A/N and Disclaimer: First off, I am not SMeyer. If I was, I'd change a hell of a ton about these books and my life choices. Anyway, I just wanted to really say that I'm not a psychologist, nor a therapist. I only know what I know about life and people. Faye knows as much as I know. But I grew up in a very therapeutic environment and believe I know a thing or two that might help the Cullens out. Plus, I thought it would make for an interesting story. So I hope I don't offend anyone with my lack of knowledge. These are just my opinions, really. Hope you enjoy and thanks for being here! Cheers! 3
Stranger Than Fiction
Chapter One
As I drifted among a sea of darkness, the first real thing I became aware of was the pounding in my head. Then, the loud ringing in my ears, though it was slowly fading and letting new sounds take its place. I could hear the beeping of some sort of monitor, as well as a steady dripping nearby. My body felt heavy, like it was being weighed down somehow. I tried to open my eyes, but the harsh fluorescents above me only added to the pain in my head. But I could smell the unique scent of antibacterial soap and antiseptic that could only belong in a hospital, so I decided I must be in one.
Slowly, I became less and less disoriented and the pieces of my memory started to fall back into place. Tears of shock welled in my eyes, and I wondered frantically where my mother and sister were. Before I could drive myself to hysterics, though, I heard the sound of swift footsteps on linoleum coming in my direction. A plain looking nurse entered and smiled gently at me. Her eyes were kind and consoling.
"Oh, good! You're awake!" she exclaimed in a soft voice, as if afraid to startle me. She sidled up next to me and began to take my vitals. "You had quite the knock on the head from that accident, honey," she informed me. But I was not to be deterred by small talk.
"Where's my family?" I demanded. The nurse gave me a pitying look and stepped toward the door.
"I'll let Dr. Cullen explain the situation, alright?" And she disappeared without a backwards glance.
Don't be ridiculous, Faye. You're letting your imagination get away with you, I scolded myself. I'd once looked up Cullen in Google out of curiosity and while of course the Twilight Saga had been the first hit, many other small businesses popped up as well. It wasn't as uncommon a last name as I may have once thought. Still, the idea of a Dr. Cullen was intriguing. Stupid, I reprimanded myself.
But my eyes traveled over to the clipboard that lay at my feet, left there by the nurse. On it was a professional hospital logo that wouldn't have meant much, except for the location. Forks General Hospital.
I could feel all the blood drain from my face, and the monitor next to me started going haywire. How was I in Forks of all places? Washington was across the country from where we'd been when our car had crashed! My head was spinning even faster, and I felt dizzy. I was somehow in Forks, Washington – the very location a group of fictional vampires lived.
I shifted my weight on the thin mattress uncomfortably and tried to take deep breaths, but nothing seemed to calm my frenzied heart. I felt like I was going crazy, but just when I felt like letting loose a scream, the door to my private room opened.
My eyes widened and I felt myself start to shake as a man in his early twenties entered. Bella Swan's description of Carlisle Cullen seared itself into my brain in that moment as I looked at him, shocked. Young, blonde, and handsomer than any movie star I'd ever seen. And I knew without a doubt in my mind that the doctor she had been describing was standing in front of me at that very moment.
I felt like I was going to throw up. I brought a hand up to my throat, a movement meant to tamper down my wave of nausea. Carlisle seemed to quickly analyze my pale face and shallow breathing and quickly strode across the room towards me. He picked up a trash bucket that was next to my bed and gently handed it to me, seeing the signs of my weak stomach.
"Thank you," I whispered to him. He smiled gently and nodded, but didn't say anything. I gave myself several minutes to make sure that I wouldn't be sick, all the while wishing my mother was sitting next to me, rubbing soothing circles on my back like she always does when I'm sick. Finally, I put the bucket down. I sat up slowly and looked over at Carlisle.
"How did I end up here?" I asked after a moment. His lips turned downwards at the corners.
"You don't remember what happened?" he questioned. I shrugged my shoulders, and even that made my body ache.
"It all happened so fast. All I remember is the sound of metal on metal, and Allison screamed…" I trailed off. I could see the pain he felt for me and my family in his golden eyes.
"The police chief found you and your family in your car along Highway 101, along with another abandoned vehicle. It looked like a hit and run." He sighed heavily and ran a hand across his face. "I was close by, so I rushed to the scene to see what I could do. I'm terribly sorry to say that your mother and sister were killed on impact with the other car. It's a miracle you got away with only a concussion."
My mind went blank, and my body went numb. There had to be a punchline. Because in no universe could I survive when my family did not. That was unfathomable to me.
And then I wanted to scream again, to deny, to accuse him of lying, but the honesty and true sadness in his golden eyes told me what I did not want to believe. My family was dead. So the tears started to fall instead.
Carlisle hesitated, but then seemed to make a decision. He sat down next to me on the bed and took my hand. I couldn't help but lean into him, seeking some sort of solace. He seemed surprised, and I didn't blame him. I doubted he got this reaction very often, if ever. I gave myself ten minutes to silently mourn, my shoulders shaking with repressed sobs. But I knew that I had to quickly get a grip. Somehow I had entered the Twilight Zone, and I was all alone.
I wiped the tears away with the back of my hand and squeezed his hand with the other in thanks. He quickly let go, and I sat up straight. He still retained his sad, gentle smile though.
"I don't even know where to begin," I told him. Carlisle picked up the clipboard at the end of the bed.
"How about with your name," he offered. I gave him a half smile. I held out my hand, this time to properly shake his own.
"Faye Davis," I introduced myself. He smiled a bit brighter and returned the gesture.
"Despite the circumstances, it's nice to meet you, Faye," he told me. A thought suddenly occurred to me, and I started to panic.
"Where are all my things? My stuff from the crash?" He seemed surprised at my sudden desperation, but answered nonetheless.
"All your possessions from the crash are under lock and key at the police station, not to be touched by anyone without your express permission," he reassured me, but I could tell he was curious over my sudden outburst. I wanted to sigh in relief. But the nerves returned just as fast as they had left. How was I going to tell him my impossible tale, and make him believe it? I took another deep breath for good measure.
"I had some really important books in the car with me," I started out uncertainly. He seemed to have no idea where I was going with this, but his mouth twitched upwards nonetheless.
"You're a collector then? I have quite the collection of rare books myself. What edition are they?" He was completely wrong in his assumption, of course, but I almost wished he was right. What I wouldn't give for these to be my regular old copies of Harry Potter.
I shook my head. "I have no idea. Where I come from, millions of these books were printed, and my copies were nowhere near special. I just ordered them off Amazon. But, here, I'd bet anything that they're one of a kind." His fair eyebrows puckered in confusion. He stared at me, uncomprehending. I took a deep breath, and decided on a different approach.
"Dr. Cullen, what year is it?" He looked surprised, then moved off the bed to pick up a file. He slipped some dark transparencies out of it – x-rays. He held them up to the light and squinted, even though I knew he didn't need to.
"You don't know? I didn't think your concussion was quite that bad, but perhaps…" he trailed off, musing to himself. I shook my head again, making myself dizzier, but Carlisle didn't see.
"Please just answer the question," I pleaded. He glanced back down at me and something in my face must have caught his gaze because he kept eye contact, watching me carefully as he answered.
"It's 2004," he told me. I inhaled unsteadily, running my fingers through the ends of my hair anxiously, and I noted it was down from its usual high ponytail. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his reaction to the bomb I was about to drop.
"I have a series of books," I began cautiously, "along with a one-off novel, and a companion guide. They were in the car with me when it crashed. They're important because of the information they hold. If you'd asked me a day ago if they were anything special I'd say no, but now…" I sighed. Quit stalling, I scolded myself. I looked up into his topaz eyes once more and steeled myself.
"They're books about you and your family. About vampires."
Carlisle froze. He tried to hold that pleasant little smile in place for a second, but it was no use, and his face slipped into an expression of shock. I curled up into a little ball, my arms wrapping around my bent legs and waited for him to speak. The only thing that came out of his mouth was a barely uttered question.
"How…?" I shrugged helplessly.
"All I remember is the car crash. But I was born on November 12, 2006, which is two years from now. And those books? Those books were a fictional phenomenon. There were even movies made. So how are you standing in front of me?" I said all of this in a pained whisper, peeking up at him from behind my bent legs with tearful eyes.
Carlisle looked distressed. After a moment of contemplation on his part, he finally spoke. "Faye, I think you're confused. You did hit your head pretty hard. You have a severe concussion, and there is no such thing as vampi-" he started, trying to recover his footing. But that only made me angry.
"Don't try to gaslight me," I told him in a surprisingly strong voice. His eyes widened. I had a feeling he didn't expect me to know that term. I sighed in emotional exhaustion.
"I come from a time when men are finally starting to be held accountable for the terrible things they do to women. Gaslighting is just one of them. But there are other things…things like what Charles Evensen did to Esme Platt Cullen so many years ago." It was a low blow, but I had to say something to get through to him. He stumbled backward from my bedside, looking like I'd hit him. I felt guilt churn in my stomach, and reached for the bucket again. This time, I actually did throw up.
Tears pricked at my eyes as I retched. I wanted my mom to hold back my hair, and mutter soothing words to me. I wanted my sister to hover at the door, worriedly. I wanted my family back.
When I was done, I glanced over at Carlisle who was still in a state of shock, halfway across the room. He looked like he had half a mind to bolt. I honestly didn't blame him. If I had had anywhere else to go, I would too. Then, a thought came to me.
"Maybe you should call Edward," I offered slowly. "He might help you get a 'read' on the situation," I hinted. I didn't think Carlisle could look any more shocked, but there it was. Then, he paused, and turned thoughtful. As fast as thought, he plucked his silver flip-phone from inside his doctor's coat and had it open. I guess he finally figured it was futile to pretend around me. He spoke quickly in words I couldn't make out, but flipped the phone closed only a second or two later and turned to me.
"Edward is on his way. My daughter will be accompanying him," he warned. For the first time, my lips turned up in something resembling a smile.
"Alice?" I guessed. Either she had seen something, or her curiosity had peaked. I didn't really care. I had always had a soft spot for the inky-haired pixie and was slightly eager to meet her, despite everything.
Carlisle collapsed in a chair across the room, seemingly exhausted as he nodded. I knew he didn't need to sit, but this must really be taking a mental toll on him so I didn't question it much.
The next five minutes left us to our own thoughts, and with every second that passed I wondered why Edward was taking so long. Wasn't he supposed to be a speed-demon? The silence with Carlisle wasn't awkward, per say, but he kept glancing at me with an expression of uneasiness that had me wary in return. Suddenly I was more alert as I heard two sets of footsteps coming our way. Then, the door swung open, and Edward and Alice Cullen stepped through.
They were both as inhumanly beautiful as Carlisle, of course. Edward had the exact shade of bronze hair that I'd always imagined, but was younger-looking than I thought he'd be. Alice was so tiny I could compare her height with a thirteen-year-old. She really does look like a fairy straight out of Neverland, I thought to myself. I saw Edward lift a single eyebrow out of the corner of my eye before his expression turned wary.
Carlisle went to greet them. They had a quick, hushed conversation that was over in less than a minute, but I knew it held every detail of what I had told Carlisle. Throughout their talk, Edward grew more and more alarmed, glancing back and forth between me in my hospital bed, and Carlisle. Alice was solemn, but when she glanced at me, she shot me a gentle smile and a subtle wink. Had she seen something about me?
Before I could ponder further, Edward strode up to the side of my bed. He crossed his arms over his chest, eyebrows furrowed as he spoke.
"How did you find out about us?" he demanded, rather than asked. I rolled my eyes.
"Why don't you ask Carl- I mean, your dad. I'm sure he can fill you in," I replied snarkily. I heard Alice repress a giggle in the background. Edward flashed her an unamused glance before turning back to me, his frown deepening.
"Yes, but I want to hear it from the source," he insisted once again. I sighed, not having his attitude.
Then, I had an idea. I looked into his eyes, a deep amber today. It must have been a little while since he last hunted. It was an absent thought, but that tidbit of information I knew seemed to unnerve him. But I didn't let it distract me.
I drudged up every relevant memory I could think of. I thought of laying in bed reading the books for the first time. I pulled up images of Austin City Limit signs the night of the crash. Technology and fashion that were years in the future from now. I thought of each of the Cullens, and how I imagined them, and how much I admired them. I finished with one final, coherent thought aimed at him. I would never betray your secret.
By the time I was done with my little walk down memory lane, Edward was gazing at me in total belief, as well as absolute confusion.
"How are you here?" he questioned in a much more gentle tone. I let out a dry laugh.
"Your guess is as good as mine," I replied, just as frustrated with the situation as he was, but for a different reason.
"Edward?" Carlisle questioned from behind him. Edward turned to face him.
"She's been telling the truth, Carlisle. She's not from this time, or place," he responded. They all turned to stare at me, and I couldn't help but blush under the attention. Alice laughed, lightening the mood a bit.
"How is that possible?" Carlisle asked, running his fingers through his blonde hair. I raised my hand in the air like a student would in a classroom.
"Wild guess? Dimension travel." I offered skeptically. Edward tilted his head in contemplation.
"I suppose the…crash could have triggered something like that, theoretically." Edward saw me wince, and it had nothing to do with physical pain.
"My deepest condolences. I'm sorry for your loss," he expressed somberly. I nodded, unable to say anything due to the knot in my throat.
Alice stepped forward and sat on the bed next to me. Without hesitation, she pulled me into her side and tucked my head into the crook of her neck. Surprisingly, it wasn't uncomfortable or awkward with her cold, stone body. It felt familiar, like warm comfort from a dear friend. The tears started to flow once more.
It was quiet for a few moments as they let me mourn, and eventually the tears slowed to a stop. Soon, though, Carlisle turned pensive and Edward started to nod along with whatever was on his mind.
"You know, Faye, as terrible as it is, you are technically an orphan now." I winced.
"Nevertheless, in the case of knowing about what we are and our reality, you would be put at risk if left with a normal, human family. Although I'm sure Alice has seen it," he paused and smiled indulgently at his adopted daughter before continuing. "And we'd have to talk with the others, I'd like to offer you a place in our home, if you want it."
I was quiet for a moment, turning the idea around in my head. It really did make sense when you thought about it. And…maybe I had lost everything, but it seemed I had found something as well. Still, I was hesitant.
"Are you sure I wouldn't impose…?" I questioned. I didn't want them to feel obligated. Edward snorted.
"Are you kidding? Esme will be thrilled." Carlisle nodded in confirmation at his son's words, smiling fondly at the mention of his mate.
"Of course she will. And it will be interesting to have a bit of humanity around," he mused. I suddenly found the number of cracks on the ceiling very interesting, and I caught Edward looking at me funny out of the corner of my eye. I guess I wasn't as subtle as I thought.
Carlisle looked down at his watch. He sighed.
"It's almost my lunch break. That's probably the best time to have the family meeting, anyway. It'll let the others prepare and…express their concerns." Edward and I snorted, then looked at each other in surprise. I felt Alice's body shake against me in repressed laughter and Carlisle disguised his as a cough, fooling no one. I liked Rosalie, and admired her, but I had no doubt my welcome would be a frosty one from the blonde beauty.
It was Jasper I was really worried about. I had never liked that he had been a Confederate Soldier, and in the books seemed unrepentant. He would also do anything to keep Alice safe.
But Alice patted my hand consolingly like she knew where my mind was, and I decided that everything would turn out okay if I had her on my side. I missed Edward's furrowed brows and confused expression at my previous thought process. I was jerked back into the present by Carlisle's voice.
"We should be heading home." He turned to me.
"You don't need to worry. We'll tell the others and get Jasper on the papers for you." Alice tucked some hair behind my ear and sweetly added, "Just focus on healing." I had a feeling she meant in more ways than one.
I settled down in the hospital bed and closed my eyes, which helped alleviate a headache I hadn't realized I had. Behind my eyelids, the overhead lights shut off and I heard the vampires murmur their goodbyes. Alice gave me one more gentle squeeze, then moved off the bed and out the door as well.
Only a few tears slid sideways onto the pillow before I was asleep.