Xxx

One of the obvious downsides to my lengthy space out was hyper vigilance and overprotectiveness that came from my family over it. Any headway I'd made getting my family to not baby me went out the window and I knew I deserved it. From my siblings constantly asking if I was okay to Esme coddling me every time I stood still long enough.

At one point a week or so after coming home I needed a break so I told Esme I was going for a walk and would be home in a few hours. In the past she would've just said okay and reminded me to be careful but she followed me to the front door asking over and over if I wanted company or if I wanted one of my siblings to go too. Again I knew I had certainly earned this over coddling so it was just in my best interest to go with it and simply explain and remind my mother that I was okay.

As soon as I was outside I took off running to the woods. It felt good to just run as fast as I could nothing to slow me down.

I didn't even pay attention to where I was running to. I just ran.

About ten fifteen minutes in I stopped short, I could smell wolf and groaned. I was not over the line I wasn't even close to it. I wanted nothing to do with the pack I wasn't in the mood.

From around the bend a shaggy sandy haired wolf cautiously stepped out. It was Seth...the jerk that had attacked me for no reason few months earlier and the one who stayed with Bella and Edward up on the mountain during the battle.

I'd gotten the impression early on that he's physically about my age. Give or take a year or two. The second time we met, which was in the field before the battle, when we were just training and the wolves were watching, I got the feeling he was extremely curious about us, me especially, someone about his age. That doesn't mean I'm ready to let my guard down around him. He did attack me for no reason and I think I was in the right to hold a grudge we Scots are not known for forgiving easily at least not the Callaghan clan.

Instead of looking ready for round two or even trying to be tough, Seth gave me this doopy and I mean doopy grin, and to see that kind of face on a wolf especially on a wolf that a few months ago tried to eat me, is well weird.

"Er, hi," I said cautiously, I could feel his emotions he was content, like he had just run into an old friend. His tail even wagged a little, now this was too bloody much "right I'll just be going on my way."

His eyes went wide and he quickly darted back around a tree, emerging seconds later human and pulling on a pair of shorts.

"Wait up a sec Chris," he said cautiously "look..." He paused "sorry about y'know"

"Going American werewolf in London on me and trying to eat me?" I asked his eyes went wide as I shrugged "it's okay, believe me I know 'bout instincts taking over. No hard feelings."

That seemed to be the last thing on his mind now.

"You've seen that movie?!" He exclaimed in surprise

"Well duh" I replied "and the sequel too" I shrugged again "not the best movies in the world but I've seen worse."

"You like horror movies?" Seth asked clearly surprised by that

"Who doesn't, well okay I guess I can add my sister to that she hates them especially vampire based ones," Now Seth just looked at me in disbelief. "What just cause I'm a what do you guys call us 'bloodsucker, leech, flea?' I can't enjoy a good vampire flick? I mean you ever see the original Dracula? We're talking 1930s Bela Lugosi or the original wolf man movie? Lon Chaney Those guys were masters, unbeatable."

Seth still had a blank look on his face I don't know if it was he didn't know the names of some of the greatest actors to grace the silver screen or if he was still dumbfounded that a vampire enjoyed vampire flicks.

"Dude let me get this straight you watch horror movies about your kind, and you enjoy them?" I nodded "isnt that like an oxymoron or something?"

"Er, dunno about an oxymoron, but I was a fan of the genre before I became a vampire. My human dad took me to see the original Dracula story when I was little, Nosferatru, silent film, awesome, still a classic."

"Silent?"

"Yeah as in no words, only music and movie, with dialogue appearing on black slides to read."

"Sounds…kinda boring to be honest," Seth admitted and I shrugged

"Wasn't back then, that was quality cinema when I was a kid. And in my personal opinion, a helluv a lot better than anything Hollywood is producing now a days."

"How old are you anyways?" Seth asked cautiously, like I said before he seemed genuinely curious about me and to be honest I wasn't as afraid of him as I had been. I think the pair of us were still kind of cautious with one another, but it wasn't as bad as it had been. Was there seriously potential for a friendship to emerge here?

"I'll be eighty in December," I explained

"Holy crap," he breathed "I knew you guys were old, but"

"Hey!" I exclaimed and he got this scared puppy look in his eyes, like I was about to beat him with a rolled up newspaper. "Kidding Seth," I replied and he relaxed a little. "Besides, compared the rest of the family I'm the baby…literally. Carlisle we're talking three hundreds, and Jasper just over a hundred and fifty."

Seth whistled

"Wooow," he breathed, "so you really were around for World War II?" he asked and I nodded

"I wasn't just around for it I lived it. I was a kid in London during the blitz," I paused "it's actually because of that bloody war I'm standing in front of you." Seth looked confused again "no war, no building falling on top of me from a German bomb, no reason to be brought to the hospital nearly dead. Also no war, no reason for Carlisle to be in London at that particular time." I shrugged "things happen for a reason."

"Dude next time I have a history exam can I bother you?" I looked at him, trying to determine if he was serious and the scary thing was, he really was serious. "I mean I studied the Second World War in school, but dude you lived it."

"Right, Seth I don't think you can use me as a source though." I grinned "I can see the work cited page now 'quote on page two from random kid who happens to be a vampire and lived it.' really don't think that'll go over well with any teacher."

Seth took a timid step forward and held out his hand,

"Speaking of going over well…look man I am sorry for attacking you. Can, can we call a truce?"

I looked down at his hand for a second

"Were you out here in the woods waiting for me or something?" I asked he shook his head

"I was doing patrols about a mile back, I caught your scent and came to investigate. I didn't realize you were back,"

"Back?" I asked

"Yeah, heard you were up in Alaska for the last month."

I narrowed my eyes a little

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Edward, I was asking if you wanted to maybe exchange video game information and hook up to play online. Edward said you're a huge gamer and you have a few sweet systems. So I thought maybe we could do that, but then when I asked your brother he said you were in Alaska for the month." Seth explained cautiously, it made me wonder how much Edward had told others about what had happened to me. "he called me the other day to say you were back home and were around if I wanted to exchange stuff."

I sighed and ran my hands through my hair,

"Right," I said, Seth's hand was still extended, waiting to shake. He was being the mature one here, apologizing for attacking me and I knew I wasn't completely innocent in the whole thing either so I slowly held my hand out and we shook hands for a brief second before dropping them.

"So, what's your video game of choice?" Seth asked changing the subject and I had to chuckle, I thought I had a short attention span

I shrugged

"Emmett likes Halo, but I can take it or leave it. I like the old school stuff, but we did get a Wii while I was away."

Seth's eyes went wide again, I swear if they kept doing that his eyes were going to bug out of his head, he already looked like a deranged Chihuahua or something.

"Dude, that hasn't been released yet! How'd you get one?!"

"Carlisle has connections." I replied

"Man, all I've got is a PS2 and a GameCube." Seth grumbled a little and I chuckled. I couldn't believe what I was about to do.

"Anytime you want to come over and check it out…" I took a deep breath "you're more than welcome, besides, we're pretty well stocked on the video game basis, I think we even have Pong and an Atarie floating around somewhere in the house. Not entirely sure where the systems are but I can check. But you're more than welcome over."

Seth's surprised look changed from bug eyed Chihuahua back to nervous puppy about to get hit with a newspaper.

"Uh, er," he stuttered and I chuckled again

"Right, vampire werewolf rivalry, me of all people should know that."

"No, it's not that, I don't have a problem with you guys, Edward and I've become pretty good friends while you were gone. We saved each other's butts up on that mountain a couple of times." I nodded "it's just, are, are you seriously asking me over for a playdate?" he asked and I burst out laughing.

I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time, it was so bad I actually fell to the ground laughing. It took Seth by surprise as he stared at me dumbfounded for a second before he started laughing too. Our laughs echoing through the forest, I swear I heard all the small animals in the area making a break for it.

When we finally calmed down, we looked at each other then burst out laughing again. It felt really good to laugh this hard.

"I…" I started to stutter trying to speak around my laughs "I guess I am, Seth, would you come over to my house for a playdate? Or do you have to ask your mum first." I snorted before laughing again. Then Seth snorted and it just started us all over. It literally took I think fifteen minutes to calm down to the point where we could actually talk.

"So glad I didn't eat you, you're all right." Seth breathed leaning against a tree for support.

"Right, you're not so bad yourself, for a wolf…but I'm pretty sure I could've taken you," I shot back grinning

"Yeah right, there's nothing to you, one chomp and that be it you'd be a goner."

"If I was a goner from you, it be because you smell like a wet dog in the summer time. I'd be dropping dead from the smell…oh wait." I put a hand to my wrist and grinned "to late, already did."

Seth returned the grin

"You don't exactly smell like a patch of daisies there Flea."

"Oh really," I replied "that's the name you're giving me. Flea?"

"Yeah whatcha going to do about it?"

I thought that over and my grin got wider

"Wanna race?"

"I think I can take you Cullen,"

I shook my head

"Not a chance, but that's not the kind of race I'm talking about," I nodded over my shoulder "we've got Mario Kart at my house and I've got a whole room set up on the third floor." Seth grinned, like he kind of wanted to accept the invitation, but he hesitated and looked behind him, something only he could hear.

"I would, but I have to get back on patrol, we're kinda shorthanded right now."

I raised an eyebrow, there was a lot in the pack, I mean a lot of members, it had grown significantly right before the newborns had shown up.

Seth nodded off my confused look

"Shorthanded?" I asked

"I've been covering for Jacob, he kinda took off."

"What do you mean took off?"

"Him and Billy got an invitation in the mail that kind of set him off."

I understood instantly

"Oh, right, that invitation."

Seth nodded

"We got one too, I mean, my mom, sister, and I. So we're going, if Jacob doesn't go we're taking Billy."

"Where'd he go?" I asked and Seth shrugged

"Wherever he went, it's far enough that our telepathy is out of range. He was really pissed."

"I bet,"

"Anyways, I gotta get going, I just wanted to make sure we're cool."

"Yeah we're cool." I replied "you got a cell phone?" Seth nodded "what's your number."

Seth got this blank look on his face as he tried to remember his own number, I chuckled and he gave me a half glare.

"What are you laughing at?" he growled

"You, forget your own number?"

"I don't call myself," he argued shrugging. I rolled my eyes

"Fine, mine's 206-926-2540." Seth looked confused as if he was trying ot remember the number "want me to write it down?"

"Pockets are kind of hard to come by in wolf form." He explained and I nodded

"Right."

"But I think I got it, I've got a pretty good memory. Besides I have Edward's number in my phone."

"Wow you and my brother really have become buddy, buddy."

Seth grinned and shrugged

"He's an okay guy, kinda stiff,"

"Try living with him, I've been dealing with that stiff pun intended for over six decades,"

Seth chuckled

"We'll definitely set something up I'm stoked to see an actual Wii, still can't believe you guys have one."

"Sounds like a plan," I replied

Seth gave me a wave and headed back to the bushes. There was a 'pop' noise and his shaggy wolf form came around the tree. He gave me a goofy puppy grin, wagged his tail and bolted into the woods, leaving me standing there, wondering what the hell had happened.

I didn't have long to contemplate that as my phone started ringing. My first thought was that it was Esme, calling to check on me, I seriously knew I earned the babying, but I also knew it was going to get old real fast.

It wasn't Esme's number or anyone else in my family for that matter, it was Bella. I was a little surprised she was calling me. Bella had been over the house a couple of times since I came home. She was excited to see me and had even given me a tight hug asking if I was okay. But even so, I didn't understand why she was calling me.

I flipped my phone open

"Er, hi Bella,"

"Oh Chris I am so glad you answered." She sounded out of breath and I wasn't exactly sure why, she didn't sound panicked or in trouble, just a little testy.

"Bella, are you okay?" I asked

"Chris, I didn't want to call Edward he'd just go on the 'I told you so' streak he's so good at."

"Yeah I know that much, been on the receiving end of that annoyance. But what's wrong?"

"My truck just died."

"Like died, died?"

"Like completely gone, won't turn over nothing."

"Is it even trying?"

"No, Chris you're the only one I trust with my truck."

I sighed

"Okay, where are you?"

"I was heading to work, I'm about two miles from my house."

"Okay, I'll be there in like ten minutes, is the truck off the road?"

"Yeah, out of the way."

"Good, be there soon."

"Okay," Bella said "and Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"Chris thank you."

"Don't thank me yet Bella," I replied hanging up with her. Her truck is ancient and though I have done my best with the maintenance…there's only so much I can do, so much anyone could do. There was a good chance I was going to get to Bella's truck and there be nothing I could do for it, which really made me sad, I love that truck, probably even more than Bella.

Xxx

I ran home as fast as I could, Esme was surprised to see me back so soon, but I must have looked calmer because she smiled at me, hugged me tight then asked what I was up too. I quickly explained about Bella calling me about her truck, she was obviously concerned, but kissed the top of my head and sent me off to play mechanic.

Running would have been faster no doubt about it, but that option wasn't a possibility so I took my dirt-bike. In theory at least the Forks world theory I'm still a few months short of getting my permit, so there would be no driving my mustang to Bella just yet. But Chief Swan or any of the Forks cops wouldn't pull me over for my dirt-bike, provided I had my helmet on which I did.

Bella wasn't too hard to find, for one thing you can't miss that big red hunk of metal and two, she was leaning against it, waiting for me, she started waving her hands madly and flagged me down as soon as she heard the roar from my bike.

I slid to a stop, sending some gravel flying as I pulled up alongside her truck. She looked extremely relieved and literally hugged me as I shut my bike down and pulled off my helmet.

"I am so glad to see you!" she exclaimed and I chuckled

"So what happened?"

"I have no idea, I was driving along, it sputtered, the gas pedal went all the way to the floor and bam, nothing."

"Right," I replied, "okay do me a favor, go into the driver seat, I'll pop the bonnet and have a look."

Bella chuckled a little

"Bonnet Chris?" she asked "how long have you been in the states?"

"It'll always be a bonnet to me Bella, no matter what you Yanks say." I replied lifting the bonnet to her rust bucket. I could smell something hot coming from the engine, it wasn't something I've experienced often, but I did recognize the smell instantly. Her engine was blown, completely gone and it was extremely hot, I could see the steam pouring off of it. Damn it.

I took a deep breath and laid down on the ground, sliding myself under the truck, it was even hotter under the truck and the smell was even worse. I had to get the truck back to our garage, I might have a chance to bring it back to life, but I definitely couldn't guarantee it.

"Is it the oil Chris? I don't remember when Charlie changed the oil." Bella asked as she stood near my feet, I pulled myself out from under the truck and dusted myself off as I stood up shaking my head.

"I changed your oil two months ago Bella, you don't do much driving so trust me your oil is fine." She stared at me and I grinned "who do you think has been changing your oil, checking your battery, your tires, and replaced your brake pads all those times?"

"Charlie,"

"Eer" I replied mimicking a game show buzzer "wrong, yours truly,"

Bella went a little red and she smiled at me.

"Well, thank you Chris, um, at this point in time is there anything that can be done?"

"Right at this moment? No, I need to get it back to the house and get it up on the lifts, I've got the proper tools back home. I'll do what I can Bella."

I pulled out my cellphone and called Emmett, asking him to bring the flatbed truck. Him and I bought it a couple of years ago and its come in handy every time. It helped us move the Mustang when we first bought that and it brought Alice's Porsche home when Edward was still trying to surprise her. The flatbed was in pretty rough shape when we bought it from the local Forks mechanic, cost us two hundred bucks and it was well worth the investment. Took Rose and I a week to get it road worthy and now it's a lifesaver.

While we waited for Emmett to show up I wandered around the truck, trying to figure out what might have caused it to die. I've been really meticulous with the upkeep on Bella's truck. It's a classic example of American automotive ingenuity.

"I'm sorry for bothering you Chris," Bella spoke up catching my attention I looked over at her confused "I mean, I know you just got home and your still…" her voice wandered off and I smiled gently at her

"It's okay Bella, I was just hiking in the woods, it always calms me down. I told you early on if you need anything I'm around."

"So you're doing okay then?" she asked cautiously and I nodded

"Pretty good, are you okay?" I asked and she looked confused, but I had to ask, I knew the battle and the aftermaths had probably been tough on her as well and of course there was the whole Jacob thing that Seth had mentioned

"I'm fine."

"Right, so why'd you call me instead of Edward?" she narrowed her eyes at me and I pretended to jump back in fright "oo, the epitimy of 'if looks could kill' what did my brother do this time?"

"He didn't do anything, but you know he's been after me for how long to get a new car. He hates this truck and has just been waiting for it to finally kick the bucket so he can buy me something obnoxiously expensive."

I grinned, knowing exactly what she was talking about. Edward had Bella's new car stashed in the garage under a tarp, waiting for the day the Chevy dies. He hates the fact that I've been keeping it running and he just wants it to die so he can give her the Mercedes Guardian he's got stowed away.

As nice as that car is, it is nowhere near as cool as the truck so I will do all I can for as long as I can to keep Bella's truck alive…though seriously looking at it now, my fight might be nearing the end, which will make my insane brother happy.

"So you called me?"

"In the hopes that you could get the truck up and running and Edward can be kept out of the loop for as long as possible. I like my truck Chris, I don't want a new car."

"Have you ever considered, I don't know, telling Edward you don't want a new car or at least not buy you one?"

"You've known him longer than I have Chris, has that ever worked out for you?"

"Nope, never," I replied thinking of my first Christmas/birthday with the Cullens, I had insisted, pleaded, even threatened Edward to convince Esme and Carlisle to NOT do anything for me, I wasn't in a celebratory mood to begin with and I hate being showered with gifts, especially since I was still getting to know the family, it was awkward.

Edward didn't listen to me of course and let Carlisle and Esme go ahead with their plan. Even though I felt incredibly guilty about the whole thing, I had to admit, I understood how lucky I truly was and that I had been brought into such a wonderful family, not so much different than the one I had left behind in England.

"Then you understand why I refuse to argue with him, it's a waste of breath. But I can show my contempt, it's my only weapon."

"Good luck with that one." I replied

"Anyways you subject changer, you are doing okay right?" she went back to the original conversation, I sighed and slid my hair back under my hat.

"I'm doing much better Bella, I promise. Getting away, going up to Alaska really helped." In the distance I saw the flatbed coming our way. I looked at my future sister and gave her a half smile "thanks though Bella, for asking."

Emmett had the truck parked and was sliding out of the driver seat before Bella could reply to that. He had the biggest grin on his face and I knew what was coming

"Well, well, well, Bella did that hunk of rust and duct tape you call a truck finally kick the rust bucket?" he asked snickering.

Bella crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him and he had the same reaction I had, only his was serious,

"Yikes. Rose really has taught her well huh Dr. Doolittle?"

"Apparently" I replied grinning "help me get the truck on the flatbed." I climbed into the driver seat as Emmett lowered the flatbed to the ground. After a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching. He went to the back of the truck

"Ready kid?" he called, I slipped the truck out of park and slid it into neutral

"Go for it!" I shot back, Emmett gave the truck a good push and we started rolling towards the flatbed. I steered it carefully as Emmett pushed it up the bed with no effort.

"Nice work!" Emmett exclaimed slapping me on the back as I hopped off the back of the flatbed and grabbed my dirt-bike. Bella climbed into the cab and Emmett joined her.

"Meet you guys at home." I shouted, I slid my helmet on and kick started my dirt-bike. Bella gave me a wave, but jumped when Emmett blasted the truck's horn. I snorted back a laugh and zoomed off for home.

Edward was waiting for me when I pulled up the driveway, his arms crossed over his chest with a look on his face that actually made me snicker as opposed to be afraid.

"Sup bro?" I asked, shutting my bike down and sliding my helmet off.

"Bella called you?"

"Yup," I replied

"About her truck?"

"Possibly,"

"Is it dead?"

"Not if I can help it,"

"Where is she?"

Just as I was about to answer Emmett sounded the truck's horn again, blasting it. It echoed through the clearing and the birds in the trees took to the air like a scene from Hitchcock's the Birds. Emmett pulled the truck to a stop in front of the house and Bella slid out, before Emmett backed the flatbed up to the garage.

I climbed up onto the flat bed and tried to reach the steering wheel as well as maintain control of the truck as it slid down the back of the flatbed. Emmett went to the back of the truck and acted as a buffer helping it move right into an empty spot in the garage, right on the lift.

"Perfecto!" I exclaimed Bella looked at me carefully then at Edward who was rolling his eyes. "It'll be a little while Bella, I'll come inside when I have something for you." She nodded and followed Edward into the house.

"Want help kid?" Emmett asked. I looked the truck over and rubbed the back of my neck, this was not going to be easy by any stretch of the imagination. I didn't even know where to begin, but Emmett's pretty good with cars, Rose was out with Alice for the afternoon, so hopefully they'd be home soon so Rose and I could work together, but Emmett was a good replacement.

We set to work, I was under the truck trying desperately to figure out why it had died, Emmett was online. Rose and I are licensed mechanics and have access to all the same data bases that actual auto body shops and car dealerships have access to and it has come in handy more times than I could count. This was no different, Emmett was able to pull up some information that someone had uploaded to a antique car portion of the site.

"Chris I can't find anything…"

"I think I have it, hold on," I pulled a couple of wires and I could hear a clicking noise, which I took as a good sign. "Em, try turning it over, do it slowly and pump the clutch, 'careful you don't flood the engine."

Emmett did as I asked, I could hear the engine trying to turn over, it wanted to. A few seconds of Em doing this, I heard something else click and the engine sputtered to life.

"SWEET YOU DID IT!" Emmett exclaimed, but his victory was short lived as the engine sputtered, then died…again.

"Bloody hell," I grumbled, and I swear I heard Edward inside the house mutter 'yes' excitedly. "Bloody prat," I said hoping he was listening.

"We'll get it Chris, you almost had it," Emmett tried to reassure as he went back to the computer.

"Let me see if Rose is back yet. I'm lost on this one." Emmett stared at me and I shrugged "yeah I know, I just admitted I'm out of my league here."

Inside the house everyone was in the family room watching TV. Alice and Rosalie had returned from their shopping trip and were looking their plunder over, Edward, Bella, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme were on the couches and chairs. All looked up at me when I walked into the room, the smirk on Edward's face was annoying.

"Having fun?" he asked smartly

"As a matter of fact, I am." I replied just as smartly "Rose, I know you're kind of busy, but I could really use your help."

She nodded and followed me out to the garage. As we headed out there I quickly explained what I thought was wrong with the truck and what had been going on with it.

"Chris go underneath, I'll poke around, let me know what you hear and see. We'll see what we can come up with," she suggested I nodded and slid under the truck.

Ten minutes later, I could hear a clanging noise as Rose tapped something with the wrench.

"Rose, what are you tapping?"

"Nothing, you hear tapping?!" Rose exclaimed

"Uh, yeah, I thought you were hitting something with the wrench, you're not?"

"No Chris, I'm not."

"Oh, bloody hell," I muttered

"Chris you might want to come out from un-" Rose started to say, but it was too late. Whatever was wrong with the truck was a number of things, but one of those things was about to make its presence known and I had no chance to avoid it.

Minutes later, with Rose trying not to laugh and Emmett failing miserably, I walked towards the house. I made sure to stay on the tile of the kitchen as I leaned into the family room. Edward's grin was huge and he was laughing behind his hand, Bella looked horrified, Jasper and Alice looked dumbfounded, before they started snickering.

Esme and Carlisle exchanged a look and were clearly trying not to laugh and even I recognized the humor in the situation. Whatever that clanging noise had been, it was not a good noise because the truck's oil reservoir, dumped its contents all over me, coating me in oil, hence why I was staying on the tile and not moving towards the white carpet.

I gestured for Carlisle to come over and shaking his head, he complied.

"Yes Chris?" he asked

"Carlisle," I whispered "you're a doctor, what's the best way to tell someone that their family member didn't make it."

Carlisle raised an eyebrow and blinked as if he wasn't sure he had heard me correctly.

"Er, Christian do I want to know?"

I nodded towards the garage and Carlisle understood instantly, around him I could see Edward practically patting himself on the back, ecstatic that Bella's truck had finally bought the farm.

"So, best way?"

"I think I'm staying out of this one," my father replied he made a move to pat my shoulder, but realized the oil drenching my clothes and thought better of it. "You're on your own Chris,"

"Right." The entire family was watching me closely as I gave Bella a sympathetic look. "Er, Bella, I hate to have to be the one to tell you this, but…look we did everything we could to save your truck. It fought a bloody good hard battle, it went down fighting."

"About damn time," Edward muttered and Bella made the mistake of elbowing him in the ribs and I saw the pain on her face as he rolled his eyes.

"Sorry Bella," I finished, shrugging.

Shooting a glare at Edward, Bella walked over to me and gave me a smile, I could see she was sad about her truck, but appreciated what Rose, Emmett, and I tried to do for her.

"It's okay Chris, you tried, so thank you." She went to hug me and like Carlisle looked me over and thought better of it "I'll hug you after you're de-oiled." She added smiling gently.

"Christian Aiden Cullen" Esme spoke up, finally getting over her laughter as she tried (key word tried) to be authoritative between her chuckles of course. "I don't care how you manage to get up there, but you are to get cleaned up, upstairs now." I started to step towards the rug and she gave me the death look "away from my carpet you." She ordered pointing towards the garage.

The whole family burst out laughing and I grinned, heading back towards the garage to take the backstairs up to the third floor. As I passed by Bella's truck I patted the bonnet, it was sad to see it go, it was a good little truck.

xxx