It was my birthday weekend. I was turning 17. I would be having two parties and a birthday breakfast with dad. I was awake and in the bathroom showering picking out my outfit for the pack party, as alice had already picked out my outfit for the party at their house. I quickly dressed in normal clothes and headed downstairs for my birthday breakfast with my dad. I smiled and gave him a huge hug. I looked at the table and saw french toast, toast, orange juice, eggs, bacon, bagels...every breakfast item in the book. "Dad how?"
"Sue Clearwater came over with that Emily girl and helped cook all this." I smiled and kissed his cheek and dug in. It was amazing. He was all smiles and as soon as he cleared his throat I knew a speech was coming. "You know a few years after I lost Bella and Rene I was so lonely and realised I missed being a dad. I began looking around and asking people about adopting when an old family friend came by and just gave me you. Handed me the papers to sign and said that was that. He told me you were five years old. That was 12 years ago today. You're 17 now and I am so proud of the woman you are becoming. I love you Hathor." His eyes were watery as he slid a red box across the table to me. I reached out and grabbed it wiping my eyes. Inside the box was a beautiful jade antique looking locket with a picture of dad and me when I was a toddler, presumably on the day when he got me, and then a picture of us on my birthday last year. There was also this gorgeous antique hair clip with small diamonds. My tears overflowed and I jumped across the table into his arms and hugged him fiercely. We spent the rest of the day together watching sappy movies and eating the food Sue and Emily had cooked. If I stopped and listened for a moment I could hear the wolves chattering excitedly about the party tonight. I purposely tuned them out as I didn't want to spoil the party. As it got closer to five I ran upstairs and opened the box Alice had set aside for me.
Inside was beautiful and simple, but obviously expensive light blue lace dress, a white leather cropped jacket, some white leggings with a black butterfly design on them, and some (surprisingly) sensible heeled blue shoes that matched the dress perfectly. Then in the big box there was a smaller box that had blue sapphire earrings, a blue butterfly necklace, some nail polish, and some makeup. I shook my head and the preparedness of Alice and began to get ready. The only thing I added to the outfit was a shoelace choker. As soon as I snapped my shoes clothes the doorbell rang. I flew down the stairs before dad could open the door and see Jasper standing there. I quickly said goodbye to him and raced to Jasper's car. I loved his car. It was a bright blue El Camino with white racing stripes.
"You look amazing." He muttered as we were driving. I smiled and thanked him. The rest of the drive was quiet. Jasper always glanced at me as if he needed to figure me out. Edward did the same thing.
Once at the Cullen house Jasper opened my door and escorted me inside. His hands were ice cold.
"Oh wow you look amazing!" Alice exclaimed as we walked in. "Just like I saw. Now. Come come. Cake and then presents. I've learned a bit from my last birthday party planning." I cast her a quizzical look as she yanked me from jasper and pushed me into the biggest room in the house. Everyone was dressed beautifully, it almost hurt my eyes seeing everyone. My eyes were soon drawn to a single layered cake, though it was beautifully decorated. It had butterflies all over it and looked to be whipped topping, which was what I prefered. I smiled and hugged her, "You guys don't even eat though."
"Yes well that is why I got a small one. We don't have to eat, but we will eat with you. And I only got cake cuz I know you've been eating with your dad all day and will eat with the pack, so I figured you wouldn't mind having a small and sweet snack." God her many years on this earth have made her so smart, plus her gift helped.
We all sat down at the table and chewed on the cake. It was the most decadent thing I had ever tasted. I smiled and shared the story of how my day had been going so far with everyone. They were none too happy I was having a party with the pack after this, but accepted that they were my family too. "I can't believe how close I feel to all of you." They all smiled and nodded, even Rose. Alice jumped up and raced upstairs and was back in the blink of an eye handing me packages beautifully decorated.
"Open open open!" She chirped at me.
"Ok ok give me a moment!" I smiled and placed the boxes on the table in front of me and grabbed the longest one first. It was wrapped in gold paper with a brown bow.
"Ah yea that's from me and Rose. She picked it out. I just put my name on the card." Emmett chimed in looking pleased. I rolled my eyes and opened it up. It was a box full of Artis makeup brushes. I squealed and hugged them both. Next was a slightly smaller box with rainbow holo paper and a rainbow holo bow. Inside this one were the coveted unicorn makeup brushes. I squealed even higher and hugged Alice knowing this was from her.
"They match your rainbow personality that we fell in love with. I had Edward tack his name on this one too since he couldn't be here." I sat back down and opened a coral colored small box with no bow.
"That was is from us. We both picked it out equally, but Carlisle had the idea of the shape of it." Esme said. I raised my eyebrow at her, 'Shape'? Inside this box was a gold seahorse necklace. I held it in my hands. About a week ago Carlisle was examining my arm and neck and I mentioned that thinking about seahorses helped me calm down when I was around doctors. That it was my favorite animal, and since I had a needle/doctor/hospital fear being around him and picturing seahorses helped me not freak out. He remembered. I took off the necklace that went with my outfit and put on the seahorse one. I looked at the last box, it was small and square. What could possibly fit in there?
This last one had to have been from Jasper. I opened the box and was taken aback by what was in it. It was a ring with three emerald hearts set in it. I glanced up at him as I felt the heat rise to my face. "It's beautiful. Thank you." I said. He just nodded his head.
"Well I hate to see you go, but Jasper should get you home and you should take a shower so your pet dogs don't complain about our smell on you. I still don't understand why on earth you love them so much. Is it because they're so loyal?" Rosalie said. I rolled my eyes at her and gathered my things. She was right. I needed to take a shower and change and then head out to the rez.
"Wait. I would like to talk to you for a minute before you leave. If you don't mind?" Carlisle said. I nodded and handed my gifts to Jasper as he sped off to put them in his car. We were in what I assumed was Carlisle's study. It had beautiful paintings and crosses everywhere. "Did your dad ever tell you how he found you?"
"He said that an old family friend gave me to him when I was around five, but he never mentions who the family friend is." I say sitting down in a chair. Carlisle sits down next to me and I try not to get caught up in how handsome he is. Next to Jasper, Carlisle is a marvel to behold. I guess I have a thing for blonde's cuz they both are the most attractive men in the house.
"I want to tell you how you came about. I am sure you know of course how babies are made, but I mean I want you to know who your parents are. Here these pictures will help me explain." He reached into a bottom drawer and pulled out an old tin that was faded, but I could still pick out an old black and white cookie advertisement. He handed me the tin and the first picture I saw when I opened it was a picture of a couple. The lady had long dark blonde hair and green eyes and she was very much pregnant, the man with his arms around her had dark red hair and piercing blue eyes. "Those two people are your parents Hathor. Your father's name was Eric O'hare and your mother's name was Analisa Desoto. I met your mother the day she had you...please don't interrupt as I would like to finish my whole story." I flipped through the pictures as he talked, a few ultrasound pictures of me, baby pictures of me and my mother and father, then at the bottom of the tin was a brown package tied up with twine, as I went to open that Carlisle stopped me. "Your parents loved you very much. I knew them for a short time, but I could tell how much they loved you. You see...your parents were killed about a week after you were born. This was a few years before we moved here, I was working as a doctor of course and this lovely couple came in to see me about their pregnancy. They were worried something was wrong with the pregnancy. I assured them they were fine and everything was carrying on as normal. The next time I saw them I was delivering her babies. A beautiful baby girl and a beautiful baby boy. Then about a week after that A rogue vampire couple came into town and started picking people off. We drove the couple out, but before we could this couple had found and targeted your mother. They, for some reason, wanted what she had carried. They had drained your father dry while he was trying to protect the three of you. And as we got there your mother had already been mortally wounded. The couple ran off with a small bundle and Emmett and Rose went after them, but never caught them. I raced to your mother as she lay dying. She pointed me to this tin. I tossed it to Alice as I noticed something. You were still there underneath some blankets and hidden in a closet. You see they took your twin brother, but thankfully only had time to grab him before we showed. I saved you and with your mother's last breath she told me your name and asked me to raise you while we found you a suitable home. I honored her and we took you in. We raised you for a few years and tried to find homes for you, but Alice said none of them felt right. One day she had a vision of you with Charlie. It took some time but we found him and gave you to him. Those wrapped pictures are pictures of your brother. We have no idea what happened to him, as we can only assume the worst. You see that's why we all connected so easily and why we already love you so much. We raised you for five years. Now take with this what you will, but you will always be welcome here." He stood and hugged me. I was silent as he walked me out to the car and I was clutching the tin to my chest. I hadn't opened the pictures of my brother yet and wouldn't till I got home from the last party.
Jasper didn't say anything the whole car ride home and I was thankful. He walked with me inside and up to my room and helped me with my presents. At the door downstairs I was walking him out when he stopped suddenly and looked at me. "I never knew what to think of you back then, but now I know." He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and smiled. As soon as it happened he was gone. I raced upstairs and took a shower and began to get ready for the pack party. I would have to tell Rae what I had just found out.