, that was polite!"
"Come on in and make yourself at home," you murmur sarcastically.
"Sorry," Edward mutters, embarrassed. "I didn't think you'd mind."
"Don't ever enter my home uninvited unless it's to save my life," you warn seriously. "That goes for everyone. I know you're all supernatural beings for whom locks and other deterrents are no object, but I want you to honor human customs as far as my house is concerned, out of respect to me, got it?"
They all nod, some more sheepishly than others.
"Other than common courtesy, I do have a lovely young shape shifter living with me, and explaining any wolf sized or vampire shaped holes in the walls to Charlie, because somebody got startled by an unexpected visitor, would be rather awkward and uncomfortable," you offer.
They all smirk in response, and Edward apologizes once again.
"Okay, so you came home stinking to high heaven, then what?"
"While he was off in the shower, Carlisle and Esme were busy checking over the rest of us and hugging us, making sure we were all okay," Edward explains. "We agreed to wait for Jasper to join us for a family meeting before discussing anything, simply letting them know we were fine and that the treaty was essentially intact but that the new Alpha would likely want to meet with Carlisle to go over it. Carlisle was amenable and curious about our experience. He seemed eager to meet Sam, remembering his chats with Ephraim fondly."
"Alice couldn't stop complaining about how our futures had disappeared, how she was sure we were dead, and how horrible it was that she couldn't 'see' us," Emmett adds with a smug grin. "She absolutely hated not knowing what happened and having to wait to find out like a normal person."
"Couldn't she see the results of the family meeting though since it was just y'all?" you ask, surprised. "I'd think she'd be able to find out what happened that way anyway."
Rose narrows her eyes and explains with suppressed excitement, "No, apparently because the discussion was regarding the wolves and our interactions with them past, present, and future, somehow she couldn't see that either."
Your eyebrows shoot up in shock. "Really? That's great news! It may help us tremendously. If you include talking about the shifters in your conversations, is the entire conversation hidden from her sight? Though, if I were her, I'd have decided to write a transcript of the meeting in my journal afterward, which she should've then been able to 'read' in her visions."
"Mmmm, you are devious," Jasper purrs, nuzzling against you. "Thank heavens she isn't as clever as you are."
The others nod thoughtfully.
"Once I was presentable again, Alice demanded to know why I came home smelling like I'd bathed in shifter sweat. I mentioned that the Alpha had hugged me out of gratitude for our help in saving his imprint's life. Carlisle was immediately impressed and demanded details. We informed him that Sam had accidentally harmed his mate when unintentionally phasing too close to her. She was bleeding out rapidly, and we were near enough to hear his howl of distress, with Edward able to determine the cause."
"We claimed that was when I attempted to call Carlisle, all freaked out, seeking his help, but that Sam had made it clear there were already too many of our kind near him to bring anyone else into the picture. I used my skills as a translator for Sam's thoughts and Rose offered her medical skills to stop the bleeding, while Jasper kept us all calm."
"What am I, chopped liver?" Emmett whines.
"Yep," Edward agrees, smirking with amusement. Emmett tries to punch him, but Edward dodges it. "Carlisle was extremely proud of all of us, especially Rose when she described the surgery to him."
"He was worried about the fact we went all the way into La Push, but we assured him we were on our best behavior and that the tribe was thankful for our intervention," Jasper adds. "Alice was quiet, but I could tell from her emotions that she was scheming. The fact that the wolves are back took her by surprise, but there was a malicious glee that doesn't bode well for her intentions."
"I told her I was worried because while we were in La Push one of the young ladies phased. Carlisle was fascinated to hear about it, knowing there had only ever been male shifters previously. I told them that the young lady in question was a friend of yours and that her parents were good friends with Charlie, and the new shifter was going to be staying with you for a few days while she adjusted to the change," Edward continues.
"I'm sorry Leah, but we had to tell them a little bit about your situation so they'd understand why your parents and Sam would risk exposure to allow you to stay with the Swans," Rose explains apologetically.
Leah shrugs, looking away uncomfortably.
"We didn't tell them any more than absolutely necessary to get the gist across," Rose continues, sighing. "I wouldn't like other people sharing my story either, so I'm sorry."
Leah nods, still looking away. "I understand," she whispered.
"Alice didn't know what to think about you having a wolf living with you. I asked her how I was supposed to win you over when the shifter wouldn't let me get close to you. She didn't have any ideas, simply told me to be patient and wait until Leah went back to the res before trying to approach you. She did seem happy thinking Jasper wouldn't be able to get close to you either though," Edward tells you. "I told her I was afraid for your safety after what Sam unintentionally did to Emily and that I wanted Jasper to help keep Leah calm. She wasn't happy, but couldn't say anything without admitting she lied about you being my mate. Of course, Carlisle and Esme immediately agreed with me and insisted Jasper and I both keep watch to make sure nothing happened to you."
"Well played, Edward," you praise, smirking at the thought of how frustrated Alice would've been.
"I confided to Esme later when she and I were alone that I felt bad for Leah being the only female and for her circumstances. I told her I could relate to feeling betrayed by one's fiance and then becoming something supernatural. I said I thought maybe I could help her adjust to her situation and reduce tension between our family and the tribe at the same time, possibly becoming friends like Ephraim and Carlisle used to be. She absolutely loved the idea and gave me her full blessing, encouraging me to befriend you too. She already considers you her daughter, now that she knows you'll be joining the family some day," Rose admits. She grins widely at you. "I agreed to set aside my prejudice against humans and make an exception for you."
"Why thank you, Rose, I'm touched," you tease. "You're turning into such a golden child, the model daughter."
She flips you the bird and you laugh.
Turning to Leah, Rose murmurs, "I really would like to be friends, if you're amenable."
Leah meets her gaze and smiles tremulously, giving her a small nod.
"So, it sounds like you have everything under control now, and we're able to keep Alice in the dark," you summarize. "Only a few more weeks, right?"
Jasper purrs and murmurs, "A few more weeks and Alice will no longer be an issue, I promise."
A hard knock on the door startles you, since you're not expecting anyone.
"Come in, Sam!" Jasper calls out, rubbing his hands down your arms to soothe you.
Sam enters and stands in the doorway to the living room, shifting his weight uncomfortably.
"How's Emily?" you inquire.
He bites his lip, then blurts, "She's healed. Like completely healed. As in I can barely even see the marks with my enhanced vision! It doesn't make any sense! What did you guys do?"
Everyone stares at him in amazement. "We didn't do anything to explain that," Rose confesses. "I did a great job on the stitches, but it shouldn't be anywhere near healed. I don't understand."
Sam looks even more worried now as he sees the surprised faces on the vampires.
"You did give her your blood to replace what she lost," you remind him, thinking aloud. "Is it possible she received the effects of wolf-healing from it?"
He was startled by the suggestion, but the others began murmuring to one another, thinking it made sense.
"What does this mean for her?" he wonders, frightened. "Is she going to shift too?"
"Only if it's altered her own DNA somehow," you counter. "That doesn't seem likely, unless she already had DNA from one or two of the lines and it's now been activated by exposure to yours. Though considering she's Leah's second cousin who descends from all three lines, it's highly likely Emily does descend from at least one of the three. So, who knows? It depends on how the magic works, I guess."
Sam leans heavily against the door frame, shaking slightly. "Why did you tell me to use my blood?" he wails.
You frown and explain, "You were the most willing and able to give her what she needed. Plus, it made sense that your blood would be the most compatible, since no part of you would want to hurt her. And you needed to do something to atone in your own mind for hurting her in the first place. Besides, if she does shift, what's so bad about that? She'd be able to help share your life and would be better able to protect and defend herself. She'd be able to keep from aging and stay by your side until you're both ready to settle down and stop shifting."
He turns frightened eyes to you and whimpers, "But what if the imprint doesn't work both ways? What if she imprints on someone else?"
You raise your eyebrows in surprised contemplation. "That would make life difficult for you, wouldn't it? Talk about a love triangle. I don't know what to tell you, dude. You'll just have to wait and see."