Hello, everyone! I know it's been a while since I've posted. I'm so sorry about that. I've been going through a move from one state to another hundreds of miles away, getting my kids started in the new school year, and getting used to my new job and schedule, which is twelve-hour shifts. That's both awful and awesome. It's awful because that makes for very long days at work, but it's awesome because I've had more time to write! And that will continue for the foreseeable future, so I'm hoping to complete this story by the end of the year, next spring at the latest.
I'll admit that I was cheating on "A Circle in the Sand" a bit, too. Another Twilight story idea caught me up. I've decided to wait on posting that one until it's totally finished, though, to make it easier on my poor readers who have to put up with my erratic posting. That new story is almost finished, so you'll be seeing it soon!
That first night on top of Mt McKinley, Edward and I exchanged kisses as much as words, but I still learned so much about him. Even our trip north hadn't felt as intimate as those hours on the snow-covered rock. Our arms were still wrapped around each other when the sun's rays drenched the clouds around us in pinks and oranges.
That small idyll had to end, of course, but thankfully he didn't insist that we return to the Denali clan's home yet. Instead, he allowed me to convince him to hunt. I would never be able to get the image out of my mind, not that I wanted to. He was majestic as he stalked a large wolf and brought it down in one swift leap. The creature didn't have a chance, and neither did I. The glint of blood on his lips and his bright golden eyes meeting mine sent me flying to him, and we spent the next few hours sprawled in the snow. We learned what spots were particularly sensitive to fingers and lips, but neither of us felt ready to take our new bond to the next step.
Afterwards, Edward did show me around the white wonderland of uninhabited Alaska. His love of this isolated place made sense considering his gift. With no humans around for miles and little to attract more traditional vampires to the area, the northern reaches of North America were a haven for him.
Eventually and with great reluctance we agreed that we needed to return to our cousins' cabin. I confessed that I felt like a horrible guest, neglecting our hosts for so long. He assured me that they wouldn't mind. We headed south, chasing each other through valleys buried in snow, startling the hidden wildlife.
Edward caught my hand as we encountered the faint scent of another vampire, one I recognized as Tanya. He tensed and drew me closer. I glanced up to see a brief flare of irritation flash across his handsome features. It was gone in an instant, his mask of patient indifference obvious to me after a few short days. I wondered that Tanya didn't pay better attention to how little he cared to be in her company.
He caught me looking at him, and his mask slipped as he gave me a reassuring smile. My lips tilted in reply for a moment, but a whirl of strawberry blond hair distracted me. I was the first to see her, and it satisfied some primal part of me that Edward's attention remained focused on me as she drew near. Tanya noticed, glaring at us both for a fraction of a second before donning her own mask, this one bright and bubbly.
"Edward!" she called, her voice sweet and light. "Oh, and Bella. I wanted to let you know that your family has arrived."
Edward slowly turned his eyes toward her, although he drew me closer by our linked hands. "Yes, I've been aware for the last two and a half minutes. We're not that far from the cabin, Tanya. You knew I would sense them long before we reached it." His tone mocked her, a first as far as I knew. She reared back a little, mid-motion from reaching for his other arm.
"Well, yes, but Bella couldn't know," she tried to prevaricate.
"Did you think I wouldn't tell her? You didn't even give me a chance," he scolded before turning back to me. "Are you ready to see the others, love?"
Tanya's breath passed between her lips in a hiss at that, and I couldn't help myself. I sent her a smug little smile and replied, "I'm more than ready. We have so much to tell them!" It was petty. I knew that even as I said it, but her persistent inability to recognize the boundaries Edward set for her needed to end. The sooner, the better.
"Thank you for letting us know about our family's arrival, Tanya." With that polite yet cool brush off, Edward led me away at a run.
The Denali house appeared through the trees, and I caught glimpses of familiar faces looking out of several windows. My smile widened. I may not have known them well yet, but the Cullens felt more like family than anyone I had known in years. It was comforting to someone who had been a nomad until recently, almost like wrapping myself in a warm blanket in front of a fire, or so I assumed from reading about that sensation.
Alice darted out to meet us, followed by most of the other Cullens. Rosalie, of course, stayed inside. For a moment, I wondered how long it would take the cool blond to warm up to me, but Alice's squeal cut any introspection short.
"I knew it!" Her eyes narrowed in on my hand linked with Edward's. If I were still human, my cheeks would have glowed with a dark blush, but all I could do now was turn my face into his shoulder for a few seconds.
Edward chuckled. "Keep it down, pixie. It's not like you're surprised often anyway."
Alice slid her arm around my unclaimed one. "Come on. I want to hear all about your trip up."
I turned back to her and raised my eyebrows. "You mean you didn't see it all?"
She snorted. "I only checked a few times to make sure the weather was cooperative. Despite what some people might say, I try to give people privacy as much as my gift allows." The twinkle in her eye ruined the mock glare she shot Edward.
I squeezed Edward's fingers before letting go and allowing Alice to pull me inside. The large family room was empty, but it quickly filled with the other Cullens. I followed their lead and sat in one of the oversized chairs, Edward perched on the arm with his hand on my shoulder as if the brief lack of contact had been more than he could bear. I know that was how I felt.
"Our drive up was uneventful," he told our family quietly. "We got to know each other, and I told Bella some more about our cousins. When we arrived, I took Bella on a hunt to show her around the park." I felt him shrug.
Emmett grinned. "That's all, bro? So tame," he scoffed.
I was about to retort when Rosalie, who had slipped in behind us, smacked the back of his head with a loud crack. "Not everyone wants to brag about their personal lives," she told him, still ignoring me but being more supportive than I expected. I appreciated her efforts.
Carlisle cleared his throat. He didn't say anything, but his eyes locked with Edward's beside me, and Edward replied to his silent question.
"Bella and I are in love. You may all rest easy now. I've found my mate," he told them, squeezing my shoulder.
I smiled shyly up at him and then looked around. "I hope—I mean, I know you already accepted me into the family, and I hope you don't think I'm taking advantage of that," I managed to say, twisting my fingers together. I hadn't felt so nervous since going before Aro to proclaim that I wasn't willing to stay in Volterra. "I do love Edward."
Emmett barked out a laugh. "Not sure how, little sis, but don't worry. We forgive you for the obvious lapse in judgement." Rosalie smacked him again.
Jasper rolled his eyes. "Please forgive our brother. He's often an idiot. I can feel the love the two of you share. It is as powerful as any of ours," he assured me with a smile.
Carlisle cleared his throat again, but this time he spoke out loud, changing the subject. "Our house in Talkeetna should be ready for occupation soon. I have accepted an offer from the hospital there, and when we move in you will all begin attending Matanuska-Susitna College in Palmer. Our story will be that this is my first position after my residency. I will be living with my wife, my younger brother and sister and their significant others as well as Esme's younger brother, who are attending college nearby and staying with us to save money on rent."
College. I never thought I would have the opportunity, and suddenly my lack of experience felt like an insurmountable chasm. I knew that my vampire brain would allow me to learn whatever I needed to, but I hadn't even finished high school as a human!
Jasper sensed my unease. "Don't worry, Bella. We'll help you catch up on the necessary subjects. In fact, Carlisle didn't mention you in his scenario because you're going to be their foster daughter, homeschooled for the first year we're here." He nodded to Carlisle and Esme.
The Cullen matriarch gifted me with a sweet smile. "We'll get you caught up in no time, and then you and I can get to know one another better while these five are in classes," she suggested.
"I'd like that," I told her, warmth blossoming once again inside me at the love in her eyes.
"We thought that introducing you as a bit younger, although not much, would be plausible enough to hold up to scrutiny from anyone suspicious, Bella," Carlisle interjected. "You were younger than the rest of us at your change. Claiming that you are close to the same age would be a bit much until you get some life experience to add some maturity to your appearance."
I nodded, a little disappointed. "Does that mean that everywhere we go, I'll always be the youngest?"
"You already are," Emmett snorted, ducking away from Rosalie. She huffed and rolled her eyes at him again.
I glared. "You knew what I meant," I retorted, glaring at him.
He grinned. "Bring it, shrimp."
Alice leaned forward. "Be careful, Emmett. That applies to either of us, so you might find yourself fighting two if you aren't careful," she threatened, baring her teeth at him a little. Then she smiled, as if she hadn't threatened our brother with bodily harm. "Don't worry, Bella. We'll probably get to play twins often, like Jasper and Rosalie do. Usually that's me and Edward, but you and I are much closer in looks, anyway. We're more believable fraternal twins. Just give it a few years."
Carlisle reined us in once more. "Are there any questions about the main cover story? We can flesh it out a bit more while we stay here with our cousins."
Edward and I agreed that the story sounded good. As the conversation died down, a few of our Denali cousins joined us. Tanya and Irina were missing, but Eleazar, Carmen, and Kate came in and took some of the remaining seats.
Almost immediately, Carmen and Carlisle became involved in a discussion of local medical needs. To my surprise, Edward murmured to me that Carmen was a trained nurse and midwife who often went out to help when needed, although she attempted to stay in the background to keep attention at bay. He explained that she originally helped the local doctors in a small town in colonial Mexico several centuries ago, and one of her trips to check on a patient interrupted a vampire while feeding. In punishment, the vampire changed her. The desire to heal, not hurt, never left her, although she didn't think about feeding off animals until she and Eleazar met the Denali sisters shortly after he left the Volturi. She persuaded her mate to try the diet change, which he knew about but hadn't mentioned because he didn't realize the depths of her disgust for taking human lives.
I marveled at them for a few moments before turning my attention back to Alice, who invited me to a girl's night out with the other ladies in a few days. I was skeptical about the whole idea, but she turned those wide gold eyes on me, the most annoyingly cute pout demonstrating why Edward chose the nickname "pixie" for her.
"Please, Bella? It will be so much fun. We'll dance, get away from the guys, gossip. Have you ever been to a club before?" Alice asked.
I sighed. "Alice, I was turned at sixteen, spent my first year as a vampire with the Volturi and my second as a nomad looking for Carlisle. No, I have never bothered going into a club."
"Our little Bella is only eighteen? I never realized. Alice, you're practically contributing to the delinquency of a minor by inviting her along," Tanya laughed behind me.
I turned to face her. "I suppose I never mentioned how old I was when I attacked, but that's hardly significant. Edward was only seventeen when he was turned, and you don't look all that old yourself. None of you do. I'll get older, even if I won't look it, just like the rest of you. And I'd love to go to the club with you all, Alice." I smiled a little at my new sister. "Although I hope you've figured out a way to get around how young I look."
Alice tossed her head and grinned back. "Oh, don't worry, little sister. Jasper began working on your papers before we left. We just need to snap a quick picture of you and send it to our man. You'll have a new ID card, passport, birth certificate, credit card—everything."
I was shocked. "I never thought…"
"Of course not. You're not used to how we operate. It's more than just having the backstory. We must have all the accessories of a normal life, and they get replaced each time that we move. Comes with being a Cullen," Rosalie called from across the room.
"Unfortunately, we usually change our names a bit as well, although in our hearts we are Cullens. We try to stick with names we will recognize so we'll respond correctly to them, either variations of our first names or our middle names, combined with any of the last names we possessed as humans," Edward explained.
"Oh? So what's my name now?" I should have felt upset. My name was my last connection to my past. But I would never be "Isabella Marie Swan" again, not the way I was as a human. So the idea of changing my name, even temporarily, was easier than I would have thought.
Esme turned from where she sat next to Carlisle, showing that she had been dividing her attention between our two conversations. "Your name while we are here will be Isabel Hale. We've used the Hale name recently, in Forks, but you weren't with us for that. There shouldn't be any danger in using it again. We," she gestured between herself and Carlisle, "will be known as Ann and Carl Platt. Those two," she pointed to Emmett and Rosalie, "will be Rose Platt and Samuel McCarty. And they," she indicated Alice and Jasper, "will be Alice Whitlock and Henry Platt. Edward will be Anthony Masen." She took in my wide eyes. "Don't worry too much about remembering who is who in our own home, dear. We were going by our original first names in Forks, which should help you remember those. And we never bother with the fake names at home amongst ourselves. You'll be fine."
"Being a Cullen is turning out to be more complicated than I expected, and I expected quite a bit," I tried to joke.
Edward squeezed my hand. "Don't worry. You'll get used to us," he told me, his eyes shining down at me. I couldn't help but smile back and agree.