Beginning Notes:

I know many of you are wondering when, or if, the Denali's will make an appearance in the story. Rest assured, they will, but it won't be until later. There are several key events I want to unfold first, both before they meet their mates and before the Denali arrive. Stay tuned—I promise we will get there!

Chapter 34: Plans for Protection and Make-Believe

I could see Rose and Emmett vibrate with rage. Ivy started to growl in my head thinking of what Edward would do when he came back. She didn't trust him to stay away from Robyn and neither did I.

Suddenly, Emmett bolted into the backyard. The sharp cracks of trees splintering echoed back, each one punctuated by his furious growls. He was still in hearing range so he must be pretty close to the house.

Rosalie stood abruptly, clutching Robyn tightly against her chest as she paced the room, her worry deepening with every second. Robyn tucked her head into the curve of Rosalie's neck, her body trembling. I couldn't tell if she was shivering from the cold or fear, but the slight shake in her frame was unmistakable.

Carlisle unknowingly chose the worst moment to speak. "Rosalie? Perhaps it would be better to sit Robyn down," he suggested. Rosalie froze mid-step, her body stiffening as she shot Carlisle a sharp, warning glare, a low growl rumbling in her chest.

Her protective instincts flared, but when she looked down at Robyn nestled against her, trembling, her expression softened. She quickly walked over to the couch and the moment she attempted to pull away, Robyn's heart rate picked up and she let out a whimper, clutching Rosalie's shirt with such force her knuckles turned white. Her grip was desperate, unwilling to let go, as if releasing Rosalie would unravel her entirely.

Rosalie instantly pulled Robyn closer, settling her gently on her lap. She rubbed her back in slow, soothing circles, whispering soft, comforting words. I gently pried one of Robyn's hands from Rosalie's shirt and cradled it in mine, softly brushing my thumb over her knuckles in slow, calming strokes. In the back of my mind, I felt Ivy's quiet whimper of frustration, her helplessness evident. A moment later, her presence faded briefly, and when I focused on her again, I realized she had reached out to Robyn through their mind link, offering soft, comforting nuzzles to soothe her.

I guess Emmett also heard Robyn's whimper because he quickly appeared out of nowhere. His eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of danger before they landed on Robyn, still clinging to Rosalie's shirt. His expression immediately softened. Without a word, he walked over, pulling me into his lap, his large hand tenderly stroking the side of Robyn's arm, trying to offer her the same comfort, a silent promise that she was safe.

It took a while for Robyn to settle down but once she did it seemed like everything took a breath of relief. Seeing Robyn calm down made us calm down. I could feel Emmett and Rose become calmer. Though Robyn still had her head nestled in the crook of Rosalie's neck, the trembling had stopped, and I could feel her heartbeat steadying, finally returning to normal.

Are you okay?

"I'm scared—more than I want to admit. I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it. He's a vampire, and I'm just human—fragile, breakable. If it ever came down to it, he could overpower me in an instant, without even trying. And the terrifying part? There wouldn't be anyone around to stop him. No one can watch over me every second, I hate feeling this way, but I can't ignore the truth."

I nodded, understanding exactly where she was coming from. There was a logic to her fear, and that made it all the more chilling.

I know. Ivy and I won't let anything happen to you—and neither will Emmett or Rose.

Jasper cleared his throat making everyone look at him beside Robyn. "I think it's time we come up with a solid plan," he suggested, his tone carefully measured. "Just in case, Edward does something reckless that makes someone want to tear him apart." He shot a glance at Rosalie and Emmett, their tension unspoken but noticeable. "It would be smart to keep an eye on him, but the real concern is if he manages to slip away and pull something dumb or dangerous."

Hearing that made Emmett and Rose tense again. Ivy, who was back in my mind, began to growl viciously at the thought of him being anywhere near Robyn.

Carlisle broke the silence, his tone steady but not entirely convincing. "I don't believe Edward would do anything like that." It sounded more like a defense than a certainty as if even he wasn't entirely sure. It seemed like he was trying to defend his golden boy. Ivy let out a huff in agreement.

Everyone in the room exchanged uneasy glances, the shared doubt thick in the air. It was clear they all believed Edward might try something reckless. Even Esme, usually the second to defend him, hesitated before speaking. "It's probably wiser to have a plan in place… rather than wish we had one later," she said, her uncertainty betraying her normally calm demeanor. Carlisle looked at her like he couldn't believe she didn't take his side.

Jasper nodded in agreement. "I think so too. It'll be easy enough to keep tabs on him at school, but I'm more concerned about him slipping away and going to her house."

Rosalie's low growl rumbled through the room. "If he even thinks about trying that," she hissed, her eyes flashing, "I won't be held responsible for what Emmett or I do."

The tension in the room became almost suffocating after Rosalie's words, but no one could blame her. Robyn was one of her bond children, after all, and that kind of protective fury was expected.

They began making plans someone suggested watching Robyn's house in shifts but then someone brought up the wolves on La Push. Emmett suggested that Edward should stay in Alaska until Robyn graduates but that was quickly intensely vetoed by Carlisle. I just sat there thinking of something we could do.

Pssst, hey Faye.

Yeah, Ivy?

Why can't we stay with Robyn?

Us? What do you mean?

Well, I was thinking about what Robyn said—about no one being able to be with her all the time—and I thought, maybe we could stay with her.

Oh yeah, that'll go over great with Charlie. 'Hey Charlie, hope you don't mind, but this random kid is just gonna move in with you.' Yeah, that's definitely not going to be a disaster.

Ivy let out a grumble. I have two things to say about that. One, that was not what I meant. Two, I meant, why don't we shape-shift into an animal and Robyn can pretend to find us in the backyard of her house and persuade Charlie to keep us?

That's… that's not a bad idea.

I could feel Ivy's smug expression. I know. I'm so smart! We can even ask Robyn, what pet Charlie wanted to have to make it easier. She paused, as if weighing her next words, then added with a bit of a sharp bite in her tone, But if he says cat. We are making a different plan!

I let out a mental chuckle before thinking about our bonds. But are you sure? What about Emmett and Rosalie?

I mean, we can get Robyn to take us over to their house whenever, right?

That's true. I mean it couldn't hurt to suggest it, right?

I felt Ivy nod as I blinked my eyes and focused on what was happening. They were still suggesting different things, but I turned my attention to Robyn who was still tucked into Rose's neck. I spoke up softly calling her name.

"Robyn?"

Everybody seemed to pause hearing me speak. Robyn tilted her head towards me giving me her full attention. "Yeah, Faye?"

I didn't know how to start the conversation, it felt awkward asking this but I did it anyway.

"What's Charlie's favorite animal or a pet he always wanted?"

She looked confused as did the rest of them. "Uhh, I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind a dog though, why?"

I could feel Ivy getting excited. I like this man already! He has great taste! I shook my head slightly.

"What kind of dog?" I thought of easy dogs that I could turn into without thinking of it. There were only two that came to mind. "Actually, do you think he would like a black lab or a German shepherd?"

"Umm, probably a German shepherd? Why Faye? what's going on?" She asked in a slightly worried tone. I ignored her question, focusing instead on whether I could actually pull it off before suggesting anything. Sliding off Emmett's lap, I glanced down at my clothes. I'd hate to ruin these overalls.

Why didn't I make that spell to keep my clothes intact?

I don't know but we can always figure that out later.

I nodded and slipped off my overalls, leaving my shirt on. Thankfully, it was long enough to cover down to my mid-thigh, offering just enough modesty.

"Faye?" Rosalie called my name, her voice laced with curiosity. I didn't answer, just closed my eyes and focused, quickly shifting into the first German shepherd that came to mind. I felt my bones shifting as my body began to shrink. I could hear someone gasp but I just continued. Soon I opened my eyes and noticed that everything was bigger. I looked down and noticed light brown paws.

"Faye?"

I glanced up and caught Robyn's confused expression. In response, I yipped and bounced around, trying to get a feel for this new body. We weren't a full-grown German shepherd, but not a newborn baby either—somewhere in between, like an awkward teenager. It felt a bit like our wolf form, just smaller. A lot smaller. As I leaped around, I suddenly stumbled, tripping over something. I realized my shirt had stayed wrapped around our neck, hanging like a ridiculously long scarf.

I heard someone chuckle, and I shot a glare in their direction. It was Emmett. So rude! I let out a huff in annoyance, but before I could react further, someone scooped me up, causing me to yelp in surprise. I turned my head and realized it was Robyn making me relax a bit.

"You want to tell me what this is about?"

I let out a sight huff before nodding.

Ivy had a plan. I can explain it more after I change back. Before I do, I was wondering what I look like.

Robyn looked at Jasper. "Umm, Jasper? Can you get me a big mirror?"

He looked confused but nodded nonetheless. "Yeah, I can. Alice should have a full mirror upstairs. Let me go get it."

He dashed upstairs and soon returned with it in hand. Robyn set me down on the floor, and I trotted over to the mirror. What I saw took me by surprise—I was absolutely adorable! My tail wagged uncontrollably as I gazed at my reflection. I was so fluffy and my fur looked so soft! I looked more like an awkward young teenage pup than a full-grown adult dog. Oh well, Charlie wouldn't stand a chance against this cuteness!

If you would like to know what she looks like in this form I have a picture of her on my AO3 account. I wish I can put the photo on here but I don't know how. :(

I nodded at Jasper in thanks before trotting over to a large blanket in the corner. I quickly went under it and shifted back. I peeked my head out and sheepishly smiled.

"Uh, hi?"

I explained Ivy's plan to the Cullens. At first, Jasper, Alice, Esme, and Carlisle were confused about who Ivy was but I quickly explained. Carlisle's curiosity sparked an eagerness to learn more or perhaps conduct some experiments. However, Rose's sharp glare swiftly redirected his attention, silencing any thoughts of experimentation.

For now.

Moving on, they seem to like that idea. We devised a great plan for when Robyn returns home tomorrow: after spending a few hours settling in, she could venture into the backyard and "find me." Once she did, she'd persuade Charlie to let me stay, allowing me to protect her while she was at home and the Cullens could protect her at school. Robyn quickly called Charlie letting him know that she was better and would be home tomorrow which made him happy.

After the call and the meeting, everyone went their separate ways, leaving Rose, Emmett, Robyn, and me to spend the entire day together. We chatted and played Uno, enjoying each other's company. I showed Rose and Emmett Ivy's wolf form, then played a game of tag with Emmett. After shifting back, I realized my tail and wolf ears had disappeared, just like Ivy had predicted.

During our time together, Rose brought up the idea of taking me to get my haircut. Robyn, a bit shy, chimed in, asking if she could join us for her haircut. She revealed that in her past life, her hair had been shoulder-length, and she'd always wanted to cut it shorter. Rose instantly agreed, promising to cover the cost of Robyn's haircut as well, which lit up her face with joy.

Today was the day Robyn would return to Charlie, and the plan was set to unfold. Rose busied herself fussing over Robyn, insisting she promised to call and eat regularly, which Robyn assured her she would.

After their heartfelt exchanges, Rose and Emmett drove Robyn to Charlie's, with Robyn and me sitting in the back seat. It was clear they were reluctant to let her go, but they understood there was no alternative. I wrapped Robyn in a warm hug in the car, reassuring her that I would be there soon, I had to wait a couple of hours before meeting her in the backyard.

As she stepped out of the car, Rose and Emmett pulled her into a tight embrace, holding on for a moment longer before reluctantly letting her go. They watched her walk toward the house, their expressions a mix of love and concern. Charlie stepped out of the house, greeting Robyn with an awkward smile and guiding her inside. I noticed Emmett tense up as he watched Charlie, his parental instincts flaring with a hint of jealousy.

We all stared at the door a bit longer before Rose and Emmett let out a sigh and got in the car. It felt like a part of us was missing. Even Ivy agreed as she let out a small whine. Emmett turned around in his seat. "So, little bear. Is there anything you want to do before it's time?" I thought about it for a moment before my stomach growled. I guess all this excitement made me forget about breakfast.

Rosalie let out a small laugh. "How about we get you some food, huh?" I nodded my head excitedly. "I think there is a diner around here somewhere." We pulled up to a diner called, "The Lodge." As we walked inside I thought it looked familiar and as we sat down at a table I realized that this was the same dinner that Charlie took "Bella" in the movie.

I shook my head as the waitress brought over the menu and asked us what we wanted to drink.

"Water for me."

"Me too."

Of course.

She turned to me with a warm smile and said in a gentle voice, "And what about for you, sweetheart? Would you like water too, or maybe something fun like juice?"

My eyebrow twitched slightly. It was obvious she was treating me like a child—though, to be fair, I was one. It probably didn't help that I looked to be around nine years old. I let out a mental sigh as I heard Ivy snicker.

Oh well. Might as well try to play the part, right? Okay. How do I do this?

I looked up at her with the biggest, most innocent eyes I could manage through my bangs and gave her a sweet, nervous smile.

"Can I get orange juice, please?"

The waitress practically melted on the spot, her hand going to her chest as if to contain the overwhelming cuteness. "Oh my goodness, of course, darling! And you know what?" She leaned in as if she was telling me a secret, her eyes twinkling. "How about a brownie on the house? You're just too sweet to resist."

Ivy's laughter echoed in my mind, light and teasing, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

Well, I thought, it's been a while since I've had a brownie. I'm kind of excited.

So, I looked up at the waitress with a bright expression, my eyes wide with excitement. "Really?! Thank you, miss!" I gushed, adding just the right amount of childlike enthusiasm to seal the deal.

Her face lit up even more if that were possible, and she beamed at me like I'd made her whole day. "Anything for you, sweetheart."

As she walked away, I slumped slightly, dropping the act. That was kind of a bit exhausting, I thought, catching Emmett's grin from the corner of my eye. He was thoroughly enjoying my little performance. I let out a small groan when I peeked over at Rose and saw her stifling a laugh.

Why do I feel like I'll never hear the end of this?

Because you won't. That was gold! I am so telling Robyn about this. We are so doing this again. Robyn needs to witness this!

I let out another small groan into my hands hearing her say that. I felt someone rub my shoulder making me look up. Rose was giving me a sympathetic but amused look. "You alright, baby bear?" she asked softly.

I nodded, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "Yeah, Ivy just said she's going to tell Robyn about this. That was embarrassing."

Rose chuckled softly and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "You did great, though. But why did you go along with it? I could see you weren't thrilled about the way she was treating you, at first."

I sighed, dropping my gaze. "I'm stuck in a younger body, and I look younger than I really am. People see me as a little kid, and that's how they will treat me. Sometimes it's easier to go along with it, I guess. There are moments when I appreciate being treated like a kid, especially with you, Robyn, and Emmett; it feels nice and comforting. But with other people, it's a bit overwhelming. I've never had an adult treat me this kindly before, except for Harry, and it feels strange. I'm still getting used to it."

Rose's expression softened as she listened, and she nodded thoughtfully. "I get that, baby bear. It must be tough. Navigating between feeling like a kid and being used to being treated like an adult can be really confusing. I admire how you handle it. You found a way to embrace your cuteness and use it to your advantage, and that takes a special kind of strength and talent."

She leaned in closer, her voice gentle and reassuring. "You absolutely deserve that kindness. It's completely normal to feel a bit mixed up about it. That waitress couldn't help but be charmed by how adorable you are, and that's why she showered you with so much warmth. I don't think her kindness had anything to do with your age. Okay, maybe it did a little, but it was still genuine. You can continue to act whatever age you feel comfortable with."

Rose smiled, her eyes warm and encouraging. "And if it ever gets too much, you can always talk to us. I'm proud of you for being honest about how you feel." I leaned my head on her shoulder. "Thanks, Rose." I felt her squeeze my shoulder. "Anytime, baby bear."

Emmett cleared his throat, drawing my attention as he flashed a playful grin. "Hey, you did get a free brownie out of it, right? It can't be all bad." He winked at me, and I couldn't help but laugh. I nodded, a cheeky smile spreading across my face. "You're right; I guess it really isn't so bad after all."

He placed a hand on his chest and struck a dramatic pose. "You nearly made her heart give out from all that cuteness, baby bear! Death by cuteness—what a way to go!" His playful theatrics made me laugh even harder. I could tell he was trying to distract me and lift my spirits, and, to my surprise, it was working.

Soon the waitress came back with our drinks and asked us what we would like to eat. Surprisingly Rose asked for scrambled eggs and a bacon strip while Emmett asked for the two wedge French toast which came with two pieces of French toast, one egg, and one bacon strip but he asked if he could get it towards the end of the meal which she agreed to.

I gave them a confused look before giving the waitress a genuine smile and asking for the four-dollar pancakes which also came with an egg and bacon strip. She smiled brightly at me and told me that she would put the order in. We thanked her as she walked away.

I turned towards them with a confused expression. "I thought vampires couldn't eat?" Rose nodded her head. "Yeah, we can't. I got the scrambled eggs and bacon strip for you and we figured by the time we got done eating here we could stop by at Robyn's to give her breakfast which is why Emmett got the French toast. I'm not certain if Robyn ate with Charlie, but I want to make sure she had something to eat." I could see the worry coming off her in waves.

I placed my hand gently on her shoulder, prompting her to meet my gaze. I smiled and said, "I'm sure she'll appreciate that. It might be a good idea to text her and ask if it's okay for us to come to her window though. We don't want to remind her of Edward coming into her window uninvited. We could go through the front door but I'm not sure how Charlie will feel about visiting right after we just dropped her off."

Rose's nose crinkled a bit thinking about what Edward had been doing before letting out a sigh before nodding her head in agreement. "I will. We are not going to be an Edward 2.0. I just wish we could all live together without having to kidnap her from Charlie or deal with Edward. Honestly, I'm starting to grow tired of Carlisle constantly going on about how Edward can do no wrong, not being able to dress how we want, Alice's meddling, and some other things."

I tilted my head, curiosity piqued. "Why do you stay with them? Can't you create your own coven? Aren't you tired of repeating high school over and over, only to move again because Carlisle wants to play doctor and needs a family cover? It doesn't make sense; there are plenty of doctors in the world with just a wife and no kids." I could see the realization dawn on their faces, but I pressed on. "I mean the only reason he decided to make you guys his kids was to improve his image with the other doctors, right?"

Rose and Emmett looked at each other, uncertainty creeping into their expressions. The weight of my words hung in the air, and I could see the gears turning in their minds.

"Maybe you're right," Emmett said slowly, his brow furrowing. "I've never really thought about it that way before. It's just… it's what we've always done, you know?"

Rose bit her lip, her eyes drifting to the table as if searching for answers in the crumbs. "But are we going to just do it forever? Are we just going to be wasting our immortal lives repeating high school over and over for Carlisle's fantasy? What about Jasper? He always is in pain every day from feeling over three hundred high school students' emotions. He doesn't deserve that forever." A contemplative silence enveloped us as they processed the truth behind my words.

"Hey, I'm just making a suggestion. You deserve to decide what your lives look like," I said softly, squeezing Rose's shoulder. "Don't let anyone else define it for you."

They nodded their head as they exchanged glances again. "Also, it might be wise to hold off on making any decisions just yet, considering Alice's visions. But when it comes to Robyn, I think I might have a plan."

Both Rose and Emmett turned their attention to me, curiosity evident in their expressions. Emmett leaned in slightly, a playful grin on his face. "Alright, little bear, what do you have in mind?"

"Well," I said, glancing down and fiddling with the hem of my overalls, "it's not exactly a full plan yet. It's going to take some time." I looked up to find them giving me encouraging smiles. "I was thinking that after Robyn graduates, she could tell Charlie she got accepted into a college in another state and that she'll be sharing a dorm with someone. In reality, we could move away, find a house, and live together. Rose, you could open a mechanic shop, and Emmett, you could become a faceless YouTube gamer. YouTube is only going to get bigger in the future, so we could invest in it along with other platforms for money. Well… that's just a thought."

I watched as surprise registered on their faces, quickly giving way to smiles. Emmett looked at me with enthusiasm. "That sounds like an amazing plan!" Rose nodded with wide eyes, clearly impressed. "It might take some time, but it sounds perfect baby bear. I've always dreamed of opening my own auto mechanic shop."

I guess they didn't mind that plan. I let out a sigh of relief.

The waitress glided over with a cart loaded with our food, setting everything down on the table with a smile. As she placed a large brownie on a plate in front of me, she winked playfully, and my eyes widened at how big it was. I quickly put on my child mode and thanked her enthusiastically which made her chuckle telling me I was very welcome.

I slid the brownie to the side and drizzled syrup over my pancakes before diving in. Ivy and I both let out a satisfied moan at the delightful taste. Once I polished off my eggs and bacon, Rose snuck her egg and bacon onto my plate. I glanced up at her with an appreciative smile, which she returned with a grin.

Once I finished eating I looked over at the brownie. I really wanted to share that with Robyn. Rose noticed my lingering stare and asked, "Aren't you going to eat it?" Blushing softly, I shyly shook my head and mumbled, "I want to share it with Robyn." Without hesitation, she pulled me into a comforting hug and said, "You are too precious, baby bear." Even Ivy joined in with an enthusiastic, Aww! which only made me blush even harder.

Soon the waitress came by to give us the bill when she noticed that I didn't touch the brownie. She gave me a look of concern. "Hey, sweetheart. You didn't want to eat your brownie?" She asked me softly. I felt my cheeks heat up as I shook my head. "I do want to eat it, but I want to share it with my big sister."

I saw her eyes widen in shock before the corners of her mouth lifted into a warm smile. "Oh my goodness, you are just the most adorable little thing!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine delight. "It's so sweet of you to want to share your brownie with your sister. How about I pack it up for you so you can both enjoy it together?" I gave her a shy nod not even acting anymore.

As she gently lifted my brownie to place it in a to-go box, Emmett chimed in, "Hey, could you also bring out that order to go of the two wedge French toast order that I asked for earlier?" The waitress nodded with a smile, assuring him, "Of course! I'll have that ready for you shortly."

As the waitress headed back into the kitchen, I noticed Rose quickly typing a text to Robyn, asking if we could stop by her window. A moment later, she smiled at the reply: Robyn was on board and grateful for the heads-up. Before long, our food was back at the table, and after Rose settled the bill, we were ready to head over to Robyn's house.

End Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this chapter!