I do not own nor do I make profit off of Twilight. All rights belong to it's Author Stephanie Meyer.
As always, I don't like this chapter, but what else is new. I feel like I rushed things a bit and so I do apologize! Also it's super late so if your reading this it's about 1:30 AM and I'm tired and have a full day of Christmas shopping tomorrow so I need to go to bed, so I will write the reviews tomorrow when I have a spare moment! I'm so sorry, I am just so bad at managing my time and really need to word on that lol! So have no fear just check back tomorrow because at some point I WILL GET THEM DONE! I love you all and I can't thank you enough for going on this crazy journey with me! It means the world to me!
Also I do need your help! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF FOR SEASON 2 YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO KEEP WRITING IN THIS DOCUMENT OR START A NEW ONE! PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
Welcome To The Family
"What's your favorite dessert?" I peak up from the menu to Carlisle who also has his eyes down on his own menu,
"Carrot cake." He peaks up, a smile on his lips,
"Carrot cake?" He questions, light dancing in his eyes,
"What's wrong with carrot cake?" I put the menu down; I can't read it anyway.
"I do believe you're the first teenager to tell me carrot cake is their favorite dessert."
"It was the only sweet thing I allowed myself to eat while training."
"Let me guess because it was called carrot cake?" I feel my face flush and pick up my menu again,
"To be fair my carrot cake did have actual carrots." Carlisle chuckles and sets his menu down,
"Well just wait until you have Tiramisu?" He holds up his hand signaling the waiter over before ordering, their conversation completely in Italian,
"Grazie,"
"Prego," I watch the waiter scurry away before turning back and leaning closer to Carlisle and lowering my voice,
"Wasn't Tiramisu invented after you were turned?" Carlisle leans in mirroring my movements to meet in the middle of the table,
"Even one who can't eat can appreciate dessert." I roll my eyes leaning back in my seat and smirk. The car ride down to Rome was almost a blur. At first, I found myself staring out the window watching the warm cinnamon-colored buildings pass by, but once we got out of Volterra, everything turned to open farmlands and I found my eyes drifting close. Esme who previously was telling me all about Rome turned to start speaking softly to Carlisle the first time my eyes closed and then after that, it was lights out. I wished the others had chosen to drive with us but once again each and everyone decided to run, including Rose.
"I need to stretch my legs," She told me early this morning, before we left "You can have Carlisle and Esme all to yourself."
What she didn't count on was me sleeping the whole 6-hour car ride, only waking up just as we pulled into the villa Esme rented for the week. Right after Carlisle helped me out of the back seat, sleep still laced in my head and eyes, Esme pushed us away, telling us to go to the small cafe so she could get the house ready. The nice thing about Italy is everything is almost always within walking distance so it only took us five minutes to get here.
"What did you order anyway?"
"Caprese salad, a croissant sandwich, and a slice of tiramisu."
"Sounds tasty." I slide my menu over, and Carlisle chuckles taking it and simply holding it out, A waiter quickly walks taking it with a simple "Grazie"
"Efficient." Carlisle winks, before pulling out a pad of paper and a pen from his front pocket,
"Grocery list?" I question, watching him slide both of them over,
"I have to admit Mare, our little outing to this cafe wasn't just about lunch." I raise an eyebrow at him,
"I've been told to bring back a Christmas list." I lift a brow and frown,
"Couldn't the all-expense paid trip to Italy be my Christmas present?" Carlisle chuckles reaching over to tap the paper,
"Unfortunately neither Alice nor Esme will accept that, and I have a feeling Emmett and Rose will both be unhappy if you don't write something on that list." I huff before grabbing both pen and paper and quickly scribble the first thing that comes to mind and slide it back over. Carlisle takes it with piqued interest and reads it over before setting the paper down,
"A peppermint candle?" He questions, I shrug,
"My mom used to light one on Christmas Eve." His eyes soften and he reaches for the pen, before circling the only thing I have on the list,
"A peppermint candle it is, what else?"
"I don't need anything."
"All teenage girls want something." He holds the pen out again,
"Who's the last teenager you brought into your home?" Carlisle's actively trying not to smile now,
"Fair point." Just then the waiter comes back placing a modest plate of sliced mozzarella, tomatoes, and sprigs of basil, a dark sauce is sprinkled over it. The waiter places two small plates down to the side before placing a wooden board with two croissant sandwiches and then finishes by placing down a square dessert sprinkled with cocoa powder, this must be the tiramisu.
"Grazie" Carlisle waves towards the man who answers with a short bow and a wave,
"Prego." I look down at everything feeling my mouth water,
"It looks good," Carlisle reaches forward gently plucking one of the sandwiches off the board placing it down on one of the small plates, and setting it down in front of me. He then reaches forward, grabbing a large spoon sticking out of the plate containing the mozzarella and tomatoes, and gently grabs two slices of each and dishes it out on my plate,
"Enjoy," Carlisle smiles and I waste no time digging it. Theirs something about Italy, everything I've eaten has been so good and so fresh. I have to remind myself of my manners otherwise I'd be mmmmmm after each bite. Carlisle watches me with fascination as I stuff my face, after a second I swallow reaching for one of the water classes and taking a big gulp,
"What?" I ask swallowing,
"I don't think I've ever seen you eat like this." I spear a slice of tomato and take a bite,
"It's good."
"If only you'd eat this way back home."
"You should have seen me with the lobster," Carlisle frowns, "Too soon?"
"A bit." I smile anyway and after a second Carlisle does too,
"Finish your meal and we'll talk Christmas list."
…
"Are you alright?" Carlisle asks placing his arm around my shoulder,
"I shouldn't have finished that Tiramisu." I groan, resisting the urge to unbuckle my jeans right here in the middle of the market. Carlisle laughs and pulls me into his side for a quick second,
"I told you."
"Tiramisu is definitely in my second favorite dessert."
"Only second."
"I have a feeling a tiramisu isn't the same in the States." Carlisle chuckles
"I'm afraid you might be right." After finishing lunch, Carlisle once again tried to get me to write something down on the Christmas list, but it was a lost cause, eventually, I got so frustrated Carlisle dropped it. In all honestly, I don't want anything, I already feel weird accepting the things I have now. Nice clothing, all the books I could read, a new TV, a furnished room, this trip to Italy..even if it came with unwanted visits, there was nothing more I could even think of to ask for, and I think Carlisle understands this because he brought me to the markets. So far he's bought a handcrafted wooden spoon for Esme, a new perfume for Rosalie, and a hand-dyed scarf for Alice, while I stop to look at everything.
"Anything catching your eye." He asks shouldering the small cloth bag he purchased to hold all of his loot. I start to shake my head when something does in fact catch my eye. I stop stepping out from the cold warmth of Carlisle's embrace and step to the side to a small pop-up shop with all different types of jewelry on display,
"I didn't think you were one for jewelry," I shrug,
"I'm not really." I look up and down rows, hand-made rings cast in silver and gold, surrounded by different lengths of chained necklaces strung with glass beads,
"Something you like?"
"I just like looking." I reach forward brushing my fingers against the sparkling stone wrist cuffs,
"I don't think I've seen you wear any jewelry, do you have a preference?"
"I used to have this ring, my coach gave it to me, but when I quit I kind of just threw it away," Instinctively my thumb goes to the spot where it used to sit on my right ring finger. It's been so long since I've worn it, but it still feels like it should be there.
"Any ring you like?" Reflexively I ball my fists and turn,
"No, but there is something I do want." Carlisle lifts a brow,
"Yes?"
…
"I thought you said you were full."
"Theirs always room for gelato."
"Is that right?" I nod bringing the small wooden spoon to my mouth and melting, Carlisle laughs at the over-exaggerated look of bliss on my face, but if only he could taste he would understand. I savor the dessert before going in for another bite, while Carlisle jabs at his own, I know once I'm finished he'll offer me his too. I picked hazelnut while Carlisle went for a light yellow lemon, I can't wait to taste it.
"While we're here I think we should talk about Volterra," I swallow, I figured this was coming, I just didn't expect it to be in public while I'm stuffing my face with Italian ice cream.
"Here?"
"I just want to understand how you're feeling about all of this." I take another bite and savor the taste for a minute if only so I don't have to talk.
"If me living with you puts you in danger-"
"That's not what I meant,"
"Then what did you mean?" Carlisle sets his cup down and holds his hands,
"I want to know how you're handling this mentally my darling." I take another bite this one bigger and roll my eyes,
"Is this another ploy to get me to do your weird therapy-"
"Therapy is not weird,"
"I'm also still not doing it." Carlisle purses his lips with a nod,
"This is definitely a conversation we need to have but one for later, right now I want to know how you're feeling about everything that's happened, everything that you most likely are keeping locked tight away in that head of yours."
"I'm fine," I shrug,
"Yes, you're always fine but, how. Are. You?" He emphasizes, I take another bite sad to realize it's my last one, and begin scrapping the sad little paper cup when Carlisle slides his over. I reach for it however he pulls it back with one raised eyebrow, I sigh,
"I feel like you're putting your life on the line for nothing."
"Marceline, you are not nothing-"
"I know, I know" I roll my eyes, "You want me to have more self-preservation than I do, I promise I'm working on it, can I have the gelato now?" Carlisle raises one brow but slides the cup over, I quickly take a bite. I think the lemon is even better than the hazelnut,
"I do want you to feel more comfortable in both who you are and how those around you feel about you, but I know that's not going to be an overnight revelation for you, what I want to make sure of is that behind all this sarcasm and teenage wit you have, is that you're not falling apart." I stop mid-bite and set my spoon down,
"To be honest.."
"Yes?"
"I feel bad." Carlisle scrunches his face clearly confused,
"Pray tell dear child why?"
"I literally drop in your life, you take me in any way, you treat me well, buy me nice things, when you don't owe me anything, but you do it anyway. We come all the way to Italy and it feels like you could have..." I look around, "died, and for me, and it makes me feel bad...really bad..almost like I don't want to finish this delightful icy treat, but I think I'll be able to find the strength too." I take another bite...I should have gotten the lemon.
"Mare, first, taking you in was simply the right thing to do and I think you forget that once upon a time everyone in our family was sitting in the position you are in. I know the world hasn't always been kind to you, but there is good in it and you deserve all of it. Second, I know what happened in Volterra wasn't what I expected and as I said I'm so sorry for that, but deep down I know no one was going to die, neither you nor me. Lastly, I'm very glad you like the gelato, and if Esme asks you had one serving." That makes me smile, "Marceline, you're important too, and for however long you're here, we want you to be here with us okay?" I nod, finishing the rest of Carlisle's cup, and push it away, before I remember two things Aro said
"But what about what Aro said...about not taking anyone else into your family, Bella-"
"I'm not thinking about that right now okay." His voice takes on a gentler tone, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it understand?" Reluctantly I nod, my head taking on even more questions about the book, the future and Edward when the other thing Aro said takes a forefront,
"Can I ask one question?"
"You can ask as many as you'd like?" I swallow trying to find the words for this question that's been bumping around my head since I heard the words spoken,
"Am I...gifted?" Carlisle's demeanor changes and he leans back in his chair,
"There is something that seems to point in that direction yes, what it is, how it works, the importance of it, I don't know, but yes Mare, you do seem to possess an ability."
"Taking away other gifts?" I ask cautiously suddenly finding an interest in scrapping rust off the mental tabletop,
"It would seem." I turn away,
"Am I hurting anyone?" Carlisle's hand comes to rest on mine, stopping me from scratching the table. I find his eyes his expression serious,
"No," I nod,
"We're here to help you. As long as you're here, your safe and loved and although I never officially asked you, you're part of this family. The only question sweetheart is are you going to let yourself feel that?" I wait a second taking in the unwavering sincerity in Carlisle's words, his eyes hard on mine. I take a breath and nod,
"Yes," he smiles,
"Welcome to the family Mare."
END OF SEASON ONE
SESON TWO COMING MID FEBRUARY 2025